Over the last decade, we have made strides in the way we operate and manage our supply chain. Innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and even analytics have changed the very way we work. We finally live in a world where we have more data than we ever did before and even though this can be intimidating at first, it is also very exciting.
As one segment of the industry leaps forward with the help of these new tools, another segment still relies on a rudimentary solution to do some of their most advanced activities. Teams across the supply chain are still using spreadsheets for everything from planning to reporting. While these were quick to gain popularity for being digital and easy to use, the processing power of Excel and Google Sheets has long since been surpassed as new technologies make it easier than ever to not only track but harmonize and react to data. Technology has leaped forward, innovating beyond spreadsheets into systems that make manual data calibration and consolidation a thing of the past.
Like with any technology, change can be intimidating. It can be easy to stay with the status quo, thinking that even the slightest change can uproot years of work. Moving away from spreadsheets should be viewed as a life upgrade- a way to save time and resources that can be applied towards more meaningful activities.
So, let’s take a look at how Rebus, a real-time warehouse visibility tool is built specifically for a warehouse setting. Aside from being simple to use, fast, and able to process large sums of data quickly, The Rebus Platform outperforms spreadsheets by –
1. Offering Stronger Visualizations –
This one alone is enough of a reason to move away from spreadsheets. One of the best features of The Rebus Platform is the ability to effortlessly visualize all your data across all systems and partners on to one dashboard. The platform gives you complete real-time visibility in to all operational metrics in a format that is easy to digest. Not only does this help with understanding the data, but these dashboards could also be shared live with teams on the operations floor to track performance in real-time.
Say goodbye to long mouse scrolls, clunky tables, and the spinning wheel – and say hello to colorful graphs at the click of a button.
2. Making Reporting Easier –
As easy as spreadsheets are to use and navigate, they make reporting on data exceptionally frustrating. Teams need to learn multiple tricks and tools just to navigate and extract the right data. This process takes away precious time in a warehouse setting that should be used in active management, operations, and improving the customer experience..
Rebus allows teams to seamlessly build operational reports based on pre-determined criteria. Teams can choose to track their data either real-time or historically (or both!) giving a holistic picture of your operations. It’s easy as 1-2-3!
3. Helping Build Customizable Dashboards –
When you use spreadsheets, most users get one standard view. However, not all users want to see the entire data set or at times even should be seeing the data set (there is such a thing as too much visibility!). Rebus lets you build customizable dashboards that can track both real-time and historical performance of any operational metric. You could build a manager view, a team view, a site view, etc. depending on your needs and share them accordingly.
This is helpful when dealing with multiple stakeholders from 3PL vendors to other internal teams. For Example, Kraft Heinz uses Rebus to share real-time data with everybody from leadership up to the transportation team. Everybody has access to same data but with different views tailored to their needs.
The Rebus platform outperforms excel spreadsheets any way that you slice the cake. As much as we have enjoyed the ride on spreadsheets till now, it’s time we upgrade. The future is Rebus.
By: Siddhant Nagpal
