The journey of supply chain software has seen more hills than valleys in recent years as competitive pressures spur adoption of modern, integrated platforms. Having installed or updated warehouse management, labor or transportation systems, users and suppliers of all sizes are now looking to unify these systems. “Suppliers’ focus is extending beyond the four walls, and many are putting money into providing more than just excellence in warehousing and distribution,” says John Hill, director at St. Onge Company. “From their purview of materials management, they are now fine-tuning the connection with all the other elements of the supply chain.” This is one of the many trends outlined in Modern’s “2015 Software Usage Survey,” conducted in May 2015. To better understand how readers use supply chain software to optimize their warehouse and distribution operations, Peerless Research Group (PRG) surveyed subscribers of Modern as well as a sample of recipients of our e-newsletters. Last year’s survey. The survey results reflect the experiences of those who are using software applications and those who are planning to invest in new solutions. The numbers reflect two main camps, according to Judd Aschenbrand, PRG’s director of research. “Last year, 28% of respondents said they were moving forward with investments, and now it’s 18%,” he says. “At the same time, the average spend is up to almost $700,000, which suggests some companies are moving very aggressively and others aren’t.” Both groups share a continued decrease in concerns over the obstacles to a successful software implementation. “The overall decline here is encouraging and suggests supply chain systems convergence and improved integration tools are beginning to make their mark,” Hill says. “Of course, there’s still a lot more work to be done.” Innovators and investigators The survey reflects the plans and perspectives of 192 qualified respondents. Overall, one […]