A REVIEW OF IMPACT MAKING TECHNOLOGIES IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

An efficient supply chain management embedded with latest technology is the key for the success of any global organization. While the efficiency of the managers throughout the supply chain is not to be under estimated, it has been proved time and again that those managers who adopt or even create technology to enhance their supply chain operations have achieved outstanding results. The invention of internet and following IT technologies has been the foundation for the evolution of supply chain management. The aim of this study is to review major technologies that emerged to facilitate supply chain management. Among some of the significant technologies that retailers around the globe use for their business processes are Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Warehouse Management System (WMS), Transportation Management System (TMS) and Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC). Some customer based technologies in use are Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI), Point of Sale (POS) and Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR), etc. The recent developments in RFID technologies have opened doors for major applications in the field of SCM. This paper will consider few impact making technologies and discuss their applications, benefits and how they sustained the challenges of SCM.