Using Mobility to Elevate Warehouse Management
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• Cognizant 20-20 Insights
Using Mobility to Elevate Warehouse
Management
Enterprise mobility promises to infuse warehouses with greater agility
and nimbleness, but getting there requires that manufacturers take a
phased approach, dissecting every operational function and identifying
key imperatives and process enhancements along the way.
Executive Summary business value. It is a key enabler of warehouse
efficiency, flexibility and nimbleness, allowing
Without a proper dose of automation, warehouse
manufacturers to live the future of work, today.
managers are unable to achieve the operational
performance and cost efficiencies needed to This white paper explores areas where mobility
contribute to the greater good of the manufac- can be utilized and the key considerations for
turing enterprise. This is particularly important deploying mobility in a typical warehouse.
in materials handling, where the slightest inef-
ficiency can lead to operational slowdowns and Mobility in Warehouse Management
reputational damage with business partners and
Adopting mobility can boost the number of orders
customers. To meet the requirements of increas-
and packages processed daily by facilitating the
ingly demanding customers — where doing more
whole range of warehouse functions from picking,
with less is a business imperative — warehouse
put away, packaging, labelling and shipping,
managers are laser focused on IT-enabled process
through receiving and cross-docking. For example,
changes that drive operational nimbleness and
in the receiving area a warehouse operator can
flexibility, with continuous focus on improving
scan and identify incoming shipments and then
efficiency and productivity in significant ware-
reroute, inspect or relabel them. Similarly, in the
housing tasks such as picking, put away, shipping,
shipping area an operator can scan outgoing
cross-docking, etc.
packages to ensure order accuracy and can route
Enterprise mobility, according to both IDC1 and them accordingly to the correct dock door or
Gartner,2 is among the “four forces” shaping busi- carry out any required value-added services as
ness-IT transformational decisions by delivering prompted on the mobile device.
exponential productivity gains and incremental
cognizant 20-20 insights | march 2013
Enabling the Mobile Warehouse
Management & Supervisory Functions
Real-Time Approvals BI and Reporting System Administration Ad-hoc Label Printing
Cross-Docking
Inbound
Material Inventory
Processing Directed Put Away Inventory Transactions Management
Material Inspection Purchase Requisition
Material Receiving On-Demand Stock Information
Inbound Scheduling Cycle Counting
Fleet Management Physical Inventory Counting
EPOD/EPOC Stock Management
Shipment Tracking Job Scheduling
Packing, Loading and Shipping Replenishment Transactions
Dispatch Planning Consigned Inventory / VMI
VAS/Kitting/De-kitting Material Allocation
Outbound
Material
Processing Directed Picking
Figure 1
Figure 1 offers a high-level overview of the organizational needs (which are beyond the scope
functions that mobility can support in a typical of discussion here).
warehouse.
Core Functions
Once the contours of where mobility can help in Inbound Materials Processing
warehouse operations are defined, warehouse
The processes involving the receipt of goods into
managers can delve deeply to obtain a detailed
the warehouse can greatly benefit from the use
understanding of how ground-level functions
of mobility. Figure 2 (on page 3) illustrates how
can actually be mobile-enabled and explore the
mobility can be integrated with inbound materials
benefits that can and should be derived from
processing along with the benefits of doing so.
such initiatives.
Inventory Management
The functions outlined in Figure 1 can be executed
using different types of handheld mobile devices, Inventory management is a core area within
including scanners, mobile computers and vehi- warehouse management where mobility can
cle-mounted devices, or a combination of these. bring high levels of efficiency. Figure 3 (on page
The selection of these devices for each function 4) shows how mobility can be integrated with
depends on parameters ranging from the ware- inventory management functions along with the
house’s physical environment, the materials it associated benefits.
deals with, Cap-Ex availability and other specific
cognizant 20-20 insights 2Mobility’s Inbound Materials Processing Benefits
Function How to Enable Mobility Benefit
Real-time updates can be exchanged using mobile devices Reduction in waiting time for
between incoming shipments and the warehouse to facilitate vehicles at the receiving dock.
