The world has become a truly global economy. The increased ease with which goods can be ordered and transported from the other side of the world has made it possible to build a supply chain that relies on partners from all over the world.
Such an opportunity does not come without challenges, of course, and those challenges are most evident in the fashion design process and the supply chain it feeds. Fortunately, many of those challenges disappear with a robust supply chain management (SCM) solution. But how are systems like this so beneficial to fashion, and the design process in particular?
Lean supply chains benefit everyone
When it comes to eco-friendliness, the fashion industry is not renowned for its ability to move with the times. Frequently the recipient of criticisms regarding wastage, environmental impact, and humanitarian concerns, much of the problems with the creation and manufacturing of fashion items can be attributed to poor supply chain management. Having systems in place that can track products from the earliest stages of development right through to arriving in the customer’s hands is key to improving matters.
A unified and standardized authority that is open to every partner and department along the supply chain helps to eliminate many of the problems created by a dispersed production model. Having one single data authority makes integration with other systems far easier. It allows for up and downstream communication-using the same system. Someone at the start of the supply chain can update the entire team with information that may be relevant to someone further along the chain.
The transparency created by this broad, open channel of collaboration offers many opportunities over more traditional models. One partner along the supply chain might never interact with other partners that are not directly next to them in the production process.
Go from fashion design to finished products with flexibility and speed
The modern fashion industry is continually reinventing the market in terms of what buyers want. Everyone from Instagram influencers to Hollywood movie stars has the power to create and kill fashion trends, and the industry must be able to move and adapt to those whims.
SCM solutions make a company far more agile when it comes to switching gears. Production for product prototypes is much faster than in the traditional systems, and those products can be brought to market far more quickly. These features alone make it considerably easier for fashion companies to react to the ever-changing trends they face.
By providing a direct line of communication between creatives driving the fashion design process and raw material providers and between manufacturers and distributors, mistakes are reduced, logistical delays avoided, and products are improved.
How do you implement SCM software that connects the design process to finished products?
Another dimension of efficiency comes in the form of Software as a Service (SaaS). Running your SCM solutions remotely avoids costly technical support, not to mention it removes a substantial financial burden in keeping your software up to date and secure. SaaS subscriptions are considerably more affordable to medium-sized businesses than one-off software suite purchases. And they provide a high-value, cost-effective solution to large enterprises seeking to streamline their processes.
The Suuchi GRID connects every step of your supply chain from the fashion design process to consumers in one efficient system.
LEARN MORE: Learn more about how Suuchi’s SaaS model delivers SCM solutions for fashion.
