Technology Magazine July 2022 | Page 147

Live simulations can bring unlimited ‘ what if ’ scenarios
IT BUDGETS
With the global chip or semiconductor shortage , which has led to increased product and freight costs , having a “ crippling effect across various industries , from automotive to IT ”, Wilson observes that spending on software-as-a-service “ may still be growing , but global spending on IT hardware is slowing down ”.
“ We suggest organisations broaden their thinking , from exploring alternative suppliers to recycling or upcycling older technology to leveraging software solutions . And above all ? Challenge their suppliers to come up with ideas . There ’ s usually more than one way to get the job done ,” says Wilson .
Data democratisation “ As businesses become better accustomed to fluctuating conditions , we ’ ll likely see a focus on longer term planning , but adaptability will be a key priority .” That ’ s the opinion of Nicky Tozer , SVP for EMEA at Oracle NetSuite .
“ Easy access to accurate , real-time data streams that unify data from across the organisation has never been more important . Manually collecting and analysing data from different departments and spreadsheets not only takes a huge amount of manpower and time , but can lead to errors and poor decision making .
For growing businesses , integrating data solutions directly into their organisations will be a priority for 2022 , allowing fast responses in a changing market , effective planning and informed decision making .
Henrik Smedberg , head of intelligent spend management at SAP Ariba & SAP Fieldglass , adds : “ Visibility is always important in supply chains , in particular when trying to mitigate global supply disruptions that have become more

Live simulations can bring unlimited ‘ what if ’ scenarios

“ Modern supercomputing is delivering something new . By parallelising live simulations , you can explore unlimited ‘ what if ’ scenarios quickly , enabling you to find and reach your optimum decision faster . For this to happen , we need scalable compute power that can be accessed as needed .” Craig Beddis , CEO , Hadean .
commonplace in recent years . Amid this backdrop , it ’ s essential that companies have visibility of all their trading partners – including manufacturers , shippers , forwarders and others – and have the connectivity to deliver real-time updates throughout the process .”
“ Key to achieving this is to shift away from the traditional linear supply chain where each step is dependent on the one before ,” says Smedberg .
“ Network strategies and making use of data-driven insights for forecasting will be important in avoiding repercussions from future shocks and shifts , replacing linearity with interconnectivity , and allowing procurement and supply chain
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