Supply chain design on iPad
LLamaSoft
LLamasoft, a leader in supply chain optimization, launched a bold project in 2011 to develop the first supply chain design app for iPad: Supply Chain Sherpa.
They saw the need for a visual tool to help executives experiment with supply chain designs and run financial analyses in realtime, instead of spending weeks developing complicated simulation models.
Based on our experience in supply chain simulation, LLamasoft selected our team to join this ambitious undertaking. Our key roles were programming the financial calculations and guiding the UI design.
The Challenge: Simplify Supply Chain Modeling
Supply chain optimization typically requires months of model building and programming, followed by running simulations and searching for optimized solutions. But when companies need to make decisions quickly, an educated guess today is far more valuable than the ideal solution in two months.
We collaborated with LLamaSoft specialists to develop the complete set of calculations code necessary for analyzing an iPad-based supply chain model. Our expertise in logistics enabled us grasp the problems and find the right solutions quickly.
Feature Highlights
Map Visualization
See your entire supply chain
on an interactive map.
Cost Comparison
Compare costs across
multiple design scenarios.
Charts and Graphs
Calculations come to life
with insightful graphs.
Team Collaboration
Share your designs with others
on your team.
The Process: Iterative Design
None of us had a clear picture of the software design when the project began. We started with high-level goals and brainstormed a wide variety of design concepts.
Gradually we converged on a map-based user interface where costs, times and other data was tied to each facility. We also included the concept of scenarios, allowing comparison between several designs as part of a single study.
The Results: A Revolutionary Tool
Expanded product line
LLamaSoft expanded beyond their position in desktop and cloud applications into the exploding world of mobile apps.
Quick insights
Executives now have a tool for finding quick, actionable answers to supply chain design questions.