Inbound
efficient inbound scheduling. Based on these updates, the
Scheduling dock door assignments can be created and altered on a
real-time basis.
Inbound materials can be scanned, verified and received Flexibility at the floor level
Materials in the warehouse using a mobile device. The mobile device along with real-time updates.
Receiving can be used to update the receipt status in the enterprise
system in real time or in batches.
Based on preconfigured quality plans within the enterprise Reduction in overall time and
system, inbound materials inspection can be carried hence cost of quality assurance
out and the data can be entered for comparison against activities.
Materials
approved specifications using mobile devices. This can
Inspection direct the warehouse worker to take the necessary action
for inspection results based on pre-configured rules in the
enterprise system.
Mobile devices can provide real-time visibility to orders Reduction in time and effort
requiring cross-docking and suggest suitable inbound needed to match inbounds and
Cross-Docking shipments for fulfilment. Material can be allocated to these outbounds for cross-docking.
Suggestions orders on the mobile device and shipped directly without Possibility for enabling cross-
having to be routed through the warehouse’s inventory. docking in warehouses that are
unable to use this best practice.
Spot suggestions of locations for put away of materials can Saves time and effort for
be displayed on mobile devices based on custom logic and material consolidation while
rules depending on warehouse layout, location of existing improving concurrent informa-
Directed Put items, item type and other parameters. Suggestion-based tion availability.
Away put away using mobility will enable easy consolidation of
material in the warehouse based on any chosen parameter.
In addition, mobility can enable scanning as opposed to
manual key-in and real-time update of inventory records.
Figure 2
Outbound Material Processing engagement. Irrespective of the approach taken,
In many businesses, a warehouse’s efficacy is deploying mobility in a warehouse requires special
determined by how well it is able to process care across numerous aspects due to its process-
outbound orders. Figure 4 (on page 5) highlights intensive nature, coupled with the fact that it is
how mobility can be integrated with functions a core component of the manufacturing value-
of outbound material processing along with the delivery mechanism. Thus, it is imperative that the
associated benefits. deployment blends in smoothly with day-to-day
activities and causes minimal disruption. Figure
Management and Supervisory 6 (on page 6) lays out our recommendations for
Functions a seamless deployment of mobility across the
Besides the core warehousing functions, there warehouse functions.
are various management and supervisory
Objective Definition
functions performed by warehouse managers
In this stage, the general approach will involve
and shop floor supervisors that mobility can ben-
identifying the strategic or tactical objectives that
eficially transform. Figure 5 (on page 6) reveals
drive the introduction of mobility in warehouse(s).
how mobility can help such functions along with
For example, the objectives can be improving
the benefits.
inventory management, bringing down costs
Mobility Deployment Considerations without impacting service, improving worker
in a Warehouse safety and/or achieving regulatory compliance.
Deploying mobility in a warehouse requires a dis- Balance Top Floor and Shop Floor Goals
ciplined approach to achieve its full potential. The
Management buy-in for the mobility program will
deployment can either be a part of the organiza-
ensure tight alignment of the technology with
tion’s overall IT strategy or a warehouse-focused
cognizant 20-20 insights 3Mobility’s Inventory Management Benefits
Function How to Enable Mobility Benefit
Purchase requisitions can be raised right at the point of Reduction of purchase lead
Purchase
source of demand in shop floors and warehouses using time.
Requisition mobile devices.
Basic inventory transactions such as issue, receipt, Improving concurrent informa-
transfer of goods, etc. can be carried out using mobile tion availability and eliminating
Inventory devices. The mobile application can provide information additional effort for maintaining
Transactions about the current location of materials, destination of updated information.
materials, handling instructions and all other related data
so the user can carry out the specific transaction.
