Quiet Shifts in Supply Chain Collaboration

Are your competitors aiming to plug the gaps in their value chain and work more strategically with partners? You bet they are.

According to Gartner¹, “62% of the most mature procurement organizations highlighted that developing stronger, more collaborative relationships with their supply base is a top priority.”

Some manufacturers will struggle to make good on these intentions, however, in part because they lack a clear picture of just how efficient supply chain collaboration can be.

Historically, manufactures have leveraged Technical Data Packages (TDPs) as a best practice to provide comprehensive, consistent data to suppliers. However, these “packages” are frequently file based, and there are problems securely sharing and collaborating around them.

This short article will help you with that, by introducing the Technical Data Portal, or TDP 2.0. TDP 2.0 is the evolution of the traditional technical data package, giving companies a "file-less,” way of communicating and collaborating with everyone in the value chain.

The portal is essentially a “one-stop” data-centric, cloud-based collaboration platform where all technical content collaboration takes place. (GE Gas Power uses just such a portal – and you can hear about it here.)

Evolving into a Technical Data Portal brings a host of advantages over working with files and traditional TDP, namely:

• Authoritative data is sourced from its native environment, without having to change or create new versions of files.
• All of the data’s connection to source locations/system are preserved.
• The integrity of structured data is preserved.
• User interface is consistent for all users. Manufacturers and suppliers always see the same thing, and context is ever-present.
• All collaboration is contained within the portal. Conversation threads are visible and traceable.
• Data is synchronous and thus always up-to-date for all users.
• Security is enforced around objects and discussions on the portal.
• Access is instant and credentials-based for all users.
• All objects are viewable and usable without need for specialized software.

Our latest eBook expands upon this for you, with the first-ever Technical Data Collaboration Maturity Model.