Supply Chain Business Intelligence: Technologies, Issues and Trends

Supply chains are complex systems with silos of information that are very difficult to integrate and analyze. The best way to effectively analyze these disparate systems is the use of Business Intelligence (BI). The ability to make and then to process the right decision at the right time in collaboration with the right partners is the definition of the successful use of BI. This chapter discusses the need for Supply Chain Business Intelligence, introduces driving forces for its adoption and describes the supply chain BI architecture. The global supply chain performance measurement system based on the process reference model is described. The main cutting-edge technologies such as service-oriented architecture (SOA), business activity monitoring (BAM), web portals, data mining, and their role in BI systems are also discussed. Finally, key BI trends and technologies that will influence future systems are described.