Key figures & reporting: strategic management with AI analyses
Discover AI-supported key figure reporting. Analyze data in dialogue with our SC-Agent, create interactive dashboards and proactively manage your supply chain.
Key figures & reporting: strategic management with AI analyses
In a data-driven world, key figures and reports are more than just analyses of the past – they are the compass for your strategic decisions. Our SC Manager transforms your reporting from a static evaluation to a dynamic, interactive dialog with your data. Ask questions in natural language, let our AI-powered SC agent analyze complex correlations and proactively get the insights you need to optimize your reporting. supply chain safely and efficiently.
From rigid reports to dynamic dialog: The future of controlling
In a world characterized by volatile markets, complex supply chains and a constantly growing volume of data, traditional, past-oriented reporting is no longer sufficient. To remain competitive, companies need to be able to not only collect their data, but actively use it to proactively manage, identify risks at an early stage and make informed strategic decisions. This is exactly where the next generation of controlling comes in: an intelligent, interactive and AI-supported key performance indicator and reporting system.
The challenge: data silos and a lack of transparency
Many companies struggle with fragmented data landscapes. Relevant information is often stored in different systems such as ERPCRM or Excel spreadsheets.
Manually collating and analyzing this data is not only time-consuming and error-prone, but also only provides a static view of the past. Important correlations remain hidden and unforeseen events can only be responded to reactively instead of proactively.
This leads to inefficient processes, untapped savings potential and increased susceptibility to disruptions in the supply chain.
The solution: Your intelligent analysis assistant - The SC-Agent
Imagine if you could interact with your data as easily as with a colleague. That’s exactly what our SC-Agent, an integrated SC-Manager artificial intelligence. Instead of creating complex queries or clicking through countless reports, simply ask your questions in natural language.
The SC-Agent understands the context of your question, accesses all relevant data sources, analyzes the information and provides you with the answer – not as raw data, but as a comprehensible, graphically prepared evaluation.
Communicative AI: in dialog with your database
Our communicative AI approach is revolutionizing data analysis. You don’t need to be a data analyst to gain profound insights. Just ask:
- “What strategic impact would a war in Iran have on my product groups and their articles?”
- “Show me all suppliers with a high risk of default and poor delivery performance in the last six months.”
- “Which items have seen the biggest price increases and what alternative suppliers are there for them?”
The SC-Agent searches all internal data (e.g. from your ERP system) in real time and compares it with external information on risks, compliance and market developments. This data also comes from our Supplier portalwhich acts as a central communication platform with your suppliers. The result is a well-founded, context-related response that provides you with immediate actionable insights. You can also find out more about this in our blog post on the topic Process monitoring.
Interactive dashboards and scorecards: Everything at a glance
The insights gained by the SC agent are visualized in interactive dashboards and scorecards. These are far more than just static diagrams. They are your central control cockpit that bundles all relevant information from the entire supply chain and gives you a 360° view of your processes, similar to our Risk & Compliance Management.
The traffic light system: recognize risks proactively
A central element of our dashboards is the intuitive traffic light system. Instead of working your way through long lists and tables, you can see at a glance where action is needed. The SC-Agent continuously evaluates all relevant processes, suppliers and articles based on defined criteria and automatically switches the traffic light to red if there is a risk. This proactively alerts you to potential risks long before they become a real problem. One click on the red traffic light is all it takes to drill down directly to the cause of the problem and initiate suitable measures immediately.
From key figures to action: Integrated analyses
Our dashboards not only provide you with an overview of your key performance indicators (KPIs)but also enable an in-depth root cause analysis. A detailed overview of relevant Key figures in purchasing can be found in our blog. Thanks to intelligent data integration, you can navigate from a global overview down to the smallest detail. Analyze purchasing volumes by product group, compare the performance of different suppliers or track the development of individual material prices – all in a single, user-friendly interface. This is how you turn data into knowledge and knowledge into well-founded decisions.
Comprehensive functionality for holistic controlling
Our module for key figures and reporting offers you a wide range of tools to take your supply chain controlling to a new level. It is seamlessly integrated into the Supplier management software SC-Manager and accesses a central, consistent database.
| Function | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Central database | All relevant data from the ERP, supplier portal and external sources are brought together in a central Microsoft SQL server. | |
| Flexible data integration | Preconfigured interfaces to common ERP systems such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics and proALPHA enable quick and easy connection. | |
| Customized dashboards | Drag and drop to create custom dashboards that are tailored to your needs and those of your stakeholders. | |
| Automated reports | Define one-off reports and have them automatically generated and distributed to the relevant recipients - on time and in the desired format. | |
| Drill-down analyses | Navigate from the global overview down to the level of individual documents to identify causes quickly and precisely. | |
| Scorecards & Benchmarking | Condense complex issues into meaningful scorecards and compare the performance of suppliers, product groups or locations, as is also central to supplier evaluation. | |
| Process monitoring | Monitor your processes in real time and receive proactive notifications in the event of deviations from the defined standard. | |
| Secure & intuitive operation | The browser-based interface is intuitive to use and meets the highest security standards (TÜV-certified, hosting in Germany). |
FAQs: Frequently asked questions
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about supplier management software
What is the biggest advantage of communicative AI analysis?
The biggest advantage lies in the democratization of data analysis. You don’t need to be an IT expert or data analyst to create complex evaluations. By interacting in natural language, specialist users from purchasing or controlling can carry out in-depth analyses independently and immediately gain actionable insights. This accelerates decision-making processes and relieves the burden on the IT department.
Which data sources can the SC-Manager integrate?
