Success story – Increasing end-to-end transparency in the supply chain

In this blog post you can discover how Log-hub’s strategic collaboration with Huber+Suhner transforms supply chain management, overcoming challenges, enhancing end-to-end transparency, and delivering substantial business value through innovative data-driven solutions.

The initial contact between Huber+Suhner and Log-hub AG, marked by a ground-breaking network design study, quickly revealed the potential for a profound transformation through data. Huber+Suhner faced a series of complex challenges, ranging from unstructured data handling to shortcomings in standardized solutions. Addressing these challenges required not only technical expertise but also a deep understanding of the intricacies of supply chain management.

Log-hub AG responded by establishing an automated data infrastructure seamlessly integrated into Huber+Suhner’s ecosystem. Based on this infrastructure, additional key use cases in the field of supply chain management were rapidly and value-addingly implemented step by step. With each of these successfully implemented use cases, the data awareness increased and the interest increased up to the highest management levels. As data awareness grew and demand for data and dashboards heightened, the topic of “Report & Dashboard Standardization for globally distributed locations” became more central.

The focus was not only on standardization but also on establishing a new role concept. The project is now well advanced. With each iteration, internal knowledge expands, and new possibilities are discovered to generate value in close collaboration with the business.

The vision of Fabio Menegola, Head of Supply Chain Excellence at Huber+Suhner AG: “To establish a 360° Supply Chain Visibility Cockpit that is precisely tailored to the needs of Huber+Suhner and everyone at Huber+Suhner works with. This 360° Cockpit serves as a global foundation for daily supply chain monitoring and as a decision-making tool.”

Challenges

The challenges at the beginning were of organizational and evolutionary nature. Awareness of structured data handling was largely one-sided, and everyone in the business sought individual solutions for solving their individual problems independently. As a result, the added value of investing in data-related topics could only be communicated to a limited extent. Additionally, development times for data analyses were lengthy and often did not fit into the IT landscape. This led to discrepancies that needed to be overcome.

Not to be underestimated in new initiatives is the strong involvement of internal employees in existing daily business and its operational activities. The new developments had to be integrated at times with great pressure and close collaboration alongside operational activities, leading to occasionally intense and demanding periods.

Thanks to the gradual success, the value of simplifications, standardization, and new possibilities for innovations could simultaneously be demonstrated. This promoted employee motivation, increased trust, and had a positive impact on innovation capability.

With the initiation of the first use cases and a deeper experience with cloud technology many open questions could be easily addressed, and expertise could be built sustainably. The early implementation enabled to reduce fears of new technologies and processes quickly and enduringly. Simultaneously, it demonstrated the potential that such a solution could offer.

Solution – A future-proof data infrastructure

An automated data infrastructure comprised of individual components, harmonized to form an efficient and cost-effective ecosystem, consisting of Microsoft Azure, KNIME Analytics, and Microsoft Power BI. The simplicity and low-code approach enabled Huber+Suhner to process and visualize data quickly and efficiently.

Simultaneously, organizational changes have taken place, establishing a data organization that can sustainably position, coordinate, and drive forward the topics of data and analytics with many new innovations.

Business Value for Huber+Suhner:

• Increased End-to-End Transparency: Improved understanding of business processes, enhanced transparency throughout the entire supply chain, and the ability to quickly identify areas for improvement.
• Trust in Data: Consistent and reliable provision of data.
• Efficiency Gains: Faster, more efficient, and simpler data provisioning, leading to a quicker time-to-market.
• Reduction in Operational Effort: Automation and standardization result in reduced efforts and save costs at the same time.
• Employee Motivation: The introduction and involvement in new technologies significantly boost employee motivation.
• Higher Data Awareness: Within Huber+Suhner, the subject of data has been positively established, raising awareness and importance of data within the organization.

Value of Log-hub

Huber+Suhner highly values the collaboration with Log-hub on a partnership level.

Fabio Menegola says, “Log-hub provides both technical and domain expertise, allowing them to bridge both worlds. The rapid successes achieved in a short period and the high quality of work have enabled us to gain recognition up to the highest management levels relatively early on. Log-hub consultants are committed, communicative, flexible, and contribute their ideas. They deliver what they promise and often more. I look forward to further collaboration.”

Next Steps

The partnership is an ongoing process with the aim of continuously increasing data maturity, evolving the organization, and implementing new, exciting use cases with business value. This next phase of collaboration promises even more innovative solutions and perspectives, bringing Huber+Suhner one step closer to the vision of the 360° Supply Chain Cockpit every day.