How do you get up to speed on supply chain data given there's not enough, it's not organized well, and I can't seem to find anyone from IT or my team able/willing to help?
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Head of Programmes in Constructiona year ago
Whenever I have encountered a situation similar to the one describe, I have always embraced it as an opportunity rather than a barrier to progress.For me, it has always presented an opportunity to collaborate with other Subject Matter Experts in other Teams and an opportunity to build sound working relationships with other Teams and Team Leaders.
Everyone enjoys sharing their knowledge and experience with our peers. Which is why I guess I am providing my input to this question.
I have included below some ideas for Alternative Data Sources to build Supplier Profiles and to help assess Supplier Performance in Digital Services and Technology Categories.
If some or, none of these suggestions appeal there is a "Plan B" ... ask for support from your Gartner Account Lead.
Checklist: Alternative Data Sources for Supplier Profiles and Supplier Performance in Digital Services and Technology Categories
1. Social Media Platforms:
- LinkedIn Profiles: Assess Supplier expertise, experience, and professional connections.
- Twitter: Monitor Supplier reputation and Customer interactions.
- GitHub and/or, Other Coding Repositories: Evaluate Supplier's coding capabilities and/or, Open-Source Contributions.
2. Industry-Specific Forums and Communities:
- Tech Forums: Gather insights on Supplier reputation, expertise, and problem-solving abilities.
- Professional Communities: Assess Supplier involvement, thought leadership, and industry recognition.
3. Online Reviews and Ratings:
- Vendor Review Websites: Analyse Customer feedback and ratings for Supplier performance evaluation.
- App Stores: Assess ratings and reviews of Supplier's digital products and/or, services.
4. News and Media:
- Industry Publications: Stay updated on Supplier achievements, partnerships, and newsworthy events.
- Press Releases: Gather information on Supplier initiatives, product launches, or organisational changes.
5. Awards and Recognitions:
- Industry-Specific Awards: Identify Suppliers with exceptional performance and/or, innovation.
- Certifications and Accreditations: Assess supplier adherence to quality standards and regulatory compliance.
6. Case Studies and Whitepapers:
- Supplier's Website and/or, Industry Publications: Analyse Case Studies and Whitepapers showcasing successful projects and/or, Thought Leadership.
7. Web Analytics and SEO Data:
- Supplier Website Traffic: Evaluate popularity, user engagement, and overall digital presence.
- Search Engine Rankings: Assess visibility and SEO efforts of suppliers.
8. User-Generated Content:
- Blogs and Forums: Look for discussions, experiences, and/or, recommendations related to the Supplier's Products and/or, Services.
- YouTube or, Other Video Platforms: Evaluate reviews, tutorials, and/or, demos featuring the Supplier's offerings.
9. Publicly Available Financial Data:
- Annual Reports: Assess supplier's financial stability, growth, and profitability.
- Companies House/SEC filings (for public companies): Analyse financial statements, business strategies, and risks.
10. Supplier's Partnerships and Alliances:
- Supplier Announcements and/or, Partnership Pages: Identify collaborations, integrations, and/or, strategic alliances with other companies.
11. Professional Networks and Associations:
- Trade Associations and/or, Professional Networks: Gather information on Supplier involvement, certifications, or industry events.
12. Academic Research and Publications:
- Scholarly Articles and/or, Conference Papers: Assess Supplier's participation in research, innovation, and/or, academic collaborations.
Without wishing to tell anyone something which they may already know, please remember when using alternative data sources, it is essential to verify and cross-reference information to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Advocate for data governance and raise awareness about its benefits. Establish a data governance framework tailored to your organization's supply chain needs. Identify data sources and gaps to understand the current state of data availability. Collaborate with IT and relevant teams to improve data management.
Prioritize data cleansing and organization by allocating resources and effort. Implement data visualization and analytics tools to model and visualize the supply chain data. Define clear actions based on data insights to optimize processes and enhance supply chain performance.
By focusing on data governance and addressing organizational challenges, you can effectively utilize supply chain data and drive improvements.