Real-time information regarding availability of stock and Improving concurrent infor-
On-Demand other stock-specific information can be made available on mation availability for faster
Stock Informa- mobile devices from anywhere, anytime. Information can decision-making.
tion be queried via different methods (e.g., item-based inquiry,
location-based inquiry, etc.).
Cycle count orders can be executed by scanning items Reduction in counting effort
planned for count at any location using a mobile device. and enforcement of better
Cycle Counting The mobile application can keep track of the count and operational discipline.
pending items while it can also require users to verify item
and lot information.
Physical counting of all items in particular inventory Reduction in counting effort
Physical locations can be handled using a mobile device. The appli- and concurrent update of
Inventory cation can keep track of the counts and also allow entry information
Counting of items which did not have system records and hence for
counts that were not generated.
Mobile applications can be used for stock management Reduction in stock management
Stock
including updating the stock quantities, stock condition, effort with concurrent informa-
Management location, pack details, registering stock relocations, etc. tion availability.
Real-time notification of job and flow scheduling can Better availability of concurrent
be sent to shop floor workers on mobile devices. Also, information.
Job Scheduling
dynamic status updates on work orders and assembly
completion can be propagated using mobile applications.
Inventory levels can be managed using the enterprise Reduction in time and effort for
system’s planning and replenishment features (e.g., carrying out replenishments,
Replenishment min-max, Kanban, etc.) that includes generating preap- thus increasing material avail-
Transactions proved move orders. These move orders can be effectively ability.
tracked and transacted using a mobile device on the shop
floor.
Rule-based material allocations created by the enterprise Time savings by providing
system for different kinds of move orders such as ground level flexibility in
outbound orders, issues to shop floor, inventory transfers, handling material allocations.
Materials
etc. can be viewed and managed using mobile devices. In
Allocation cases where these need modification, such requests can
be initiated, reviewed and approved by appropriate users
based on configured workflow using their mobile devices.
Consigned/ Consigned or vendor-managed inventory can be received Effort reduction in consignment
Vendor on a mobile device using a single receipt transaction to inventory management.
create the order line and receive the goods in a single
Management
step by pre-configuring the rules for order and line
Inventory creation.
Receipt
Figure 3
cognizant 20-20 insights 4Mobility’s Outbound Materials Benefits
Function How to Enable Mobility Benefit
Pick lists generated by the enterprise system and assigned to Time and hence cost
specific users based on business rules can be viewed by warehouse savings in one of the
workers on their mobile devices. These tasks are then executed by most significant ware-
Directed
the user, based on directions provided by the mobile application housing processes —
Picking that optimizes the task at every point based on material avail- order picking.
ability, route and other variables. The mobile application can also
update the system concurrently with the current task status.
Tasks related to containerization, labeling, loading and shipping Time and cost savings
Packing, can be administered and executed using mobile devices. Specific through efficient
instructions can be transmitted to workers carrying out these tasks execution of packing
Loading and
in the form of mobile notifications. Additional information such as and shipping process.
Shipping cost items for shipping charges, outside service tracking numbers,
etc. can be captured at this level using a mobile device.
Dispatches can be prioritized and hence accelerated by providing Time savings and
the dispatch planning system, real-time mobile updates on the accuracy of dispatches
Dispatch readiness of shipments and other delivery requirements. Pre- by priority and delivery
Planning dispatch tasks can be tracked through mobile devices and the requirements.
information can be constantly fed to the dispatch planning system
in real time to enable this.
Tasks for value-added transactions such as packing material as Increased efficiency and
Value-Added per delivery requirements, gift wrapping, etc. along with specific accuracy in executing
Services/ instructions can be dispatched through mobile devices based on value-added services.
Kitting, requirements recorded in the system. Tasks such as kitting and
De-kitting de-kitting before dispatch can also be administered and executed
through mobile devices.
Real-time information can be effectively tracked on delivery, stops, Enhanced tracking
diversions and breakdowns by shipment handlers using mobile efficiency and greater
Shipment devices to provide updates and even request service. Tracking customer satisfaction.
