Integration of Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions Within Supply Chain Management - Dissertation Example

It uses the latest of what Information Technology can offer to assist it in gathering historical data of its operation and at the same time being provided real-time reports of its operation. The ability to move its inventory as efficiently as possible to all its stores either from the owners of the labels or from its own distribution center is one of the lifeblood of Tesco thus its employment of a Supply Chain Management System is mandatory. However, it is also imperative that information technology should not only assist its operation it is also essential for Tesco to be ahead of its competitor by ensuring that its information is built into an essential knowledge base for use in developing its business intelligence framework.

Integrating an Enterprise Resource Planning Solution into a Supply Chain Management System would provide the infrastructure to achieve this. The integrated system would be able to project demands and issue orders ahead of time to ensure that the shelves of Tesco’s retail stores scattered all over the United Kingdom do not go empty. To stay ahead of its competitor within the same industry the knowledge that will be built in the integration of the two systems would translate to the provisioning of valuable information to label or product owners.

Information such as demands based on geography and time will aid label owners in how to time their production and delivery to Tesco stores.Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions have considered and taken into consideration all information that can be gathered about the operation of the organization and convert them into knowledge that companies can use to meet the demands of the industry (Monk & Wagner, 2012). The Supply Chain Management system takes into account all relevant information that can be collected for purposes of making the production and inventory process efficient, cost-effective, and responsive to market demands (Hugos, 2011).

The implementation of both solutions would enable the company to meet its production targets while at the same time it will be informed in real-time of the operational position of the organization including its financial situation (Karni & Shtub, 2009).Tesco plc is a retail and general merchandise organization headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom (Tesco, 2012). The nature of business of Tesco requires that it keeps track of all inventories to a point wherein it is aware of when an item in its inventory is received up to the time on when it is sold.

A Supply Chain Management System would be able to track inventories in this same manner as described. An Enterprise Resource Planning System would be able to provide Financial and Controlling systems, Human Resource Management, Production Planning, Treasury systems, and the planning of all other company resources. These systems would be able to provide the visibility management needed to ensure that it can control the direction and manage the operation toward a specific goal or profitable future.