“Cloud Alliance” group highlights cloud supply chain software

The Cloud Alliance for Supply Chain Management, a consortium of cloud-based supply chain solutions and managed service providers, came together at Modex where alliance member Logfire (Booth 4709) served as the joint destination point to find out more about the group.

Founding members of the alliance include:
• LogFire, which offers inventory management, performance management, multi-channel warehouse management, in-store inventory management and fulfillment;
• Cloud Logistics, which offers multi-modal inbound and outbound transportation management; and
• Solvoyo, which offers optimized planning of inventory, merchandising, replenishment, transportation, and fulfillment.

The providers explained that they use the latest in cloud and software as a service (SaaS) technologies to support software applications that provide an alternative to traditional on-premise solutions or “hosted” solutions that use Internet delivery, but lack a single instance, “multi-tenant” architecture. The multi-tenant approach to software architecture allows for flexibility to fit user needs without getting in the way of easy upgrades because the user companies or “tenants” of the solution use the same core business logic, with customizations and configurations handled by a separate layer of the SaaS architecture, said Larry Ferrere, EVP with LogFire.

Ferrere said it’s a myth that cloud solutions, even in the transaction-intensive WMS category, cannot perform for larger sites or companies. In the case of LogFire’s WMS, for example, there are sites with well more than 100 users, and one site with more than 400 users. Cloud solutions, he said, also are capable of integrating with automated materials handling systems. “It’s a misperception to think that cloud solutions are only suitable for smaller, less sophisticated sites or user companies,” said Ferrere.

Modex 2014 is scheduled to be held March 17-20, 2014 in Atlanta’s Georgia World Conference Center. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the material handling and logistics industry. Modern’s complete Modex 2014 coverage.