Everyone is talking about it today. The supply chain is becoming digital. Technologies are making their way in this universe which must be hyper-reactive and flexible in the face of consumers who want to have access to everything, right away, with the best service. Which is legitimate but which raises numerous questions of performance and costs at all levels of the supply chain. This is obviously where technology can make the difference.
From warehouse management to last-mile delivery, there are a multitude of opportunities for technology. The big players are present in these sectors but startups also play a major role in these transformations. Without being "polluted" by the history of these professions, they arrive with a new perspective, encourage us to think differently, break out of the shackles and innovation takes more and more place in the management of the supply chain in the broad sense.
From production to warehouses, a story of flow
I am the founder of AMIA Systems, an IT company specializing in industrial performance and operational excellence. Having started in 2014 with our software in the industrial manufacturing sector, we adapted our technology to the world of warehouses in 2016. Our challenge: making data speak visually.
Instead of working on aggregated data, we take all transactional data into account in order to be able to carry out fine-grained and detailed analyzes to assess the effectiveness of warehouse management. Using this data, we are then able to simulate the warehouse with new settings and suggest ways of improving it, whether in terms of slotting management, picking strategy, warehouse design, etc.
Can we talk about Big Data? I like to think so, given how much time one can waste with Excel when processing these large data sets and how difficult it is to make them speak…
In logistics, standard, static evaluations on Excel are generally carried out, whether for ABC analyzes or the evaluation of KPIs (such as the use and wear of equipment). Providing a graphical representation of warehouse flows and operational KPIs such as the number of kilometers traveled, empty or loaded, is food for thought. Not to external parties who could support logisticians, but to field teams. Showing the efficiency of a warehouse in a visual way allows us to bring new avenues of thought to internal teams who have field knowledge with these multiple constraints. This makes it possible in particular to identify losses or highlight inconsistencies in master data.
When the system is complex in terms of its size and its multiple processes, having a tool to gain perspective, address the problems in their entirety and help in the decision-making process takes on all its importance. Whether for strategic investment decisions, diversification or to support continuous improvement in the field.
Is this vision feminine? Maybe not.
What place for women?
What I can say is that I really enjoy what I do. Working mainly with men is not a hindrance, it leaves the opportunity to present things differently and to feminize the meetings. Far from making it harder for me, I think it's easier to be a woman. Vision, sensitivity and empathy, the search for performance and an eye for detail make women an ideal partner in this universe.
This sector is far from being the prerogative of men, quite the contrary. Moreover, women are increasingly present there, thanks in particular to the awareness of the importance of the supply chain in companies and the development of numerous master's degrees in the field. They are still far from reaching parity (which is even more true when you go up the ladder). But in this reality, setting up your own startup is a real asset and sweeps away the “glass ceiling”…
More than in the field of production
Concretely, we start from all the transactional data from the warehouse to take stock: evaluate the kilometers traveled, empty or loaded, the proportion of time dedicated to picking compared to travel. On this basis, with the addition of simulations, we will suggest avenues for improvement whether in terms of slotting management, picking strategy, warehouse design, etc.
With 25 %, the representation of women in consumer goods and retail supply chain organizations at the vice president level is nearly twice that of industry organizations (13 %).
There is a real place for women in this universe. Vision, sensitivity and empathy, the search for performance and an eye for detail make women an ideal partner when it comes to technology. And yet their presence remains limited. He jumps back again. The percentage of female engineers has stagnated for years around 17%.
There is therefore enormous awareness-raising work to be done before the age of 12 to break the stereotypes and gender clichés about the profession, to show the appeal of technological professions and to make young people dream. The more women we have in management positions who can serve as role models, the more young girls we will attract. From my experience in the technology sector, it is also much easier to hire female interns and young recruits when the team is led by a woman.
I don't know the numbers but they shouldn't be much different in the startup world. The only difference is that by launching into entrepreneurship, a woman does not have to climb the ladder and confront the famous glass ceiling. It's an opportunity !
During my career, I have not often been confronted with macho, demeaning profiles. Most of the time, I met supportive, attentive men and caring leaders.
In management positions, we find them at HR, Marketing or Supply Chain level where they already represent 17% according to Gartner. Which remains relatively low when we know that women are increasingly present in Supply Chain studies (50% in 2011 and 69% in 2020 according to the Master of Grenoble IAE[1])
Women represent only 29 % of the workforce of senior managers in SCM professions, according to surveys conducted by AWESOME and Gartner.
In the technology sector, it is also easier to recruit women when the manager/director is a woman. According to a McKinsey study 64%, women consider the absence of a female role model to be a barrier.
But if we talk about technology, we will have to take a step back. The percentage of female engineers has stagnated for years around 17%. It is therefore normal not to see more women in key positions in the supply chain.
AI: Cognitive bias
Founder of AMIA Systems, an IT company created in 2014, specializing in industrial performance and operational excellence, we have adapted our technology to the world of warehouses. Our challenge: to make data speak visually.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of warehouse management
- Identify losses
- Highlight inconsistencies in master data
Concretely, we start from all the transactional data from the warehouse to make an inventory: evaluate the traveled miles, empty or loaded, the proportion of time dedicated to picking compared to travel. On this basis, with the addition of simulations, we will suggest avenues for improvement whether in terms of slotting management, picking strategy, warehouse design, etc.
