When storms sweep across the countryside, roads and rail lines are unexpectedly blocked, or production bottlenecks cause suppliers to miss deadlines, the economic price tag can run into the millions.

The IT experts at AXIT, a Siemens company, argue that the consequences of such events can be softened by linking shipping and logistics processes digitally.

“Anticipating shipping delays requires a transparent, digitally integrated supply chain,” said Uwe Schumacher, Vice President of Business Development at AXIT. “A coordinated effort is possible only if everyone involved has continuous access to shipping data and information.”

The mapping of shipping-related data that this requires is known in the logistics industry as “supply chain visibility.” This means using modern IT solutions to bring transparency to the movement of goods through detailed information on the progress of shipments, making it easier to plan supply processes and thereby minimizing the risk of supply chain bottlenecks.

AXIT’s latest expert paper outlines how all this works. The specialists at AXIT are convinced that cloud-based IT solutions provide the ideal foundation for streamlining the flow of information and improving collaboration among supply chain partners. The paper explains that all the knowns and unknowns in a supply chain can be consolidated in a flow of information that accompanies each shipment and enables proactive management. In a nutshell: A better flow of information makes for stronger supply chains.

For more information on what supply chain visibility requires and how it can benefit you, check out the expert paper from AXIT, available for free download.