Organizations are increasingly investing in the digital transformation of their supply chains which are now being designed to be responsive to market shifts, customer expectations, and emerging trends without compromising on operational efficiency. Supply Chain 4.0, aligned with Industry 4.0, integrates intelligent technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML), Robotics & Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and big data to optimize the entire product lifecycle from conceptualization to consumption. Shivanand Hiremath, Consulting Partner at Wipro reflected that these advanced technologies are crucial in addressing specific challenges within supply chain management by enhancing functionality through various applications and data analytics. Today, advanced technologies are helping organizations tackle specific challenges in their supply chains by using various applications and data within supply chain management. Some of these are:

Planning: Advanced technologies, including machine learning models and predictive analytics, are improving demand and supply planning. Organizations can now create more accurate demand plans by analyzing numerous internal and external factors. Technologies like SAP S/4HANA and its embedded ML models, alongside SAP Integrated Business Planning applications, have enhanced forecast accuracy by over 50%, allowed for dynamic safety stock calculations, and facilitated dynamic pricing based on supply-demand considerations.

Sourcing & Procurement: Automation is transforming sourcing and procurement through three main processes: Source to Contract (S2C), Procure to Pay (P2P), and Supplier Management (SM). Technologies like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) streamline operations, such as contract management and order creation. Blockchain technology is used for tracking and recording transactions in the supply chain. SAP S/4HANA facilitates integrated management of S2C and P2P processes, improving decision-making and efficiency in procurement and sourcing.

Manufacturing: The rise of smart factories is significant in manufacturing, with technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), immersive training via Extended Reality (XR), and Internet of Things (IoT) for predictive maintenance. SAP’s Digital Manufacturing Cloud offers tools for shop floor management and integrates IoT for equipment health monitoring.

Warehousing: Post the e-commerce boom, warehousing has seen significant technological advancements. Next-generation user interfaces, advanced robotics, and IoT enhance warehouse operations by improving integration, efficiency, and productivity. SAP’s Extended Warehouse Management system supports these enhancements by optimizing warehouse operations and integrating AI/ML technologies for better management.

Transportation: Autonomous and smart vehicles are reducing operational costs and improving efficiency in transportation. Technologies like SAP Transportation Management system offer comprehensive functionalities for fleet and transportation management, enhancing capabilities through the integration of IoT, RPA, and AI/ML.

These advancements across various supply chain functions not only streamline operations but also contribute to significant cost savings and operational efficiencies.

Wipro, a longstanding leader in digital transformation, has significantly influenced the digitization landscape over the past thirty years, strengthened by a comprehensive partnership with SAP. This partnership has empowered Wipro to support global organizations in their transformation journeys, prioritizing efficient and high-value delivery. The company employs innovative methodologies, notably the SPEED delivery method for SAP implementations and the S/4HANA RaCE for Industry solutions, to facilitate rapid prototyping and accelerate implementation processes. These strategies are instrumental in setting the stage for extensive supply chain transformations. Additionally, Wipro offers a robust suite of SAP Cloud solutions encompassing demand and supply planning, manufacturing execution, sourcing, procurement, and business networks.

Further enhancing its offerings, Wipro has also developed a cloud-based Supply Chain Risk Visibility (SCRV) solution, hosted on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). The solution provides a resilient and adaptable framework capable of anticipating disruptions in the supply chain due to unforeseen global events. It features real-time monitoring of critical supply chain issues, such as single-sourced materials or customer impacts, presented through an interactive, SAP UI5-based dashboard. This tool enables planning and operations teams to quickly assess impacts and take prompt, effective action.