Data-based decisions at every step from raw material procurement to delivering the final product to customers are among the key factors providing competitive advantage. Supply Chain Analytics and the use of powerful analytical tools like Qlik in this field increase the operational efficiency and agility of businesses. In this article, we’ll examine how the Qlik platform can be used in supply chain optimization and its application areas across different sectors.
Supply Chain Analytics and Data-Driven Approach
Supply Chain Analytics is a discipline that enables strategic and operational decisions to be made by collecting and analyzing data in supply chain processes and gaining insights from these analyses. Unlike traditional supply chain management, processes fueled by an analytical approach provide forecasting and optimization with higher accuracy rates.
According to Deloitte’s “2025 Supply Chain Analytics Report,” businesses using advanced analytical tools achieve an average 15% reduction in supply chain costs and up to 35% improvement in inventory turnover. These figures demonstrate the tangible impact of the analytical approach on supply chain efficiency.
The main components of data-driven supply chain management are:
- Predictive Analytics: Enables forecasting future demand, lead times, and potential bottlenecks based on historical data.
- Descriptive Analytics: Helps understand the current situation and past performance, determining what caused what.
- Prescriptive Analytics: Determines which actions should be taken to achieve a specific outcome.
- Real-Time Analytics: Provides the ability to make quick decisions by monitoring real-time data flows.
The main challenge in supply chain analytics is making large volumes of data from different sources meaningful and presenting it in a way that decision-makers can understand. This is precisely where powerful data visualization and analytics platforms like Qlik come into play.
Supply Chain Optimization Process with Qlik
Qlik is a business intelligence platform that stands out in data analysis and visualization in supply chain management. Thanks to its Associative Engine technology, which analyzes data in a relational structure, Qlik offers supply chain professionals a comprehensive analysis environment.
The supply chain optimization process with Qlik occurs through these steps:
- Data Integration: Combines data from different sources such as ERP systems, IoT devices, supplier data, and logistics information on a single platform.
- Data Modeling: Models collected data in a meaningful structure, making it ready for analysis.
- Visualization and Dashboard Creation: Transforms complex supply chain data into understandable visuals, providing decision-makers with an intuitive interface.
- Analytics Application: Forms the foundation for various analytical applications from predictive modeling to anomaly detection.
- Workflow Integration: Enables action by transforming insights gained from analyses into automated workflows.
Products like Qlik Sense and QlikView give users the ability to create interactive dashboards with a drag-and-drop interface. This feature allows even non-technical users to analyze complex supply chain data.
The main features Qlik offers in supply chain analytics are:
- In-Memory Data Processing: Capacity to quickly process large data sets
- Self-Service Analytics: Allowing users to perform analysis without IT support
- Associative Analytics: Unique architecture that reveals hidden relationships in data
- Mobile BI: Enabling even field personnel to have data access
- Geographic Analysis: Associating supply chain elements with geographical locations
Key Advantages of Analytical Applications in the Supply Chain
Supply chain analytics performed with Qlik provide businesses with tangible benefits in various areas:
Cost Optimization
Analysis of cost elements in the supply chain gives businesses the opportunity to identify savings opportunities. Analysis of factors such as supplier performance, logistics costs, and inventory carrying costs prevents unnecessary expenditures.
According to IDC’s research, businesses that successfully use analytics applications in the supply chain can achieve 10-20% savings in operational costs.
Lead Time Improvements
Lead time analysis helps identify bottlenecks and delay points in the time from order to delivery. With Qlik dashboards, anomalies in lead time can be detected instantly and proactive measures can be taken.
Inventory Management Optimization
Excess inventory and insufficient inventory are two important problems in the supply chain. Inventory analyses performed with Qlik enable determining optimal inventory levels, both reducing tied-up capital and increasing customer satisfaction.
According to Gartner’s “Supply Chain Technology User Wants and Needs Survey,” businesses that perform analytics-based inventory management can achieve up to 25% reduction in inventory levels while increasing order fulfillment rates by 5%.
Risk Management
Early detection and prevention of potential risks in the supply chain is critical for the sustainability of businesses. Qlik’s anomaly detection features facilitate risk management by quickly identifying unusual situations in the supply chain.
Qlik Supply Chain Analytics Use Cases by Sector
Applications in the Financial Sector
For financial institutions, supply chain analytics typically focuses on supplier relationship management and service procurement processes. With Qlik in the financial sector, analytical applications can be performed in areas such as:
- Supplier performance scoring
- Monitoring of service level agreements (SLAs)
- Supplier risk analysis
- Optimization of purchasing processes
Optimization in the Retail Sector
In the retail sector, supply chain analytics improve customer experience by ensuring the right product is in stores at the right time in the right amount. The Qlik platform offers value to retailers in:
- Store-based inventory optimization
- Supplier performance analysis
- Seasonal demand forecasting
- Shelf life analysis and waste management
According to Bain & Company’s “Retail Supply Chain Analytics” report, retailers using advanced analytics can increase inventory turnover rates by up to 30% and improve in-store availability rates by 15%.