Tracking information at this level can help by providing customers with
exact information on the status of shipments, which is important
for B2C companies.
Dynamic optimization can be achieved in fleet utilization by Cost reduction through
receiving location and status updates of vehicles in real time efficient fleet utilization
using mobile devices. Also, dispatches can be consolidated and and management.
Fleet
optimized based on concurrent information. Route optimization
Management can be achieved based on real-time information being received
from mobile-enabled vehicles to enable traffic updates, weather
conditions and other geo-relevant information.
Electronic Electronic proof of delivery/collection along with signature capture Time savings in
Proof of can be implemented using mobile devices. The delivery person can obtaining proof of
use a specialized mobile device to record the acknowledgement delivery and updating
Delivery/
from customer and to concurrently update status. delivery status.
Collection
(EPOD/EPOC)
Figure 4
the organization’s overall strategic objectives. Put Numbers to Objectives
This approach will help ensure the organization It is a good practice to calibrate objectives with
achieves synergistic benefits over the long term. numerical targets where quantitative measure-
On the other hand, it is also imperative that ments are feasible. This will help justify the invest-
these objectives address key and significant pain ments needed for the deployment as well as make
points of the warehouse workforce, as well as the it easy to measure the results post-deployment.
function. This will drive active participation and It may be difficult to assign exact numerical
wholehearted adoption of mobility solutions by targets in most cases, so ballpark objectives can
key stakeholders. be set. For example, if inventory reduction is an
cognizant 20-20 insights 5Mobility’s Supervisory Benefits
Function How to Enable Mobility Benefit
Real-time approvals can be provided by supervisors and Time savings leading to
administrators for all warehouse processes using mobile cost savings through faster
Real-Time applications. When an activity requiring approval is execution of processes.
Approvals recorded, notifications are received by the supervisor(s)
(based on pre-configured workflows), who can review and
approve/reject the request concurrently from his device.
Business intelligence and analytical tools can be used to Faster and effective access
generate ad hoc reports with interactive charts and layouts to intelligent information and
Business Intel- on mobile devices that can be accessed from anywhere, analysis leading to efficient
ligence and anytime. This can take advantage of information updates decision-making.
Reporting provided through mobile devices in near-real time, thus
giving scope to execute and track key warehousing aspects
such as predictive replenishments, hours accounting, etc.
Some basic system administration functions such as user Time savings through ease of
administration, device administration and parameters configuration management.
administration can be made accessible through mobile
System Adminis-
devices to administrators who work in distributed environ-
tration ments (e.g., modifying user access to specific functions,
changing device configurations, changing parameter values
of system parameters, etc.).
Ad hoc label printing requests can be made through mobile Time savings through ease of
Ad Hoc Label
devices from any point in the warehouse whenever needed making print requests from
Printing by any user who has access to the specific function. anywhere.
Figure 5
objective, then mobility deployment can target a flow and the other objectives already defined.
7% to 10% reduction in inventory. The underlying focus will be to integrate mobility
into the host of activities needed to maximize
Process Evaluation deployment benefits.
This requires an intensive evaluation of the
warehouse processes in light of the objectives Mobility for Business Goals, Not Vice Versa
defined in the previous stage. Evaluation and It is important to keep in mind that the objectives
analysis of key processes should result in reen- of deploying mobility, which were identified in
gineering for improved execution efficiency in the first stage, were to help attain business goals
terms of cost reduction, speed, error reduction, rather than deployment of a mobility strategy
productivity improvement, agility of information and devices. For example, suppose the existing
Key Considerations for Successful Warehouse Mobility Deployments
Objective Process Solution Build Pilot Testing Deployment Support &
Definition Evaluation Designing Scale-up
Balance Top Floor Mobility for Design for a Choose Vendors Measure the Deploy Warehouse Set Up a
& Shop Floor Goals. Business Goals. Phase-Wise for Solution. Business, Not Just by Warehouse. Centralized
Put Numbers to Evaluate Warehouse Implementation. Follow Iterative the System. Train Optimally. and Remote.
