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What's the best software or skills to learn for a carrer in supply chain management?

I'm considering a career in supply chain management. What would be the recommended software or skills that I should learn to make my applications for internships look better as I don't take any supply chian classes until sophmore year.

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Lindsey’s Answer

Hi Andrew,
Many people here have mentioned learning ERP systems. I currently work for Oracle NetSuite. You are able to study for and take certifications that would be great to add to your resume.

https://www.netsuite.com/portal/services/training/suite-training/netsuite-certification.shtml

Salesforce also has an entire learning platform that you can sign up for and gain badges through.

https://trailhead.salesforce.com/

Best of luck!!
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Chinyere’s Answer

Hey Andrew,

That's awesome that you're already thinking about your future in supply chain management! It's definitely a field with a lot of opportunity.

Even before your sophomore year, there are some great things you can do to make your applications stand out. Here are a few software and skills to focus on:

1. Microsoft Excel: This is the absolute foundation. Learn advanced functions like pivot tables, macros, and data analysis tools. You can find tons of free tutorials online.
2. Data Visualization Tools: Tools like Tableau or Power BI can help you present data in a clear and compelling way. This is a huge plus for any supply chain role.
3. Project Management Software: Even basic familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com can demonstrate your organizational skills.
4. Supply Chain Concepts: Start exploring fundamental concepts like inventory management, logistics, and procurement. There are many online resources and articles to get you started.

Why these are important:

1. Demonstrate initiative: Showing that you're taking the initiative to learn relevant skills before your classes even start will impress potential employers.
2. Gain practical experience: Many of these tools can be used for personal projects or to help with schoolwork in other areas.
3. Boost your resume: These skills will make your resume more competitive when applying for internships.

Don't forget the "soft skills" too:

Communication: Practice clear and concise communication, both written and verbal.
Problem-solving: Develop your analytical and critical thinking skills.
Teamwork: Look for opportunities to collaborate on projects, even outside of school.

Keep exploring the field. The more you learn, the more prepared you'll be for a successful career in supply chain management.

Best wishes!
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Dr’s Answer

To enhance your career prospects in supply chain management, you can focus on mastering a few key software tools and skills. Here’s what you should focus on:

1. Microsoft Excel: A strong command of Excel is essential, especially with advanced functions like pivot tables, macros, and data analysis. You can find many free tutorials online to get you started.


2. ERP Software (SAP, Oracle): Understanding enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems will be crucial for managing supply chain operations and resources.


3. Data Visualization Tools (Tableau, Power BI): These tools are great for presenting data in a visually compelling way, which is highly valued in the field.


4. Project Management Tools (Asana, Trello): Even basic familiarity with these can show your ability to organize and manage complex projects.


5. Supply Chain Management Software (JDA, Kinaxis): These tools focus on specific areas of the supply chain and are important to understand.


6. Data Analysis and Forecasting: Familiarity with analyzing supply chain data, demand forecasting, and inventory management will also help optimize processes.



Additionally, soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork are essential for building relationships and collaborating across the supply chain.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly strengthen your resume for internship applications and show employers you’re proactive about developing the skills that will set you up for success in supply chain management.
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OMAR’s Answer

Hi Andrew, I loved reading your question cause I work for Oracle managing a global support team, and it has been tough to find the candidates we need. Focus on learning the functional area of SCM. By this I mean that you need to understand the flows, how are bussiness around the world using the Supply Chain Management solutions to automate their tasks. Don't try to get deep into one single module, that you will have the opportunity once you get a position; instead, first understand eveyrthing around SCM, and the different variations for each type of industry.

I'm biased with what I will say, but if you learn the Oracle Fusion product, you are already on a better position than a lot of your classmates.
There are Oracle Univeristy free courses that you can leverage.

Good luck!
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Candis’s Answer

You've got lots of answers regarding the technology you should consider for a career in supply chain management, but I think you should also consider learning Lean Six Sigma (LSS) processes or obtaining a related certification. LSS is a methodology that helps improve supply chain quality and efficiency and can be used to help optimize processes, eliminate waste, and improve overall efficiency in supply chain management. A big focus in LSS is on identifying and eliminating unnecessary steps and variations in supply chain processes, which ultimately leads to faster delivery times and reduced costs.

