How do you see the benefits of cloud computing for the Manufacturing and Supply Chain industry, and how have you embraced it?
Ryder has and continues to implement and evaluate the increased use of cloud computing, both Infrastructure as a Service and Platforms as a Service, to ensure we continue providing reliable, flexible, and scalable solutions for our customers. Balancing the benefits and risks (i.e. security, access, etc.) is important to ensure we maximize value. There is no doubt the manufacturing and supply chain technology industry are migrating rapidly, giving us many options to consider as we continue to evolve our technology portfolio. Additionally, it also has the following advantages:
• Scalability and Elasticity: Leverage cloud to quickly scale and adjust to workloads.
• Connectivity: Providing visibility in real-time, ability to touch and influence
• Intelligence: Connected devices combined with analytics, cognitive and smart apps on cloud providing our customers access to real-time information and decision making
Companies are moving fast towards cloud-based TMS. Please share how this is affecting end-to-end supply chain?
• The Transportation Management technology market is responding to the needs of the end-to-end supply chain. Cloud-based delivery platforms, IoT, digital business innovation, and data are proven value drivers to every supply chain. Specifically, cloud-based solutions are driving a lower cost of entry and wider adoption and return on investment.
• Cloud has become the dominant delivery mechanism for TMS solutions. Cloud is allowing the TMS vendors to invest in expanding their breadth and depth at a much more rapid pace—from strategic planning, strategic freight sourcing and procurement, through visibility and performance management, to freight payment and audit capabilities.