Use in E-commerce Operations
For e-commerce businesses, fast delivery and accurate inventory management are key determinants of customer satisfaction. Qlik’s use areas in the e-commerce supply chain:
- Order fulfillment process optimization
- Last-mile delivery analysis
- Improvement of warehouse operations
- Analysis of return processes
E-commerce businesses can fulfill customer promises by monitoring order fulfillment processes in real-time thanks to Qlik dashboards.
Productivity Increase in the Manufacturing Sector
For manufacturing businesses, supply chain analytics covers all processes from raw material procurement to final product distribution. The Qlik platform is used in the manufacturing sector for:
- Raw material procurement optimization
- Production planning and scheduling
- Quality control and supplier performance analysis
- Distribution network optimization
According to Capgemini’s “Digital Supply Chain” research, businesses using digital supply chain analytics in the manufacturing sector achieve 11% efficiency in procurement costs and 13% in production planning.
Supply Chain Management in the Telecom Sector
Telecommunications companies have complex supply chains in terms of both physical equipment procurement and digital service delivery. With Qlik in the telecom sector, analytical applications can be performed in areas such as:
- Network equipment procurement process optimization
- Spare parts management
- Planning of field service operations
- Supplier risk analysis
Data Visualization and Dashboard Creation with Qlik in the Supply Chain
Effective visualization of supply chain data is critically important for understanding complex relationships and making strategic decisions. Qlik offers supply chain professionals the ability to create powerful dashboards with rich visualization tools.
Effective Dashboard Design
Key elements to consider in the design of supply chain dashboards:
- Goal-Oriented Approach: The dashboard should aim to solve a specific supply chain problem.
- Layered Information Architecture: A structure that provides quick access from summary information to detailed data should be established.
- Interactive Filtering: Should allow users to analyze data in different dimensions.
- Alert Mechanisms: Should automatically inform users when KPIs exceed certain thresholds.
- Mobile Compatibility: Should be accessible to supply chain professionals working in the field.
Monitoring Supply Chain KPIs
Key supply chain KPIs that can be monitored in Qlik dashboards include:
- Perfect Order Rate: Percentage of orders delivered on time, complete, and undamaged
- Inventory Turnover: Rate of inventory turnover
- Cash-to-Cash Cycle Time: Duration of cash cycle
- Supplier On-Time Delivery: Suppliers’ on-time delivery performance
- Total Supply Chain Cost: Total supply chain cost
- Order Cycle Time: Order cycle duration
- Supply Chain Visibility: Level of supply chain visibility
Qlik Sense’s Geo-analytics features allow visualizing supply chain elements with their geographical locations. This enables easy identification of bottlenecks and optimization opportunities in the logistics network.
Success Examples in Supply Chain Analytics with Qlik
Qlik is used for supply chain optimization in various sectors and achieves impressive results.
Case Study 1: Global Retail Chain
A retail chain with more than 1,000 stores worldwide initiated a project to increase supply chain visibility with Qlik Sense. The project resulted in:
- 22% increase in inventory turnover rate
- 14% reduction in inventory carrying costs
- 9% improvement in in-store availability rate
- 35% more accuracy in supplier performance scoring
Case Study 2: Pharmaceutical Manufacturer
A global pharmaceutical manufacturer started using the Qlik platform to increase supply chain transparency and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The results achieved:
- 40% improvement in supply chain traceability
- 18% reduction in lead time
- 25% reduction in safety stocks, providing significant savings in tied-up capital
- 30% more efficiency in quality control processes
Qlik’s unique Associative Engine technology gave the pharmaceutical manufacturer the ability to discover hidden relationships in the supply chain and proactively solve problems.
Looking to the Future with Qlik in Supply Chain Analytics
Supply chain analytics is rapidly evolving with the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. Qlik is expected to keep pace with this transformation and continue to offer next-generation solutions in supply chain management.
Future trends standing out in supply chain analytics:
- Prescriptive Analytics: Analytical models that not only predict what will happen but also suggest the best action
- Digital Twin Technology: Creating a digital copy of the supply chain to enable simulation
- Blockchain Integration: Technology that increases supply chain transparency
- Autonomous Supply Chain: Self-optimizing supply chains supported by artificial intelligence
Qlik is continuously developing its platform to adapt to these trends. Qlik’s AutoML (Automated Machine Learning) features enable supply chain professionals to create complex analytical models, facilitating the spread of predictive analytics.
Conclusion
Supply chain analytics and optimization with Qlik have become a strategic necessity in today’s competitive business environment. Data-driven supply chain management offers businesses not only the opportunity to reduce costs but also to increase customer satisfaction and gain competitive advantage.
By making sense of your supply chain data with a powerful analytics platform like Qlik, you can take an important step on the path to operational excellence. Start transforming your supply chain processes with an analytics-focused approach today and increase your competitive advantage.
References:
- Deloitte. (2024). 2025 Supply Chain Analytics Report.
- Gartner. (2024). Supply Chain Technology User Wants and Needs Survey.
- Bain & Company. (2023). Retail Supply Chain Analytics.