Most supply-chain software providers today offer cloud-based solutions or are pursuing cloud strategies. This has been driven by the emergence of a vibrant cloud-computing services market and client-side IT support. Cloud hosting is now a well-established commodity with major providers offering inexpensive, on-demand computing services with a high degree of reliability, scalability and security. Standalone supply-chain applications that cut across organization boundaries were an initial entry point. These included solutions for procurement, visibility, global trade and transportation management. Soon after, multi-tenant SaaS solutions emerged for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), including enterprise resource planning (ERP], warehouse management systems (WMS) and e-commerce operations tools. Then, mid-to-large enterprises began leveraging the cloud for third-party hosting. Many mid-and top-tier vendors have released next-generation versions of their supply-chain solutions specifically architected for the cloud. These solutions featured browser-based user interfaces and web services integration frameworks that promote interoperability across enterprises and applications. They also provide an effective platform for sensor-based integration - bringing the internet of things (IoT) to the supply-chain world.
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