Microsoft is looking to compete in the supply chain technology space with several new tools designed to integrate different supply chain systems.
The technology company announced on Monday that it has developed a new product, called Microsoft Supply Chain Centerdesigned to help customers connect data between ERPs various and third-party supply chain management solutions; A new way of packaging its products, called Microsoft Supply Chain Platformwhich allows the company to market to customers various solutions related to the supply chain.
The consumer products company Kraft Heinz North Americathe truck manufacturer Daimler Truck North America and the fitness company iFit already using the technology as part of the run-in period according to the company’s announcement.
The three companies, which helped test the new technology as pilot customers, used Microsoft’s new solutions to solve obvious problems in supply chain management. Kraft Heinz used the new product to increase its agility; iFit used it to optimize transport costs; And Daimler used it to manage truck parts and suppliers.
“The platform gives our team the ability to be more agile – to assess risks and opportunities faster than ever before,” said Mitch Arends, senior vice president and chief operating officer atKraft Heinz North America, in a statement to the company’s blog post. “It provides the end-to-end visibility we need to keep our products in the home of our customers across North America, and there’s nothing more important.”
Other companies can sign up to try the technology as part of an official pilot period starting this week. Some Microsoft customers will receive automatic access to Pilot as part of their existing agreements with Microsoft.
Microsoft already offers various products that can help with supply chain management. The company has products like Dynamics 365, ERPandAzure, a cloud computing platform. The technology company is also forging other partnerships, such as a data integration system for order management with FedExto further develop its supply chain technology.
The new system aims to serve as a connection to both internal Microsoft products and external Microsoft products. In a press release, Microsoft emphasized that the “Supply Chain Center” will be able to connect toERPs others, like SAP and-Oracle.