Supply Chain Technology Course

Lesson 1 • Supply Chain Performance Metrics

Introduces KPIs such as fill rate, cycle time, and cost-to-serve. Establishes measurement baselines that IT integration is expected to improve.

Lesson 2 • Supply Chain Structure and Key Players

Defines supply chain tiers, roles, and interdependencies. Provides the structural vocabulary needed for all subsequent IT integration discussions.

Lesson 3 • Information Flow in Logistics Operations

Traces how orders, forecasts, and shipment data move across partners. Highlights gaps that motivate IT integration throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Enterprise Resource Planning in Logistics

Explains ERP modules relevant to supply chain: procurement, inventory, and finance. Shows how ERP serves as the transactional backbone for integration.

Lesson 2 • Supply Chain Visibility Platforms

Examines platforms that aggregate real-time shipment and inventory data across partners. Establishes visibility as a prerequisite for proactive decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Demand Planning and Forecasting Tools

Introduces demand planning software and statistical forecasting methods. Connects accurate demand signals to inventory and procurement decisions.

Lesson 4 • Warehouse Management Systems

Details WMS capabilities including receiving, putaway, picking, and shipping. Positions WMS as the operational hub within distribution centers.

Lesson 1 • API Design and RESTful Integration

Covers REST API concepts, endpoints, authentication, and payload design for logistics data. Enables students to specify and test API-based integrations.

Lesson 2 • XML and JSON for Supply Chain Messaging

Compares XML and JSON schemas used in modern supply chain APIs. Prepares students to evaluate format choices for new integration projects.

Lesson 3 • Electronic Data Interchange Fundamentals

Explains EDI transaction sets, message structure, and trading partner agreements. Establishes EDI as the dominant B2B communication standard in logistics.

Lesson 1 • Cloud iPaaS Platforms for Logistics

Surveys cloud integration-platform-as-a-service tools and their pre-built logistics connectors. Enables rapid deployment of integrations without on-premise infrastructure.

Lesson 2 • Event-Driven Integration Patterns

Covers publish-subscribe messaging, event streaming, and asynchronous processing for logistics events. Supports real-time responsiveness across distributed systems.

Lesson 3 • Point-to-Point vs. Hub-and-Spoke Integration

Contrasts direct system connections with centralized integration patterns. Demonstrates why hub-and-spoke reduces complexity as partner counts grow.

Lesson 4 • Enterprise Service Bus Architecture

Explains ESB components: message broker, routing, transformation, and orchestration. Positions ESB as the coordination layer for heterogeneous systems.

Lesson 1 • Safety Stock and Service Level Modeling

Teaches statistical safety stock formulas and their inputs from demand planning systems. Links safety stock levels to target fill rates and holding costs.

Lesson 2 • Real-Time Inventory Visibility Tools

Examines RFID, barcode scanning, and IoT sensors for perpetual inventory accuracy. Accurate real-time data is the foundation for automated replenishment.

Lesson 3 • Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization

Covers optimization across distribution center and store echelons using specialized software. Reduces total network inventory while preserving availability.

Lesson 1 • Freight Audit, Payment, and Analytics

Automates invoice validation against contracted rates and flags billing discrepancies. Analytics identify cost-saving opportunities across lanes and carriers.

Lesson 2 • Real-Time Shipment Tracking and Alerts

Integrates GPS, telematics, and carrier APIs to provide end-to-end shipment visibility. Proactive alerts reduce exception resolution time.

Lesson 3 • Carrier Selection and Rate Management

Covers rate shopping, contract management, and carrier scorecarding within TMS. Enables data-driven carrier decisions that balance cost and service.

Lesson 4 • Last-Mile Delivery Technology

Covers route optimization, proof-of-delivery apps, and customer notification systems for last-mile. Addresses the highest-cost segment of the delivery network.

Lesson 1 • Prescriptive Analytics and Optimization

Introduces linear programming and simulation for network design and inventory decisions. Prescriptive tools recommend actions, not just insights.

Lesson 2 • Analytics Governance and Data Literacy

Covers data ownership, access controls, and building analytics literacy across logistics teams. Governance ensures analytics outputs are trusted and acted upon.

Lesson 3 • Supply Chain Data Architecture

Explains data warehouses, data lakes, and ETL pipelines that consolidate logistics data. Proper architecture is the prerequisite for reliable analytics.

Lesson 4 • Predictive Analytics for Demand and Risk

Applies regression, time-series, and machine learning models to demand and disruption forecasting. Predictive outputs feed directly into planning and replenishment systems.

Lesson 1 • Vendor Selection and Contract Management

Covers RFP design, vendor evaluation criteria, and SLA negotiation for logistics IT. Rigorous selection reduces implementation risk and total cost of ownership.

Lesson 2 • IT Integration Roadmap Development

Guides students through current-state assessment, gap analysis, and phased roadmap creation. A structured roadmap aligns stakeholders and prioritizes integration investments.

Lesson 3 • Business Case and ROI for Integration Projects

Teaches cost-benefit analysis, payback period, and NPV calculation for IT integration initiatives. Quantified business cases secure executive sponsorship and budget approval.

Lesson 4 • Integration Governance and Continuous Improvement

Establishes governance structures, integration standards, and continuous improvement cycles for IT programs. Ongoing governance prevents technical debt and sustains performance gains.