LSS certifications are assigned at "belt" levels (similar to martial arts) -- take a course to understand the basics of LSS and earn your white belt, get a deeper introduction and earn your yellow belt, implement the concepts and lead a small project to earn your green belt, lead continuous improvement projects to earn your black belt. Just start with a white belt, then determine if you want to pursue higher belts.
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Bashayir’s Answer

To increase your competitiveness for supply chain internships, focus on developing both technical and soft skills. Master Excel, including advanced functions, and learn data analysis and visualization tools like Power BI or Tableau. Familiarity with project management software like Microsoft Project or Jira is also beneficial. Additionally, cultivate strong communication, problem-solving, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, which are essential for effective collaboration and relationship building within the supply chain. While industry-specific software like SAP or Oracle is valuable, hands-on experience is often gained through internships or entry-level positions. Prioritizing these foundational skills will provide a strong base for your future learning and career growth in supply chain management.
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Pravin’s Answer

Hello Andrew, To excel in a career in supply chain management, mastering software such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems like SAP or Oracle is crucial, as they help streamline operations and manage resources efficiently. Additionally, proficiency in data analysis tools like Microsoft Excel and Power BI is beneficial for analyzing supply chain data. Developing skills in demand forecasting and inventory management can also enhance your ability to optimize supply chain processes. Finally, understanding logistics and having strong project management abilities will equip you to manage complex supply chain networks effectively.
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Sneha’s Answer

Skills to learn for supply chain include Excel, SAP, Oracle, Supply chain amangement software (ex: JDA, Kinaxis), Tableau and Power BI (data visualization tools). You could tackle some of these with online courses on Linkedin Learning or Coursera.
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Monica’s Answer

Hello,

Thank you for the question

Supply Chain Management is a very big umbrella of different products.

It gives you opportunity to explore many paths of career in very specific areas of Supply Chain Managememt.

You can start to learn the application common setup because that is the backbone of the products.

After you successfully configure a basic functional SAAS you can start implementing inventory order management supply chain orchestration configurator pricing channel revenue inventory manufacturing maintenance planning and channel revenue.
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Shailendra’s Answer

It's great that you're thinking ahead about your supply chain career! To strengthen your internship applications before taking formal classes, focus on:

Key Software & Skills:
Excel & Google Sheets – Essential for data analysis.
ERP Systems (Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics) – Basic familiarity helps.
Data Analytics (SQL, Tableau, Power BI, Python basics) – Useful for decision-making.
Project Management (Trello, Asana, MS Project) – Shows organizational skills.

Certifications & Learning:
Google Data Analytics Certificate
APICS Basics of Supply Chain Management
Coursera/edX courses on supply chain fundamentals

Networking & Experience:
Join supply chain student organizations or LinkedIn groups.
Participate in case competitions or small logistics projects.
Connect with professionals on LinkedIn for insights and mentorship.

A mix of skills, certifications, and networking will make your applications stand out. Best of luck!
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Ashish’s Answer

Hi Andrew,

A lot of good advice has already been provided above. When I started my Supply Chain career, I achieved what used to be called APICS certification (its a series of multiple exams) and I can assure you, it is still very well recognized by Supply Chain professionals.

It is now called CPIM and CSCP Certification. Here is a link to the organization that manages these courses and certification -
https://www.ascm.org/learning-development/

Good Luck learning!

Ashish
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ADAOBI’s Answer

For a career in supply chain management, here are some essential software and skills to learn:

Software:
SAP: Widely used for enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management.
Oracle: Another popular ERP software with comprehensive supply chain modules.
Microsoft Excel: Crucial for data analysis and managing spreadsheets.
Tableau: Useful for data visualization and analytics.
Logility: Specialized software for supply chain planning and optimization.


Skills:
Data Analysis: Ability to analyze and interpret data to make informed decisions.
Inventory Management: Understanding how to manage and optimize inventory levels.
Logistics: Knowledge of transportation, warehousing, and distribution processes.
Project Management: Skills in planning, executing, and closing projects.
Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate with different stakeholders.
Problem-Solving: Ability to identify issues and develop effective solutions.
Time Management: Efficiently managing your time to handle multiple tasks.
Learning these software and skills will give you a solid foundation and make your applications more competitive. Good luck with your studies and future career! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
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Yarazed’s Answer

Hi, Andrew!
Definitely basic to intermediate knowledge in Excel is a plus, since a lot of the Supply Chain activities involve data analysis to make informed decisions. Not sure what specific course is out there, but search for something related to Risk Analysis, Decision Making and Project Management, I believe these will provide you with tools and soft skills that can add value to your work as a member of a Supply Chain team. All other knowledge, as ERP, you will learn during your internship, so I wouldn't recommend you invest time in that just yet.
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DIANA’s Answer

My best advice is to try an internship before working in a real product environment.
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