Discover how Dynamics 365 is helping organisations bring composability into their essential resource planning.
It has been long understood that the critical role that supply chain management plays in an organisations ability to meet consumer demand. However, customers rarely consider it when placing an order, no matter how central it is to businesses. During the pandemic this changed significantly, as high-profile disruptions and global shortages pushed supply chain from the boardroom to the forefront of consumer awareness. Meanwhile cementing supply chain as a top priority for retailers, direct-to-consumer manufacturers, and distributors in the consumer goods sector.
Composability in retail
Being a composable business entails modular building blocks that can be orchestrated to rapidly adapt operations to changing market conditions, new business opportunities, and unpredictable disruptions. Unfortunately, while many sectors are reaping large benefits from composability, retailers have been slower to adopt a flexible approach. When Gartner® asked retailers if they accept the risk and costs of new technology and deploy it as early as possible, only eight percent of retailers agree, compared to 21 percent for highly composable business.1 One company that certainly exemplifies the value that a composable approach can create is Signature Cosmetics.
Inventory Visibility
At Microsoft, they believe in the value that composability can bring to retailers. Their Inventory Visibility Add-in for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, retailers can begin their composability journey without significant risk or cost. This add-in is a highly scalable microservice that enables real-time on-hand inventory tracking. The solution easily connects and pulls inventory from multiple 3rd-party systems, allowing companies to create a single, global view of all inventories.
Through creating one pool of global network from which all orders can pull, companies can often increase inventory accuracy and thereby increase sales opportunities. Plus sales order fulfilment can avoid over-selling, effectively mitigating the risk of missed sales opportunities that may challenge some organisations. Ultimately allowing users to compose a bespoke inventory system that delivers superior business value by meeting the unique needs of your operating model.