Objectives. Environment & Take the “App-Way.” Builds. Choose the Right Management
Evaluate a Remote
Usability. Warehouse for Infrastructure.
Involve End Users. Setup Option.
Keep the Techno- Pilot.
Minimize Design
Functional View. Complexities.
Figure 6
cognizant 20-20 insights 6way of working involves inbound material put Design for a Phase-Wise Implementation
away and inventory consolidation as two separate An effective approach for implementing mobility
processes and one of the objectives is to optimize in a warehouse is to create a phased implemen-
inventory handling costs. The reengineered tation plan based on criticality of functionalities,
process should involve mobility-enabled directed possibility of disruptions of critical processes,
put away which handles consolidation automati- availability of resources and
cally rather than keeping put away and consoli- budget constraints. This step
dation as two separate processes and mobile- kicks off the phased plan
An effective approach
enabling each process individually. because at this point, a more for implementing
complete view of the process mobility in a warehouse
Evaluate Warehouse Environment and Usability
level requirements, techno-
It will be comparatively easier to assess the functional needs, environ-
is to create a phased
environmental conditions in this stage while mental needs and usability implementation plan
evaluating the processes. Detailed notes can be requirements is available. based on criticality
made here regarding circumstances such as dust On the other hand, the con-
exposure, extreme temperatures, possibility of siderations of a phased
of functionalities,
contact with liquids and chemicals, possibility of plan can be more easily possibility of
drops and wash-downs and other such conditions absorbed in the technical disruptions of critical
experienced across various processes. Notes design, functional design,
should also be taken for possible usability details procurement needs, setup
processes, availability
such as the need for scanners, keyboards, touch- and installation needs, etc. of resources and
enabled interfaces, cameras or other such needs — which will be challenging budget constraints.
for the activities being chalked out. These will once the design is finalized.
form valuable inputs while deciding the hardware
features and form-factor requirements of the Take the ‘App-Way’
solution. An app-based approach rules the world of mobility
today and is expected to prevail for the foresee-
Keep the Techno-Functional View
able future due to key benefits such as the ease
The other key imperative is to determine techno- of deployment and maintenance, scalability and
functional requirements such as flow of informa- flexibility it provides. (A detailed discussion on
tion, workflow needs, communication enhance- this topic is beyond the scope of this white paper.)
ment needs, etc. while evaluating and redesigning Designing the warehouse mobility solution on
processes. This ensures more integrated brain- an app-based architecture will help in leveraging
storming and eliminates the need to evaluate those benefits. Each function can be deployed as
these activities at a later stage. a separate app, installable from an organization
wide “app-store.” Users can have access to apps
Solution Designing
based on their roles and the functions they execute
The next stage involves detailing the complete on the ground. (For more insights on this subject,
solution by integrating both hardware and see our white paper “Enterprise Mobile Apps: How
software design requirements. The hardware Role-Based Apps Will Drive Productivity and Trans-
design will contain details of the kinds of mobile formation in Manufacturing Companies.”) Some
devices required along with their expected obvious benefits of this would be efficient access
features and functionalities, device form factors, control, better supportability and maintainability,
communication protocols, network requirements easier collection of feedback and issue tracking,
and other hardware and infrastructure needs. This efficient scalability, etc. Ideally, the apps should be
should also take into account the environmen- designed to handle broader functions end to end;
tal and usability needs detailed in the previous however, if functional interdependencies cannot
stage. The software design will detail the mobili- be completely eliminated, they can be addressed
ty-driven functional model required in the system by creating app dependencies requiring installa-
to enable reengineered process flows from the tion of all interdependent apps.
