Supply chain management has become increasingly complex and involves more coordination among network partners. Control tower technology was introduced to provide greater visibility and more efficient collaboration within the evolving ecosystem. Over time, the technology has adapted from a narrow solution that spanned transportation management to a more comprehensive and holistic capability to fit the growing demand for wider system integration, efficiency, intelligence, and speed. Here are a few of the most exciting and critical supply chain control tower trends in 2022 that help build flexibility, agility, and resilience.

Transportation management is a key component of supply chain optimization, especially as global networks become increasingly broad and complex, involving multiple origins, destinations and modes of transport. Today’s transportation management system (TMS) is highly integrated and data-driven to meet challenges head-on and provide greater control and insight across the network - from manufacturers and distributors to shippers and logistics service providers.

Here are some of the key ways the solution has developed to provide greater intelligence and optimization across the multi-party ecosystem, improving flexibility, agility, and resiliency.

Reverse logistics and returns management are deeply integrated processes that involve coordinating between multiple enterprises through a series of modalities, including, for example, planning, scheduling and dispatch, product inspections, and refurbishing. These efforts can become further compounded in the manufacturing sector, where product size, value, and portability, among other qualities, might carry specific logistical constraints.