Data is the Core of DistributionIn the post digital-age that we live in, data and information has become the heart of most distributors.
Data can be used to identify flaws in the company’s operations as well as reveal opportunities to improve processes. Modern-day distribution processes are well planned and dependent on the data that is fed into the distributor’s ERP system, which processes the data to help the distributor identify patterns and tends that can add value to their business. With data becoming such a critical piece of the distribution process, it has also presented a few unique challenges that distributors need to overcome.Data InundationDistribution networks can easily contain millions of separate data-points. With that many points of data, a company can be completely inundated and overwhelmed, leaving them unsure on how to leverage that data for increased productivity and growth. Here are a few ways to overcome data inundation:Start SmallData is something that every company wants to use to help them improve their processes, but before a business can make any decisions with data, they have to understand what that means. An organization may want to jump in head-first and absorb every bit of data thrown at them, but they should first develop data analytic techniques on a smaller scale. Then, after they are able to show an ROI (return on investment) with their smaller data streams, then they should move into using data on a larger scale to make decisions.
Identifying and Using the Right DataMany companies don’t want to get behind and invest in data without knowing how that data will be used to make decisions that will drive growth and profits. It is absolutely imperative that the proper investments are made to really comprehend all of the data being fed into distribution operations. Using data and data analytics to drive business decisions is very different than the way that traditional business decisions were made in years past. That’s why visualization and reporting tools are a critical piece of identifying the right data.
In order to identify the right information that you need, the first step you should take is to study all available data and then outline what is happening with your data. Once you are able to study and outline your data, you should be able to detect opportunities to improve on a flaw or enhance a current process.