previous stage. This should also detail the data
flow, computational needs and algorithms, state Involve End Users
diagrams, user interfaces and system interfaces At this stage, it is possible to get carried away by
of the solution based on techno-functional needs the expertise of architects and solution designers
identified in the previous stage. while ignoring the actual end users who will use
cognizant 20-20 insights 7the system at the ground level. It is imperative to Follow Iterative Builds
verify the design aspects that directly affect the A significant consideration at this stage will be to
end users within a chosen sample of users. For go for an iterative build to deliver on the phased
example, a picker’s input is important in deciding plan diagrammed in the previous stage. This will
whether the mobile devices used for picking be more streamlined if the phased plan had been
should have touch-based interfaces or physical created with the necessary considerations incor-
keypads. Again, these inputs need to be properly porated in the design. Also, an app-based design
moderated in light of technical feasibility and will be helpful here to build/enhance a set of apps
budget constraints. In the end, it is good to know in each phase. This will ensure better cost and
what can and cannot be provided instead of not time controls during the build stage, with clear
providing something that could have been done milestones and deliverables.
with ease.
Pilot Testing
Minimize Design Complexities
At this stage, a small-scale pilot is deployed to
The tendency to increase system complexity, in test the mobility solution with end users. This is
the design stage, for rare exceptional situations where the solution deployment steps, installation
needs to be curbed to prevent and go-live sequences and considerations are
A picker’s input time and cost overruns and
ensure a more manageable
tested before carrying out actual user acceptance
testing. This is also the best time to conduct all
is important in and supportable solution. For necessary measurements for studying the effect
deciding whether example, ingress protection (IP) of deploying mobility in a warehouse once user
the mobile devices sealing levels of devices should
be in tune with the current and
testing has started.
used for picking predictable future environ- Measure the Business, Not Just the System
should have touch- ment of operations rather than It is very important to perform measurements
based interfaces or making it too future-proof based
on unpredictable changes in the
focused on the business objectives identified
in the first stage of deployment rather than
physical keypads. work environment. Similarly, it is merely measuring the performance of the new
not advisable to build a complex system. For example, if inventory reduction was
feature into the software that will be needed only a strategic objective of this deployment, there
in very rare and unpredictable situations without should be some measure to monitor the inventory
exploring the existence of potential workarounds. levels before and after deployment. It is best to
not get carried away by measures of how fast the
Build
system is responding and how many defects are
This stage is where the solution is developed by present in the software although they too are sig-
procuring the hardware, developing the software nificant measurements to be carried out in this
and installing the infrastructure. As a prerequi- phase. This is where a real advantage of phased
site, the organization must evaluate each vendor building and implementation can be felt. If the
and make hardware, software and infrastructure measurement results don’t live up to the targets
selections based on the organization’s procure- when the first phase is pilot tested, subsequent
ment processes and the resource base. phases can include the necessary fine-tuning to
correct course.
Choose Vendors for Solution,
Not Just Products Choose the Right Warehouse for Pilot
In the vendor selection phase, it is important to It is crucial for pilot testing to choose a represen-
choose vendors that can provide solutions for tative warehouse that covers the orhanization’s
warehouse mobility deployment — and preferably core functions and processes. On the other hand,
have experience doing so. Like all enterprise it is also imperative to not choose a warehouse
products, taking a product-specific approach may for the pilot test that is critical to the business —
not prove to be effective in attaining end-busi- one where disruptions would affect an important
ness objectives. Thus, a vendor that understands market significantly. Balancing these criteria is key.
the specifics of the organization’s business, and
hence its warehousing needs, is typically a more Deployment
reliable partner than the one with the lowest-cost At this stage, the solution is deployed in the
or most feature-rich product. planned warehouses and used to carry out
day-to-day business. In the case of a phased
cognizant 20-20 insights 8implementation, this stage will go live with just tion, as discussed in the solution designing stage,
the first set of functionalities initially, with more the support and scale-up of the deployed phases
functionality added at subsequent stages based continue in parallel to the implementation of the
on the plan created in the solution designing later phases.
