Meaning ● Heterogeneous Supply Chains, in the context of Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), describes a network where diverse suppliers, technologies, and processes are involved in producing and delivering goods or services. For SMBs seeking growth, this often means integrating legacy systems with newer, automated solutions. ● Within SMB operations, automation efforts are complicated by the variable capabilities of different suppliers, impacting implementation timelines. Moreover, the lack of uniform data formats presents challenges for SMBs attempting to achieve end-to-end visibility across their operations. ● Successful SMB adoption of these chains demands a strategic approach to data integration and supplier relationship management, given that standardization is often not feasible. Because SMB resources are often limited, it becomes critical to strategically prioritize areas for automation and data integration that provide the highest return on investment.
