How Low Code No Code Solutions are Revolutionising Supply Chains in Australia and New Zealand

Supply chains across industries are under increasing pressure to be more agile, cost-efficient, and resilient. From managing global disruptions to coping with the complex logistics of fast-paced markets, supply chain leaders are seeking technological solutions that provide flexibility and scalability without requiring extensive IT resources or custom development. This is where low-code and no-code (LCNC) solutions come into play, offering an unprecedented opportunity to automate workflows, enable data capture, and deliver structured reporting—all with minimal coding expertise.

In this article, we will explore how low-code and no-code platforms are making a significant impact on supply chains across key sectors, including Retail, Manufacturing, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Healthcare, and Pharmaceuticals. We will also highlight how Trace Consultants has had notable success in helping clients deploy Microsoft Power Apps-based solutions to deliver immediate and tangible results in these industries.

Understanding Low-Code No-Code Solutions

Low-code and no-code platforms empower users—many of whom may not have formal coding skills—to design and implement applications, automate processes, and improve data management. The fundamental difference between the two lies in the level of technical engagement required:

• Low-code platforms provide pre-built templates and drag-and-drop tools but may require some coding knowledge for more complex customisations.
• No-code platforms are entirely user-friendly, relying on visual interfaces to create fully functional applications without writing a single line of code.

These platforms have gained significant traction in recent years due to their ability to enable rapid development, reduce reliance on IT departments, and provide cost-effective solutions that can be deployed in a fraction of the time compared to traditional software development.

Key Applications of Low-Code No-Code Solutions in Supply Chain

While LCNC platforms are versatile across various business functions, they hold particular promise for supply chain management, where data-driven decisions, operational efficiency, and adaptability are crucial. Below, we look at how these platforms are transforming supply chains in Retail, Manufacturing, FMCG, Healthcare, and Pharmaceuticals across Australia and New Zealand.

1. Retail: Enhancing Inventory Management and Store Operations

In the highly competitive retail environment, efficient supply chain management is critical to reducing operational costs, optimising inventory, and delivering better customer experiences. LCNC platforms can automate multiple retail supply chain processes, from inventory tracking to demand forecasting and store-level operations.

For example, Microsoft Power Apps has been used successfully in retail supply chains to automate workflows related to inventory replenishment, reducing the time needed for manual processes and minimising stockouts. Retailers can design apps that connect to existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, providing real-time insights into inventory levels across multiple locations. This allows managers to make data-driven decisions on stock transfers and reorder points, thus improving overall store operations.

Moreover, LCNC platforms facilitate reporting and analytics, enabling retailers to capture data from sales, returns, and customer preferences to fine-tune supply chain strategies. This level of visibility helps retailers maintain lean operations while responding rapidly to changes in demand patterns.

2. Manufacturing: Automating Production and Quality Control

Manufacturing supply chains are characterised by intricate processes, stringent quality control measures, and often multiple stakeholders across the value chain. Low-code and no-code platforms offer manufacturers the ability to streamline their operations by automating workflows and capturing data for production planning, inventory management, and quality assurance.

One common application is the automation of production scheduling. Using Power Apps, manufacturers can build custom applications that automate scheduling tasks, ensuring that production meets customer demand without overburdening the workforce or machines. This helps manufacturers avoid costly delays and maintain efficient production flows.

Additionally, LCNC platforms can be integrated with IoT devices and sensors for real-time monitoring of equipment performance and product quality. For instance, a no-code app can trigger alerts when a machine requires maintenance, thereby reducing unplanned downtime. These platforms also enable structured reporting on quality control metrics, ensuring that manufacturers can quickly identify and address issues before they affect output.

3. FMCG: Streamlining Supplier Collaboration and Demand Planning

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies rely heavily on efficient supply chains to meet the rapid pace of consumer demand. In this context, low-code and no-code solutions play a vital role in enhancing collaboration between suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers, as well as improving demand planning.

LCNC platforms enable supplier collaboration portals that provide real-time updates on order status, shipments, and inventory levels. By automating supplier interactions, FMCG companies can reduce lead times, minimise errors, and improve communication across the supply chain. For example, a Power Apps-based portal allows suppliers to update order fulfilment status in real time, which automatically triggers notifications and updates for the buying teams.

Demand planning is another critical area where LCNC platforms shine. By leveraging historical sales data and external market factors, custom-built applications can automate demand forecasting, reducing the reliance on manual spreadsheets and enabling more accurate predictions of future demand. This, in turn, improves inventory management and reduces the risk of overstocking or stockouts.

4. Healthcare: Improving Patient Flow and Supply Logistics

Healthcare supply chains are complex, with hospitals and medical facilities required to manage a vast array of resources—from medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to food services and patient transport. Low-code and no-code platforms can help automate several aspects of healthcare supply chain management, ensuring that critical supplies are available when and where they are needed.

