Supply chain analytics isn’t a new concept – in fact the manufacturing sector has long been an enthusiastic adopter of data-driven techniques. So apart from a fancy new name, what’s really new?

A combination of three emerging developments is changing the game:

1. Computational power, enabling us to do difficult calculations in real time
2. Powerful new algorithms can automate analysis and decision-making
3. And, crucially, new and previously untapped sources of data are emerging

We should also remember that ‘supply chain analytics’ is an umbrella term, referring to a multitude of capabilities. There is no single solution that works for every organisation: it depends on the nature of the supply chain, the organisational strategy and priorities, and the information that is available.

And not every capability is appropriate for every organisation – they should not be