Smooth operator – New tools mesh seamlessly with existing software to optimize fulfillment

By Keith Moore – Posted December 26, 2023

Every shipper running a supply chain is concerned with order fulfillment – are they going to be able to get the right product to the right location, at the right time, in order to execute a pre-existing purchase, or ensure that a future one occurs?

This concern is not unfounded. Even with the best planning team in the world, the execution phase is where the rubber meets the road.

The challenges are many: ensuring there are enough trucks available for transportation, managing warehouse space for inbound shipments, and ensuring there’s adequate labour to process orders. These are just a few of the constraints that can hinder the smooth operation of a complex supply chain.

Luckily, a new breed of optimization technologies has started to emerge to ensure that inventory flows seamlessly from a manufacturing location to a customer, irrespective of the sales channel. These new technologies bridge the gap between planning and transportation execution.

By employing advanced optimization techniques, these solutions are designed to streamline transportation plans, maximize truck capacities, and guarantee timely deliveries. The magic lies in the deployment planning space, where constraint-based mathematics is employed to strike a balance between minimizing transportation and distribution costs and maintaining inventory levels that meet customer demands.