Given the importance of the supply chain to organizations across the globe, businesses are looking for opportunities to make processes faster, cheaper and easier as materials move from the point of origin to the point of consumption. Supply chains involve many different activities, people and organizations, which produce a vast amount of information. 

This overwhelming amount of data has to be processed and converted into forms that influence key decisions and lead to better results. Supply chain analytics uses data analytical tools to manage and improve supply chain functions, such as demand planning, order processing and inventory control, and risk management.