digitalization, “they can boost speed and delivery performance by reacting as a single supply chain unit,” Leung says. Before its partnership with Blue Yonder, Bayer used multiple different systems and processes. Its Global Digital Logistics initiative is focused on standardizing systems and processes and leveraging Blue Yonder’s transportation management system. At the start of Bayer Crop Science’s digital journey, the company created a community of about 30 subject matter expert employees across the globe, Ivanyi says. They’re able to share best practices and incorporate lessons learned from one implementation for future implementations. Working with a third-party, Bayer also created and developed a digital learning series to help train people who were new to the system, Ivanyi says. REDEFINE AND STANDARDIZE When implementing new solutions, it makes sense to rede ne and standardize processes for the ideal digital state. “If you don’t have standardized process, you might break the digital chain,” Leung says. For instance, an employee who continues to use a spreadsheet for transportation procurement negates the bene ts of the automated solution. During any technology con guration, a robust change management process can help encourage people to use the solutions being implemented. With Bayer Crop Science, EY was one company that assisted with change management, as well as the implementation, and making the business case for the initiatives. The digital solutions currently being implemented are progressing from automation to also handling more strategic decision-making, Leung says. For instance, a system might identify exceptions and leverage arti cial intelligence to recommend next steps for transportation or logistics operations. By working with Blue Yonder to digitize its supply chain, Bayer Crop Science has experienced gains in several ways. “A main bene t is that all
Bayer scientists are working on innovative solutions to help farmers tackle tough agronomic challenges and become more productive and profitable.
such as customer service, planning, and service providers. “Now, in a few minutes, the shipments can be moving,” Ivanyi says. FINDING NEW USES Bayer continues to nd new ways to use the system. “The moment you have a system like a TMS, you start to play with it,” Ivanyi says. Employees can review the metrics and be more proactive about making decisions to optimize their logistics operations. For instance, the solution can provide the optimal cost of an over-the-road shipment from one point to another, as well as how well it will meet service expectations. “When you start to get data, you can change behavior,” Ivanyi says. The system also allows a shipper to connect with its logistics partners to change a route to make it more ef cient. “With these metrics, you can be more proactive,” Ivanyi says. Bayer Crop Science has been able to save between 3 and 5% in its transportation spend, boost asset utilization by 7%, and reduce empty miles traveled, the company says. The company is looking at implementing the newest version of the TMS, which incorporates machine learning to improve decision-making and exception handling, across the globe. n
information is in one place,” Ivanyi says. Previously, the company’s varying systems and processes in different countries made it dif cult to ensure it was serving all customers ef ciently and effectively, to access enterprise-wide visibility, and to measure performance across units. Moving to a single comprehensive transportation management system offers multiple bene ts, Ivanyi says. It improves the customer experience, making things simpler and more productive. It enhances customer reception by using a TMS that is easy to adopt and has analytics behind it to show the bene ts. In addition, the system enhances sustainability by showing how reductions in miles traveled impacts carbon dioxide emissions. The Blue Yonder TMS also enables companies to measure carrier performance against service level agreements. Machine learning capabilities can measure performance across granular scenarios, such as urgent requests. This additional data can help companies make better decisions about capacity and costs. When it comes to getting shipments out the door, the Blue Yonder TMS streamlines that process as well. In the past, this operation often required working with multiple systems and placing calls to various departments,
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