How Does the Microsoft Supply Chain Platform Impact Your Business?

How Does the Microsoft Supply Chain Platform Impact Your Business?

Disruptions in the supply chain are nothing new, and you don’t have to look far for examples. For instance, the recent worldwide shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the capability of organizations to function across the board.

Meanwhile, businesses continue to struggle with trade restrictions, growing salary pressure, inflation, rising logistics costs, and risking deliveries due to overreliance on just-in-time inventory. 

So, if you are a company using supply chain management software, Microsoft’s Supply Chain Platform should create a big ripple in your part of the pond.

The supply chain comprises the following components:

• Purchasing 
• Manufacturing 
• Inventory Management 
• Demand Forecasting 
• Warehousing 
• Transportation 
• Customer Service.

Each one is a critical cog in a supposedly efficient machine. If one area is weak, it’s only a matter of time before the entire system collapses.

What is the Microsoft Supply Chain Platform?

In November last year, Microsoft announced its Supply Chain Platform, seeking to leverage your supply chain data to improve the flow of services and goods, including processes that convert raw materials into end-consumer products. 

The platform will help an organization become more agile, which means you can respond immediately when the market conditions shift. However, to meet your goals, you must keep track of your supply chain across multiple data sources. 

The software integrates Dynamics 365, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Dataverse Power Platform, and Azure, giving you a wider reach in terms of capabilities. More importantly, the system is equipped with notable independent software vendors (ISVs), such as SAS, Flintfox, Cosmo Tech, Blue Yonder, O9 solutions, Sonata Software, K3, inVia Robotics, and many more.  

So, who needs the Microsoft Supply Chain Platform?

All industries that deliver services and goods to customers will benefit from the software’s innovative features. 

• Textile
• Food and Beverage
• Pharmaceuticals
• Chemicals
• Logistics
• Transportation and Shipping
• E-commerce

Of course, Microsoft’s new software does not limit itself to those industries. For example, you need the Supply Chain Platform as long as you oversee the flow of goods from raw material to finished product and right to the customer’s doorstep.

The Heart of the Software

At the platform’s core is the Microsoft Supply Chain Center. 

Think of it as your customized and scalable “command center” where you can access everything with a button. In addition, you can unify all data across different platforms like Dynamics 365, Dataverse, and third-party software products like Oracle and SAP.

Data Schema

Tables, graphs, indexes, columns, and pie charts are critical databases that provide a quick snapshot of supply chain reports. With AI-fueled information at your fingertips, you can design solutions quickly and effectively. You can access Azure’s rich trove of database templates through the Supply Chain Center.

Dataverse

You can choose which individuals can gain access to data in your Power Platform, Business Intelligence, and Dynamics 365. The cloud-based storage solution simplifies the process of unifying data across multiple platforms. As a result, you can act on the insights quickly and get a headstart on your competition.

OTPL Data

You can use different products like Power Platform, Excel, Power Automate, and Power Query to consume and modify data. As such, you can ensure real-time execution of big data transactions without losing precious time since everything is stored in the SQL Tables on your Dataverse. 

Data Ingestion

You can collect and store data converted into a readable format for easy access later. For instance, you can funnel your legacy and Dynamics 365 data to a single cloud-based location. You can then use Power Query Dataflows and create schemas for your organization. You can even request purchase order slips from your suppliers using data ingestion. By default, Microsoft secures all data on the Supply Chain Platform. 

File Data

Analytical insights are automatically stored in your file storage. But actionable data are funneled to the Dataverse’s ingested data for the business to utilize. 

Finally, the Supply Chain Platform’s nerve center features Modules that allow you to customize your interaction with the Microsoft software. 

You can pick the appropriate functionalities tailored to your distinct supply chain requirements through the Module Library. In addition, the different Modules are not Microsoft-specific since they also seamlessly integrate with the different ISVs. 

The Microsoft Supply Chain platform will harmonize all data across your supply chain, giving you full insight into your systems. 

Your supply chain is efficient when you can reduce inventory to cut warehousing costs while guaranteeing product availability. So, you can track the flow of goods from suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.  

You are sitting on a goldmine of data without any means of harnessing it. The Microsoft Supply Chain platform provides the master key to access all relevant information to shape your business decisions.