How to Achieve Greater Supply Chain Visibility: 5 Strategies to Consider
Tomas Novotny
Sustainability Expert
Tuesday, 26 November 2024
About 5 minutes
For professionals in supply chain management, procurement, operations, compliance, or sustainability, ensuring that every link in the supply chain is transparent and accountable is vital to mitigating risks, optimising operations and meeting ethical standards.
Yet with today’s highly complex supply chains, it’s a challenge to identify where to focus your company’s limited resources. In-depth visibility across suppliers globally, and data on their practices, empowers this decision-making alongside both compliance and sustainability efforts.
As you consider how to enhance your supply chain visibility, here are five essential strategies—and how Sedex can help you action them.
1. Leverage data analytics for proactive decision-making
One of the most powerful tools at your disposal for improving supply chain visibility is data analytics. By analysing data across your supply chain, you can identify patterns, predict disruptions, and make informed decisions that keep your operations running smoothly.
How Sedex helps: Sedex provides a comprehensive platform offering robust supply chain analytics capabilities, allowing you to monitor key metrics and identify potential risks before they become issues. Our tools enable you to visualise your supply chain, track performance against compliance and sustainability standards, and generate reports that provide insights into your supply chain’s health.
With Sedex, you can transform raw data into actionable intelligence, ensuring that you stay ahead of potential challenges.
2. Implement end-to-end supply chain transparency
Achieving full visibility requires knowing what’s happening at every stage of your supply chain, from raw materials to the final product. This transparency is crucial for ensuring compliance with regulations, proactive supply chain risk management, and building trust with stakeholders.
This transparency is also a powerful aid in supply chain planning, enabling benchmarking and analysis to identify best-in-class suppliers to learn from, or to unlock potential efficiency gains.
How Sedex helps: Sedex’s Platform connects you with suppliers across all tiers of your supply chain. Access detailed information about each supplier’s practices, including labour conditions, environmental impact and compliance with sustainability standards.
Our assessment tools enable you to efficiently capture standardised data from additional suppliers who are new to Sedex. This end-to-end visibility ensures that you can identify and address issues, protecting your brand’s reputation and driving ethical operations.
“Partnering with Sedex has been instrumental in aligning our vision to improve the food system with our data-led approach to responsible farming. It’s like having a bird’s-eye view of our journey. Their tools and services have enabled us to enhance transparency across our operation, driving improved outcomes that our organisation and our customers can rely on.”
3. Enhance supplier collaboration
Strong relationships with your suppliers are essential for maintaining visibility and improving sustainable practices across your supply chain. Collaborative efforts with suppliers can lead to more effective communication, quicker resolution of issues, innovations that benefit everyone, and shared best practices.
How Sedex helps: Sedex facilitates collaboration by enabling you and your suppliers to share information seamlessly. Our centralised data Platform and tools allow you to set clear expectations, monitor compliance, build capacity and work with suppliers on sustainability initiatives. By fostering collaboration, Sedex helps you build stronger, more transparent supply chain relationships.
4. Integrate ethical and sustainable sourcing practices
Sustainability and ethics are no longer just buzzwords — they are critical components of a modern supply chain.
Customers and stakeholders expect businesses to source materials and products responsibly, with a focus on environmental sustainability and fair labour practices. More sustainable sourcing practices also support wider business benefits, such as energy efficiency, with associated cost savings, and operational resilience through strong supplier partnerships.
How Sedex helps: Sedex is a leader in ethical sourcing and sustainability. Our solutions provide the tools and resources needed for your supply chain to meet high ethical standards.
From conducting SMETA audits to accessing a vast database of supplier information, Sedex empowers you to make informed sourcing decisions that align with your company’s values and customer expectations.
Not sure where to focus next? Develop your sustainable sourcing, supply chain due diligence or sustainability compliance programme with our Consulting team.
5. Utilise technology to improve supply chain agility
In a rapidly changing global environment, agility is key. Technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain can enhance supply chain visibility by providing real-time updates and automating processes, allowing you to respond quickly to changes or disruptions.
How Sedex helps: Sedex leverages advanced technology to give you actionable insights into your supply chain. Our API can integrate with your existing systems, providing a seamless flow of information that enhances your ability to analyse integrated data sources and respond to changes swiftly. Whether you’re managing a large-scale global operation or a more localised supply chain, Sedex’s technology solutions help you stay agile and resilient.
Why choose Sedex for your supply chain visibility needs?
Sedex is more than just a platform— we are your partner in your journey toward greater supply chain visibility. Our tools and resources are designed to support professionals in making informed decisions, building ethical supply chains, and achieving their business goals.
By choosing Sedex, you gain access to a global network of over 85,000 suppliers, cutting-edge assessment and analysis technology, and expert insights that empower you to take control of your supply chain.
Whether you’re in procurement, operations, compliance or sustainability, Sedex provides the solutions you need to enhance visibility, reduce risk and drive value throughout your supply chain. As you consider how to improve visibility across your global supply chain, explore how Sedex can help you achieve your goals.
Contact us today to learn more about how Sedex can help you build a more sustainable, transparent supply chain.
