Supply chain portals

The complex web and infrastructure of e-supply chain will be discussed in more details in Chapter 17. Such complex elements are usually in the domain of ICT (information and communication technology) specialist. In this section we cover some basic technology enablers which are accessible to traditional users and stakeholders of supply chain management (SCM). These are EDI (electronic data exchange), Intranets, Extranets and Business to business (B2B) Portals. 

In spite of the great opportunities provided by supply chain visibility and workflow automation the true potential of e-supply chain can only be realized when it is supported by an executive decision-making process that optimizes the automated flow of materials based on the information available from supply chain visibility. This executive decision process is collaborative planning which can only be effective through a real-time coimnunication network via Intranet, Extranet and B2B portals (or trading hubs) and a sales and operations planning (S OP) process. Figure 12.2 show the e-supply chain communication network of a pharmaceutical company. The S OP is described in Chapter 16. 

Oracle plans a similar move with its introduction of E-Business Suite lli.8. This release includes portal-based reporting and data analysis tools that measure supply chain performance. But continuing the chess game for dominance, SAP intends to focus on further technology advances... 

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