stage. User training is a key activity to be carried
out before going live. Set Up a Centralized and Remote
Management Infrastructure
Deploy Warehouse by Warehouse The costs of support and scale-up can be pro-
It is a good practice to deploy warehouse by hibitive if it is managed and administered
warehouse. It ensures that the specialists who locally. It is important to centralize the support
are needed for the go-live can focus on one of mobile devices and the related infrastruc-
warehouse at a time, thus reducing the total ture, including the wireless network. Scaling
headcount needed. This also ensures that lessons up activities executed occa-
learned during previous deployments can be sionally also needs to be In a phased
carried over. seamlessly deployed to ensure
implementation,
the least possible disruption
Train Optimally to warehouse operations. as discussed in the
To train all users equally in something as resource Thus, consider a support and solution designing
intensive as a warehouse can be costly and time- maintenance infrastructure
stage, the support
consuming. Instead, it may be optimal to subject that is centralized and can be
all warehouse workers to a basic training, then remotely managed. Here, an and scale-up of
provide specialized training that is functionally app-based implementation, as the deployed
based and focused on key responsibilities, and mentioned earlier, can prove
phases continue
then handpick a few across all the functions for very useful since it makes
in-depth training. Those who receive in-depth maintenance and pushing of in parallel to the
training can then help to train the others when upgrades far easier and less implementation of
needs arise. intrusive compared to a more
the later phases.
aggregated system.
Evaluate a Remote Setup Option
The initial setup and installation of mobile devices Looking Forward
is a time-consuming and costly affair. In most As IT advances, mobile devices are moving toward
cases, however, it is possible to do this remotely greater levels of integration with human activity.
from a central location using a staging solution. Enterprises are using this to their advantage by
The required setup can be pushed to devices on deploying smart mobile devices and apps that
the ground with little or no end-user involvement. increase process efficiency and thus enhance
Hence, it is advisable to evaluate a remote setup productivity by enabling new ways of working.
option wherever feasible.
Enterprise mobility is the most significant step
Support and Scale-Up in this direction. Successful organizations are
After successful deployment, a continuous those that use their power to build, operate and
process of support and scale-up of the solution extend new-age warehouses today. Due to the
is initiated. The deployed solution needs to be immense benefits, the warehouses of tomorrow
administered, managed and supported actively. will evolve with tightly interwoven mobility. It is
It is also necessary to scale up the solution from just a question of which organizations can move
time to time by introducing enhancements in the fast and are able to differentiate themselves at
form of new functionality, advanced technology the onset, leaving laggards to play catch-up with
and platform upgrades. In a phased implementa- market leaders.
Footnotes
1
IDC Manufacturing Insights: “Predictions 2012: Manufacturing.”
2
Gartner Predicts 2012: “Four Forces Combine to Transform the IT Landscape,”
www.gartner.com/id=1871420.
cognizant 20-20 insights 9About the Authors
Shreejit Mitra is a Consultant with Cognizant Business Consulting and is a member of its Manufac-
turing and Logistics Practice. His areas of expertise are in supply chain functions such as warehouse
management and field service management. He is currently advising clients on ways to leverage
disruptive technologies such as mobility in their supply chain functions. Shreejit has an M.B.A. from XIM,
Bhubaneswar, and a B.Tech. in computer science and engineering. He can be reached at Shreejit.Mitra@
cognizant.com.
Ganesh Iyer is a Consulting Manager with Cognizant Business Consulting and is a core team member
of the Manufacturing and Logistics Practice. His primary areas of expertise include supply chain
management and business process harmonization. He has extensive experience advising companies on
ERP selection and implementation issues across manufacturing industries. Ganesh has an M.B.A. from
NITIE, Mumbai, and a B.E. in mechanical engineering. He can be reached at Ganesh.Iyer@cognizant.com.
About Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process out-
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and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 50
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