Manugistics Launches RFID-Enabled Solutions

Optimal demand and supply chain performance necessitates reliable and timely information. RFID tag data can now be tapped to enable complex decision support with real time data on supply chain and market conditions. This new level of visibility enables enhanced, real-time and adaptive demand and supply chain management and provides a framework for organisations to collaborate, monitor and respond to volatile market conditions. The status of inventory, orders, shipments and capital assets throughout the supply chain is readily available. Unexpected events can be detected sooner, and resolution of immediate or pending problems can be initiated proactively. Manugistics RFID enabled solutions, available today, include: Collaborate, Monitor and Respond Framework ? polls RFID infrastructure (such as RFID readers and middleware) and other enterprise applications to provide real-time visibility to inventory, orders and shipments throughout the supply chain. The Framework also includes event detection capabilities, which identify unanticipated activity and trigger resolution flows, which can either fix problems automatically or bring users into the resolution process. Order and Delivery Management ? polls and receives order and delivery information from RFID infrastructure and other enterprise applications so that the status of orders and order lines is always up-to-date. Together with the Collaborate, Monitor and Respond Framework, ODM identifies order and delivery failures and alerts designated users to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to manage customer service and unplanned expenses. Adaptive Planning Solutions ? these RFID enabled solutions are the engines which provide resolution alternatives when unexpected events are encountered: Fulfillment Optimisation ? reallocates inventory when required according to delivery failures or stock imbalances Transportation Optimisation ? reschedules orders, shipments, and assets when exceptions occur, such as a temporary port shut-down. Pricing and Promotion Optimisation ? tracks point-of-sale, on-shelf, and inbound inventory information to support real-time, store level pricing and promotion optimisation. Provides vendors running VMI programs in stores to optimally price and promote their products according to inventory position and sell-through rates.