Investigating the Effect of E-Learning Technologies on Supply Chain Activities

This chapter’s concern is the impact of new technologies in the supply chain of the English Language Teaching (ELT) book market. The chapter’s research starts with a literature review that presents the modern technological solutions for an educational system that can alter the book market’s supply chain. The electronic teaching and reading facilities can reduce costs of production and distribution, but they can also become an ecologically friendly solution to the environmental problems that the world faces today. The statistical analysis of questionnaires has resulted in the Greek ELT market not being willing to change the existing supply chain operations of the ELT sector. Even though the market does not believe that the use of new technologies can result in the replacement of printed books, there is a trend of using them because they provide marketing benefits to their users. This trend can become the reason of a new era within the ELT book market’s supply chain operations.

ERP Implementation Service Supply Chain

ERP system plays a critical role in gaining competitive advantages; however, the implementation of the ERP system is a critical success factor but a difficult process to both the software providers and the buyers of the ERP system. Designing and delivering the implementation services becomes a key challenge to the ERP suppliers. This chapter applies modular logic into service design in order to reduce complexity and increase the service variety and quality, and develop a conceptual structure of service supply chain for delivering ERP implementation services.

Monitoring and Warning Mechanisms of Supply Coordination in Assembly System under Delivery Uncertainty

As supply uncertainty increases in recent years, it is of great importance to manage multiple suppliers, monitor, and warn the supply process of problems to achieve supply coordination in the assembly system in case of supply risks. This chapter analyzes the uncertainty factors and emergence mechanism of supply uncertainty in the assembly system. To achieve supply coordination, the monitoring operation mode under uncertain delivery in the assembly system is constructed. Under this circumstance, suppliers can be classified into four categories, and monitoring tactics are provided for supply coordination. Additionally, case-based reasoning is presented to monitor and warn the supply process with detailed steps and methodology, which are conducive to finding similar cases to provide warning insights and suggestions.

A University of Greenwich Case Study of Cloud Computing

This chapter proposes a new Supply Chain Business Model in the Education domain and demonstrates how Education as a Service (EaaS) can be delivered. The implementation at the University of Greenwich (UoG) is used as a case study. Cloud computing business models are classified into eight Business Models; this classification is essential to the development of EaaS. A pair of the Hexagon Models are used to review Cloud projects against success criteria; one Hexagon Model focuses on Business Model and the other on IT Services. The UoG case study demonstrates the added value offered by Supply Chain software deployed by private Cloud, where an Oracle suite and SAP supply chain can demonstrate supply chain distribution and is useful for teaching. The evaluation shows that students feel more motivated and can understand their coursework better.

The Strategic Contribution of ERP Systems to the Formulation of Non-Financial Key Performance Measures (KPIs) in Logistics Activities

The purpose of this chapter is the thorough observation of supply chains within the broader geographical area of Northern Greece in order to recognize whether organizations formulate and use KPIs in order to evaluate performance. The essence of developing useful KPIs with regard to supply chain performance is the identification of the gap between planning and executing while KPIs also give an indication about areas that are in need of corrective action. However, due to the fact that the Greek region has maintained narrow manufacturing activities as a result of its economic situation in the past five years, the research is focused on that part of the supply chain associated to logistics and customer service.

A Web Application for Supply Chain Traceability

The efficiency of a traceability system depends on the ability to identify uniquely each unit that is produced and distributed in a way that enables the continuous tracking from the primary production to the retail point of sale. An efficient traceability system must follow some rules that define which data must be gathered and stored in each stage of the supply chain. This is achieved by standardization of the gathered data and typification of the messages that enable storing and communication of the data. This chapter presents a Web-platform that will be able to support efficiently food traceability by monitoring and administering the data gathered and recorded in a central database. This application will be user friendly and provide the ability to keep, display, and communicate information through widely implemented technologies, such as the Internet and electronic mail services.

Cloud Computing in Supply Chain Management

In the modern world, companies are investigating state-of-the-art practices to optimize both the cost and operational efficiency of their supply chain. Cloud computing emerges as a meaningful technology that could contribute to this optimization by providing infrastructure, platform, and software solutions for the whole supply chain network via Internet. The utilization of cloud-based services in supply chain management leads to financial and operational benefits, while at the same time potential risks and limitations should be taken into account by all supply chain stakeholders. In this chapter, an overview of cloud-based supply chain management is addressed. At first, a brief introduction to cloud technology is provided. Then, the application of cloud computing on supply chain activities is presented, while positive and negative aspects of adapting this technology in modern supply chains are discussed. The case for Third-Party Logistics (3PL) service providers is specially addressed. Finally, conclusions and future research steps are presented.

E-Enterprise

This chapter provides a framework and discusses the integration of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) systems in e-ERP environments in supply chains. Currently, the economic environment enterprises are operating in is extremely competitive and influenced greatly by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). ICT can be an enabler of business performance but also an obstacle if these technologies are not managed carefully. Enterprises are implementing integrated CRM and SRM software in order to remain competitive, but high rates of failure indicate that the implementation of these solutions is not straightforward. In this chapter, organizational issues concerning the integration of CRM, SRM, and ERP software in supply chains are discussed. This chapter aims at informing managers, scholars, students, and researchers of the issues involved, and identifying critical factors of success for enterprises adopting and implementing integrated CRM/SRM solutions.

The Use of Cloud Computing in Shipping Logistics

The aim of this chapter is to showcase the potential of new, Cloud-based, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platforms for transport logistics chain management. The related literature is analysed from five perspectives. First, by examining supply chain issues relating to integration of core processes across organizational boundaries, through improved communication, partnerships, and cooperation. Second, from a strategy and planning perspective, by examining supply chain management as an IT platform dependent business practice. Third, by considering implementation issues using agent, as well as Web service technologies. Fourth, by considering the impact of new trends in service computing built around technologies, such as Semantic Web services and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), on transport logistics. Finally, the chapter proposes a Cloud-based SOA software platform as an enabler for lowering transaction costs and enhancing business opportunities through service virtualization in shipping transport logistics. The operational aspects of shipping transport logistics management are illustrated using a business case that shows the opportunities for increased collaboration through Cloud-based virtualized services.

A Hybrid E-Auction/Negotiation Model as a Tool for 4PL to Improve the Transport Provider Selection Process

The evolution of e-business has enabled the development of e-marketplaces facilitating the transactions among existing and potential supply chain members on an integrated platform. E-auctions are already considered a critical process for the selection of transport providers, but have not yet been systematically integrated in the 4PL concept. Specifically, a 4PL provider must add value to the e-auction process by assessing, in prior, the capabilities of potential transport providers through an e-negotiation process in order to justify its administrative role. The aim of this chapter is to present a hybrid e-auction-negotiation model, managed by a 4PL provider aiming to improve the transport provider selection process.