IBM has announced a raft of updates to its Sterling supply chain solution, including new integrations with Salesforce’s CRM solutions.
Sterling is IBM’s management platform for the supply chain, including data analytics and order fulfilment capabilities.
Working with MuleSoft, IBM is developing a connector which will allow Sterling to integrate with Salesforce’s Commerce Cloud, Service Cloud and Marketing Cloud. It says this will allow retailers to use Salesforce’s solutions to offer a stronger customer experience.
IBM is also collaborating with Publicis Sapient, which will add new AI capabilities allowing retailers to simplify heir returns orchestration and bring returned products into inventory.
Meanwhile, project44 is integrating its carrier network with Sterling to allow clients to obtain more accurate shipment times and identify and respond to impacts on their supply chains.
Jeanette Barlow, VP, Offering Management and Strategy, IBM Sterling, said: “The retail industry is poised for a renaissance as companies move away from siloed and legacy applications towards scalable, enterprise-tuned platforms that can holistically address customer-facing and supply chain operations challenges.
“This shift is likely compounding the industry’s need to quickly innovate across traditional functional domains and deliver new capabilities that span operations and even third party supply chain partners. To create the seamless and personalised experience customers expect and provide a true first-mover advantage, companies should modernise supply chains on top of open platforms that can harness technologies such as AI, blockchain, IoT, and hybrid cloud. Our relationships in this space can help our clients to make this shift more quickly.”
Image credit: IBM
