posted on 12/1/2011 2:35:49 PM
A new software offering from Manhattan Associates melds supply chain data with social networking tools to engage workers in improving performance.
Seeking to leverage the collaborative power of social networking for supply chain management, Manhattan Associates this week release SCOPE Social, a new application meant to better engage members of the supply chain in day-to-day business activities.
The simple concept behind the new SCOPE Social tool is to meld supply chain data with interactive tools that allow members of the SCM team to interact with one another more quickly and efficiently, using technology that they’re accustomed to in their personal lives. At the heart of SCOPE Social is a dashboard that surfaces performance metrics from the broader supply chain management application, and lets users communicate via social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Yammer, Moxie, and Rypple.
[To explore supply chain management products on Managing Automation’s sister site, TechMATCH Pro, click here.]
The latest SCM tool from Manhattan Associates is part of its Labor Management offering, which itself is housed within the Distribution Management suite of the SCOPE portfolio, the company explained in a statement. The software’s two main functions are boosting supply chain performance metrics and increasing employee morale and engagement. Users may hail from a company’s warehousing, purchasing, or transportation department.
Manhattan sketched a version of each scenario in a video announcing the release. In the first, a distribution center manager logs on to his SCOPE Application Dashboard, which is native to Manhattan Associates’ SCOPE platform. On the landing page, the manager finds a chart plotting the performance of the warehouse pickers, and the graph indicates below-average performance for the prior day. The manager can use Yammer or another built-in social networking tool to quickly send a message to the picking team asking for suggestions for improvement. Any given picker can respond to the post with a suggestion.
In the second scenario, the same manager learns that an employee has been ranked among the top performers for the month, and uses the communication tool to offer plaudits on the accomplishment.
As Eddie Capel, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Manhattan Associates, explained in the statement, "Operational excellence requires that supply chain executives engage their workforce to leverage all knowledge and expertise to gain competitive advantage.”