Prior to the emergence of specialized applications, businesses often relied on broad ERP systems – functionally rich, yet often a hodgepodge – for managing core operational processes. This approach is comprehensive, but remained as silo legacy technology, complex to flex for latest business evolution.  

The e-commerce revolution, with its attendant complexities of BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick-up in Stores), distributed networks, and vendor-managed inventory, further exposed these limitations. Inventory now resides in a myriad of locations, demanding a level of cross-functional integration and real-time visibility coordination that traditional systems simply couldn’t deliver.  Some enterprises convergence with the help of LCAP, BPA, iPaaS, and RPA but trigger other challenges.  This critical gap, underscored by Gartner’s assertion that “lack of visibility causes up to 50% of supply chain disruptions,” fueled the demand for CART solutions 

In principle, CART has a combo of application technologies that evolves with business practices and boosted with AI-power, flexible enough for enterprise-centric composition. 

What is a CART Solution? 

CART solutions represent a paradigm shift in global supply chain management, software procurement and licensing practices. Unlike traditional systems, CART delivers crucial supply chain planning, execution, orchestration and analytics solutions unifying procurement, forecasting, warehousing, inventory, logistics and business analytics bolted with AI within a single enterprise platform. It offers critical features for each module and functions as a singular solution delivering a unified real-time view for business, inventory positions and business insights. It also offers levers to coordinate interdependent modules within the business and outside ecosystem including partners, carriers, and suppliers.    

In each business case, unified business view and access to single source of truth is key to the transformative outcomes. When enterprises leverage top of the line applications yet outsource to distribution partners, dire real time fulfillment trends, inventory positions, including supplier and logistics information is missing for accurate forecast.  

Integration defeats the purpose and often delivers anticipated use cases. However, CART solutions enable enterprises to add-on use cases as business landscape shifts as there are no new module acquisition cost, implementation cost and maintenance.   

Thus, a key differentiator in CART inventory management is the ability to track vendor-owned inventories, in-transit inventories, bulk static enterprise-owned inventories, and portable mini-inventory bins, often used in service industries for direct customer services under the central solutions. This provides granular, real-time visibility and control, optimizing efficiency and reducing costs across various industries.  

Imagine a central nervous system connecting every supply chain inventory for seamless execution, piercing visibility and AI-embedded intelligence for various operational complexities across distinct industries: 

• Food & Beverage: Precise lifecycle, expiry date tracking minimizes spoilage, including time spent in transit, display & storage, reducing waste by up to 15% compared to manual systems. AI algorithms prioritize near-expiry items for sale or redistribution, maximizing product shelf-life management, optimized stock rotation, maximum freshness and profitability keeping the forecasted demand, allocated inventory trend, stock outs, and carrier delays in equation. 

• Airline Retail: Streamlines in-flight cart management and offsite regional DC operations under one roof. Automated CART creation and loading to efficient reconciliation, leading to faster turnaround times with 30-40% improvement and reduced errors. Real-time cart tracking ensures accountability, minimizes losses and accurate inventory predictions by flight legs and routes.  

• In-Flight Meal Optimization: Precisely predicts and provisions in-flight meals based on real-time inventory, anticipated demand, and passenger preferences. Minimizes waste, reduces costs, and enhances the passenger experience. For example, by tracking consumption patterns and adjusting meal provisioning dynamically, airlines can reduce food waste by up to 15%.   

• 3PL: Optimizes software licensing cost while not compromising functionalities supporting complex multi-client operations with enhanced real-time visibility for its customers, partners and allowing for efficient resource allocation and improved customer service. 

• Security Technology: Offers precise tracking of inventory across distributed locations. Manages stock in service vehicles equipped with mini-inventories replenished from a central warehouse, tracks specialized equipment like cameras and motion detectors, ensuring real-time visibility and efficient deployment of assets. 

• Health Care: Crucial for managing sensitive inventory like pharmaceuticals and medical devices with lot tracking for traceability.  Provides robust serial number tracking across the entire supply chain — from manufacturing warehouses to hospitals, clinics, and elder care facilities —enhancing patient safety, streamlining recalls, and ensuring compliance.   

