The Future of Logistics: A Touchless Supply Chain Revolution
In today’s rapidly evolving world, efficiency and adaptability are more crucial than ever for supply chain success. Enter the era of the touchless supply chain—a transformative approach that promises to reshape traditional planning and execution models. With AI-powered automation, continuous processing, and enterprise-wide integration, touchless supply chain planning redefines how businesses operate, innovate, and compete.
Traditional vs. Touchless Supply Chains: What Sets Them Apart?
The shift to a touchless supply chain isn’t just about digitizing processes; it’s a fundamental transformation. Here’s how it differs from traditional methods:
1. Breaking Down Silos
Traditional supply chains operate in isolated silos—demand planning in one corner, supply planning in another. This disjointed approach often results in inefficiencies and reactive decision-making. Touchless models, however, integrate processes seamlessly, leveraging data across the enterprise to deliver actionable insights. By focusing on the medium and long term, this approach allows businesses to anticipate challenges and opportunities rather than merely react to them.
2. Smarter Metrics and Analytics
Traditional planning focuses on efficiency and control, relying on static, two-dimensional segmentations. In contrast, touchless supply chains employ dynamic, multi-dimensional segmentations powered by advanced analytics. AI-driven insights accelerate decision-making, enabling businesses to pivot quickly and deliver enhanced value.
3. AI-Augmented Workforce
Gone are the days of pyramid-structured teams dedicated to transactional handling. Touchless supply chains harness AI to automate repetitive tasks, assigning human expertise to manage exceptions. This blend of human intelligence and automation creates a scalable, collaborative workforce designed to tackle complex challenges while minimizing manual intervention.
4. Dynamic Controls
Traditional controls are rigid and centralized, often slowing processes. Touchless models use automated, risk-based controls that adapt dynamically to circumstances. AI-augmented team members manage manual approvals, ensuring agility while maintaining governance.
Demand Planning: A Touchless Transformation
One of the most striking examples of touchless supply chain planning is demand planning. Traditionally, this involves forecasting based on individual stock-keeping units (SKUs), often resulting in inefficiencies and manual adjustments. With a touchless approach, demand planning becomes predictive and proactive:
- Enhanced Forecasting: By incorporating real-time data and enterprise-wide variables, AI-driven systems generate highly accurate forecasts.
- Reduced Manual Interventions: Automation handles up to 70% of cases, allowing human planners to focus on high-impact areas.
- Real-Time Adjustments: Signals from point-of-sale systems and other data sources ensure forecasts stay relevant and responsive.
The result? A supply chain control tower that provides unparalleled visibility, automates decision-making, and enables agile sales and operations planning (S&OP).
Real-World Impact: Success Stories
Touchless supply chains aren’t just theoretical concepts; they’re delivering tangible results across industries. Consider these examples:
- A global consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturer identified 40–50% of its product portfolio as candidates for touchless demand planning, leveraging machine learning for forecasting.
- A European beverage company achieved a 25–30% reduction in forecast error, a 10–14% inventory reduction, and freed up 20% of planners’ time through demand sensing.
- A global CPG enterprise improved no-touch purchase order compliance from 39% to 72% by enhancing master data and tuning system parameters.
- An industrial leader, burdened by $5 billion in excess inventory and long response times, saved 25% in inventory costs within the first year of adopting an integrated solution.
Beyond Buzzwords: The Path Forward
While terms like “end-to-end digital transformation” may sound like business buzzwords, the results speak for themselves. Touchless supply chain planning is more than a trend; it’s a necessity for companies aiming to remain competitive in an increasingly complex marketplace.
Why Now?
The acceleration of global commerce, coupled with advancements in AI and automation, has created the perfect storm for supply chain innovation. Businesses that embrace touchless models will not only improve operational efficiency but also enhance customer satisfaction and drive long-term growth.
Final Thoughts
The touchless supply chain is a game-changer. By leveraging AI, automation, and real-time data, businesses can move beyond traditional limitations, creating a frictionless ecosystem that’s smarter, faster, and more resilient. As we look to the future, adopting touchless supply chain planning isn’t just an opportunity—it’s an imperative.
Talk to our team to see how mymediset LiveSync can make your supply chain touchless.
About mymediset
mymediset is the leading provider of cloud-based automation solutions for the medical device industry that specializes in managing complex loan, consignment, and field inventory processes inside SAP®. mymediset offers a platform that connects medical device and pharma manufacturers, distributors, hospitals, and clinics, and enables them to manage and track their consigned inventory in real-time. mymediset helps its customers reduce costs, increase sales, and optimize inventory levels, while ensuring compliance and patient safety. Learn more about mymediset and our innovative solutions by visiting our website or speaking to an expert today!
