SCM (Supply Chain Management) is the integrated management of the flow of materials, information and capital from suppliers — including suppliers' suppliers — to the end customer. It spans demand forecasting, purchasing, production, warehousing, distribution, and returns logistics. The aim is to deliver the right product, in the right place, at the right time, at the right cost, balancing service level, stock and cost.
Modern supply chains are complex, global and vulnerable to disruption (pandemic, conflicts, maritime logistics, supplier failures). The recent trend combines deep digitalisation (real-time visibility of the whole chain) with resilience (supplier redundancy, nearshoring, strategic stock at critical points). SCM software has evolved in parallel — modern ERPs integrate SCM modules that used to be separate systems.
In the INFOS portfolio, the MULTI ERP and QAD Adaptive ERP cover SCM with differentiated depth. The Portal dos Subcontratados extends SCM to subcontractors and external suppliers — shared visibility, joint planning, coordinated response to disruption. MyBusiness-ITV brings an analytical view of the chain — real lead time per supplier, quality variation, total cost including logistics.