• Unified Commerce Fulfillment: Seamlessly orchestrates diverse fulfillment models, including BOPIS, curbside pickup, ship-from-store, and in-store mobile sales. Provides consistent and convenient customer experience while optimizing inventory utilization across all channels. For retailers, this translates into increased sales and improved customer satisfaction. 

CART minimizes the risks through real time tracking and triggering alterative business processes for maximizing the business outcomes. This mitigates users from connecting dots across the ecosystems. 

Why Traditional Systems Fall Short? 

Traditional WMS and TMS often lack specialized functionality for cart-based operations. Their siloed nature creates several challenges: including, 

• Tunnel View: Modular theme with linear supply chain motto hinders the emerging supply chain processes, leads to difficulty tracking inventory across multiple locations and within individual carts leads to discrepancies and delays. This “black box” effect curbs, customer experience, accurate forecasting, and reduces operational efficiency to 50%. 

• Manual Processes: Cumbersome inventory sync process, and reconciliation are time-consuming, error-prone, and contribute to operational bottlenecks. This reactive approach further erodes profit margins. 

• Inefficient Reordering: Static reorder points fail to adapt to demand fluctuations, resulting in overstocking or stockouts, increasing inventory holding costs by 10-15%. 

• Inadequate Expiry Management: Legacy systems lack the granular tracking necessary for managing perishables effectively, leading to significant product waste of 20-30%. 

• Warranty Management: Traditional systems struggle to track products post-installation, making it difficult to manage warranties effectively. Knowing precisely where a specific lot or serial number is installed is crucial for efficient service replacements and product recalls, eliminating customer service costs and reputational damage. 

• Obsolete and Dead Inventory: Traditional systems often result in limited visibility, accumulation of obsolete and dead inventory. Implementing a robust system can free up working capital and minimize storage costs, improving financial performance and overall profitability.    

CART offers a new approach, providing intelligent Al-a-carte solutions to capture critical metrics, roll out preemptive actions, and overcome challenges.

Why CART Outperforms? 

CART accelerates operations through streamlined inventory movement and automation, leading to faster turnaround times and increased responsiveness. AI-powered expiry management and intelligent stock prioritization minimize waste, especially for perishable goods. Enhanced real-time visibility drives operational excellence, increasing accuracy and optimizing workflows. Designed for industries like food & beverage and airline retail, CART addresses the shortcomings of traditional systems, delivering maximum impact where it matters most. 

CART leverages AI for tangible benefits: 

• Safety Stock Optimization: AI analyzes demand patterns, seasonality, and external factors to dynamically adjust safety stock levels, reducing stockouts by up to 25% while minimizing excess inventory. 

• Proactive Expiry Management: AI prioritizes near-expiry items for sale, optimizing stock rotation and reducing waste. 

• Robust Lot & Serial Number Tracking: Granular, end-to-end traceability, crucial for managing lot recalls, ensuring quality control, meeting regulatory compliance (e.g., FDA trace-to-trace mandates), combating counterfeiting, customer service, personalized product information, and streamlining warranty management. Precise item-level visibility based on their unique identifiers minimizes risk and maximizes efficiency.  

• Predictive Analytics: AI anticipates potential disruptions and optimizes resource allocation, improving overall efficiency and responsiveness – Be it safety order adjustments, PO adjustments, or inventory transfers between inventory locations. 

The CART Advantage 

CART is a unique blend of cutting-edge technology, agility, and customer-centric approach sets us apart, offering a transformative solution for modern logistics. The solution streamlines logistics with real-time inventory tracking, advanced lot traceability, and proactive expiry management. It automates cart processes from creation to reconciliation, handles multi-UOM scenarios, and provides real-time cart tracking. AI-powered safety stock calculations and automated reordering further optimize inventory and prevent shortages. 

Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Logistics with UCBOS CART

UCBOS CART isn’t just another supply chain tool; it’s a paradigm shift. Our AI-powered, zero-code platform empowers businesses to navigate complex supply chains with unprecedented agility, precision, and control. From real-time inventory and AI-driven expiry management to intelligent automation, UCBOS CART redefines logistics efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Explore UCBOS CART and contact us for a demo today to transform your supply chain into a competitive advantage.