AWS announces supply chain visibility application

Amazon Web Services has announced a new solution to help businesses increase supply chain transparency.

Unveiled at the AWS re:Invent 2022 virtual conference last week, AWS Supply Chain combines and analyses data across multiple supply chain systems so businesses can observe their operations in real-time, find trends more quickly, generate more accurate demand forecasts, and keep on top of their sustainability goals.

This system, known as a data lake, will work with built-in connectors, machine-learning-powered insights, recommended actions and alerts, and in-application collaboration capabilities.

The application comes at a time when supply chains have experienced increased supply and demand instability pressurised by widespread resource shortages, geopolitics, and natural events.

Inventory managers, demand planners, and supply chain leaders can view machine-learning-generated insights for potential shortages or delays, and create watchlists to receive alerts to take action as risks appear.

Once a risk emerges, AWS Supply Chain will automatically provide recommendations, such as moving inventory between locations, whilst also looking into the sustainability impact.

“Customers tell us that the undifferentiated heavy lifting required in connecting data between different supply chain solutions has inhibited their ability to quickly see and respond to potential supply chain disruptions,” said Diego Pantoja-Navajas, vice president of AWS Supply Chain.

“AWS Supply Chain aggregates this data and provides visual, interactive dashboards that provide the insights and recommendations customers need to take actions toward more resilient supply chains.”

Currently and already using the application is  IT service and consultancy firm Accenture, alongside retailers Traeger Grills and Whole Foods.

Kris Timmermans, Accenture’s global supply chain and operations lead, said: “As supply chain disruptions continue for the foreseeable future, companies need to stay focused on balancing cost efficiency, sustainability, and relevancy across their supply networks to support growth.

“We will leverage AWS Supply Chain across our supply chain offerings to bring pre-built solutions that allow companies to move at speed, delivering automation into complex processes to realize value faster.”

AWS Supply Chain is available in preview today in US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), and Europe (Frankfurt), with availability in additional AWS Regions coming soon.