About
Better With a Network is a research initiative focused on educating the market about the unique capabilities and benefits of Supply Chain Operating Networks (aka “Multi-enterprise Collaboration Networks” or “Multi-enterprise Supply Chain Business Networks”).
SCONs are the business equivalent of Facebook and LinkedIn — that is, industry networks that connect shippers, carriers, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, logistics service providers, and other trading partners with each other. Instead of companies creating hundreds or thousands of one-to-one connections with their trading partners, they make a single connection to the network where their current partners and thousands of other prospective partners are also connected. Companies use the cloud-based software applications that reside on the network to communicate, collaborate, and execute business processes with their trading partners in more efficient, scalable, and innovative ways.
Simply put, Supply Chain Operating Networks provide a smarter, more efficient, and scalable way for companies to work together. Unfortunately, many companies still have a limited understanding or awareness of SCONs, even though we use networks in other areas of our personal and business lives — for example, in how we use travel platforms like Expedia to search for available seats (“capacity”) and fares (“rates”) across multiple airlines (“carriers”) connected to a single platform (“network”), and then we book and execute the transaction via the platform too.
Companies face many supply chain challenges and opportunities, including labor constraints, sustainability, global trade regulations, and more stringent customer requirements. In response, they need to develop stronger, more transparent relationships with suppliers; improve real-time visibility to supply and demand; communicate and collaborate more effectively with suppliers, customers, logistics service providers, and other trading partners; and obtain greenhouse gas emissions data from trading partners and ensure no forced labor exists across their supply chain.
Addressing these requirements cannot be solved or realized using the same level of thinking, the same technologies, and the same processes they have used in the past. Collaboration, especially with external trading partners, is no longer an option; it is imperative. We believe that Supply Chain Operating Networks are the best platform for driving change and innovation in supply chain management moving forward.
We also believe that Marc Andreessen’s famous quote from 2011 that “Software is eating the world” needs to get updated. Today, it is more accurate to say that “Software and networks are eating the world” — especially in the supply chain and logistics world.