The SC Manager can integrate a variety of internal and external data sources. These include ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Microsoft Dynamics), CRM systems, supplier portals, as well as external data providers for risk and compliance information (e.g. credit rating information, sanctions lists) and market data. The flexible API architecture enables the connection of almost any structured data source.
How does the traffic light system work in the dashboards?
The traffic light system is based on an individually configurable set of rules. You define threshold values and criteria for your most important KPIs (e.g. delivery reliability, complaint rate, price development). The SC-Agent continuously monitors these key figures in real time. If the defined threshold values are exceeded or not reached, the traffic light automatically switches to yellow or red and triggers a notification to the responsible employees if required.
Can I define my own company-specific key figures?
Yes, absolutely. Our system is designed in such a way that you can define your own company-specific KPIs in addition to the standard KPIs. With the SC-Designer, you can create your own calculation logic, weightings and visualizations to map precisely the KPIs that are relevant for managing your company.
Is data evaluation really possible in real time?
Yes, data evaluation takes place in real time. As soon as new data is recorded in the connected systems (e.g. a new order in the ERP system), it is immediately available for analysis and reporting in SC-Manager. This enables proactive control and immediate reaction to current developments.
How is data security guaranteed?
Data security is our top priority. SC-Manager is a TÜV IT-certified application and is hosted in an ISO 27001-certified data center in Germany. All data transfers are encrypted, and a detailed role and authorization system ensures that each user can only see and edit the data for which they are authorized.
What advantages does a centralized reporting system offer over Excel?
A central, database-supported system such as SC-Manager offers decisive advantages over Excel: It eliminates data silos and ensures a “single source of truth”. The data is always up-to-date and consistent. The automation of reports saves an enormous amount of time and reduces the susceptibility to errors. In addition, the interactive analysis functions (such as drill-down) enable much deeper and faster root cause analysis than would be possible with static Excel tables.
How complex is the implementation of the system?
Implementation is surprisingly lean thanks to our standardized approach and preconfigured interfaces. In a joint workshop, we define your requirements and adapt the system to your specific processes. Our experienced consultants support you throughout the entire project, from data migration to training your employees, to ensure a quick and smooth start.
Does the system also support mobile reporting?
Yes, as the SC-Manager is a completely browser-based application, you can access it from any device with a web browser – be it a desktop PC, a tablet or a smartphone. This means you can keep an eye on your most important key figures anytime and anywhere.
Can I export the reports and dashboards I have created?
Yes, all reports, charts and dashboards can be exported in common formats such as PDF, Excel or as an image file. This means you can easily share the evaluations with colleagues, integrate them into presentations or use them for further processing in other programs.
Now we would like to give you the answers to the most important questions about us and our solution:
What is Simmeth's SC manager?
ERP systems primarily map transactional processes such as orders or invoices. Topics such as supplier onboarding, risk management, compliance, evaluation or supplier development are usually only possible to a limited extent. The SC Manager supplements existing ERP systems at precisely this point and creates a central platform for all non-transactional supplier processes.
Why is the SC-Manager a useful addition to ERP systems?
ERP systems are primarily designed for processing transactions, such as orders, invoices or bookings. However, actual supplier management goes much further. It includes topics such as onboarding, qualification, risk assessment, compliance, supplier development and collaboration. These processes are usually mapped only rudimentarily or not at all in ERP and require specialized functions such as those offered by dedicated supplier management software.
What specific problems does the SC Manager solve?
The SC Manager solves typical challenges such as distributed supplier data, manual Excel maintenance, high onboarding costs and a lack of transparency regarding risks and compliance. All relevant information is brought together in a structured manner, processes are standardized and decisions can be made on the basis of reliable data.
How does the SC Manager support supplier onboarding?
With the SC-Manager, onboarding is digital and structured. Suppliers maintain their data themselves via a portal, upload documents and answer questionnaires. The SC-Manager automatically checks the completeness and consistency of the information and ensures that clean, usable supplier data is available right from the start.
What role does AI play in SC-Manager?
The SC Manager includes integrated AI support in the form of the SC Agent. The SC Agent collects information from internal and external sources, structures it and supports users with analysis and evaluation. For example, automated supplier profiles and risk reports are created in just a few minutes instead of hours of manual research.
What distinguishes the SC-Agent from classic analysis tools?
The SC-Agent is not an isolated tool, but is directly integrated into the SC-Manager. It works contextually with the existing supplier data, supplements it with external information and makes the results immediately usable. Users can also interact with their supplier database via chat and carry out targeted analyses without the need for reports or IT queries.
How does the SC Manager support risk management?
The SC Manager offers structured risk management with scorecards, traffic light systems and early warning mechanisms. The SC Agent supplements this assessment with automated AI risk reports that analyze external information and provide additional risk information. This creates a comprehensive, up-to-date risk profile for each supplier.
Is the SC-Manager suitable for LkSG, ESG and other EU requirements?
Yes, the SC Manager supports companies in fulfilling regulatory requirements such as LkSG or ESG. Self-disclosures, certificates, risk assessments and measures are centrally recorded, documented and stored in an audit-proof manner. Reports can be created in a comprehensible manner at any time.
How time-consuming is the introduction of the SC-Manager?
The SC-Manager is a SaaS solution and can be introduced step by step. Many companies start with a clearly defined use case such as onboarding or risk management. Existing systems such as ERP, PLM or QMS can be connected without the need for extensive IT projects.
For which companies is the SC-Manager particularly suitable?
SC-Manager is particularly suitable for companies with complex supply chains, many suppliers and high quality, risk and compliance requirements. Typical users are medium-sized and large companies in mechanical engineering, the automotive supply industry, medical technology and technology-intensive industries.
Would you like to find out more about Simmeth System and our SC-Manager solution? Contact our team directly: