Abstract:

The paper presents the concept of supply chain (SC) integration by cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) based Plug & Play interface, which could improve the efficiency of SC partners. The case study of the European manufacturer of electronic products was based on an in-depth interview with a purchasing manager with experience in the electronic industry.

Despite the enormous technological development of information technology (IT) systems applied in SCs, the level of SC integration is still at a very low level. On the one hand, this is due to the widespread low awareness regarding the untapped potential for improving efficiency through SC integration. On the other hand, there is a strong barrier of human possibilities in the context of the implementation of increasingly advanced and complicated IT systems, as well as high costs of their implementation. Therefore, a cheap and easily available IT tool is needed, which, thanks to the use of AI, will allow overcome human limitations and facilitate the integration of SC partners on a Plug & Play basis.

The article is expected to help encourage: (1) software vendors to create a new standard of the cloud and AI based Plug & Play interface giving the possibility for each company all over the world to join an international industrial networking site and integrate its IT system (e.g. ERP with APS) with SCs; (2) focal companies to integrate downstream and upstream, active and passive partners in SCs by implementing the cloud-based Plug & Play interface.