A key area of impact is in patient flow management, where LCNC platforms can streamline the logistics of moving patients through different areas of the hospital. Custom applications can automate bed assignment, coordinate transport between departments, and track the availability of medical equipment in real time. By improving operational efficiency, healthcare providers can reduce patient wait times and enhance overall care quality.

Another important application is in inventory management for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. Power Apps can be used to create apps that automatically track the consumption of medical supplies, ensuring that reordering occurs well before critical stock levels are reached. This helps hospitals avoid shortages and maintain compliance with regulatory standards for medical supply availability.

5. Pharmaceuticals: Enhancing Compliance and Traceability

Pharmaceutical supply chains face unique challenges, including the need for strict compliance with regulatory standards and the requirement for robust traceability. Low-code and no-code platforms can help address these challenges by automating compliance processes and providing real-time visibility into the movement of pharmaceutical products.

For example, Power Apps can be used to create track-and-trace systems that monitor the movement of pharmaceuticals from manufacturing to distribution. This level of traceability is critical for ensuring product safety and compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards. These systems also enable pharmaceutical companies to respond quickly to recalls or other supply chain disruptions.

LCNC platforms are also used to automate regulatory reporting, ensuring that pharmaceutical companies can easily generate reports required by government authorities. By automating these processes, pharmaceutical companies reduce the risk of non-compliance and free up resources for more value-added activities.

How Trace Consultants is Leading the Way with Microsoft Power Apps

At Trace Consultants, we have seen firsthand how low-code and no-code platforms, particularly Microsoft Power Apps, are transforming supply chains across various sectors. Our expertise lies in understanding our clients’ specific supply chain challenges and delivering tailored solutions that leverage Power Apps to automate workflows, enable data capture, and deliver structured reporting—often with immediate, tangible outcomes.

Case Study: Power Apps in Retail Supply Chain

In one notable engagement with a leading Australian retailer, Trace Consultants implemented a Power Apps-based solution to automate the inventory replenishment process. The retailer faced challenges with manual processes that were slow and error-prone, leading to stockouts and lost sales. By deploying a custom-built app that integrated with the retailer’s ERP system, Trace helped automate stock monitoring, reordering, and reporting.

The result was a significant reduction in stockouts, improved inventory turnover, and a more efficient use of store personnel who no longer needed to spend time manually tracking inventory levels. This project demonstrated how even a relatively simple LCNC solution could have a powerful impact on supply chain performance.

Case Study: Power Apps in Healthcare Supply Chain

In the healthcare sector, Trace Consultants worked with a regional hospital network in New Zealand to improve its medical supply logistics. The hospital network was struggling with inconsistent inventory levels and frequent stockouts of critical supplies. Trace developed a Power Apps-based application that provided real-time visibility into supply levels across multiple locations, automatically triggered reordering when stock levels dropped below a set threshold, and generated compliance reports.

This solution not only reduced stockouts and improved patient care but also delivered cost savings by reducing the amount of expired inventory and ensuring that supplies were ordered based on actual usage patterns.

The Future of Low-Code No-Code in Supply Chains

The adoption of low-code and no-code platforms is set to accelerate as more organisations recognise their potential to deliver quick wins and long-term efficiencies. For supply chain leaders in Australia and New Zealand, LCNC solutions provide a way to respond to ongoing challenges, whether it be managing costs, improving customer service, or navigating complex regulatory environments.

As supply chains continue to evolve in complexity, the need for customised, scalable, and adaptable solutions will only grow. Low-code and no-code platforms offer a flexible approach that enables organisations to continuously improve their supply chain operations without the time, cost, or complexity of traditional software development.

In a world where supply chain resilience, efficiency, and agility are more important than ever, low-code and no-code solutions are playing a pivotal role in driving transformation. From retail and FMCG to healthcare and pharmaceuticals, these platforms are helping organisations automate workflows, enable data capture, and provide structured reporting—leading to better decision-making and improved outcomes.

At Trace Consultants, we are proud to be at the forefront of this revolution, helping our clients unlock the potential of low-code and no-code solutions like Microsoft Power Apps to deliver tangible, immediate results. Whether you’re looking to streamline your supply chain, improve collaboration with suppliers, or enhance your compliance and reporting capabilities, LCNC platforms offer a path to success in today’s dynamic business environment.

If your organisation is ready to explore the benefits of low-code and no-code platforms in the supply chain, we at Trace Consultants are here to help you every step of the way.

How will your supply chain benefit from embracing the power of low-code and no-code solutions?

‍

Aged care providers in Australia are responsible for providing quality care to the elderly population.

‍

The success of these providers largely depends on the quality of care provided to residents - in homes or facilities. One crucial aspect of delivering high-quality care is through efficient rostering and scheduling of staff. Effective rostering and scheduling can improve service delivery, staff satisfaction, and operational efficiency. In this article, we will delve into how Australian aged care providers can unlock service and operational excellence through effective rostering and scheduling.

‍

‍

Benefits of Effective Rostering and Scheduling

Efficient rostering and scheduling can bring a host of benefits for aged care providers. Some of these benefits include:

1. Improved Staff Productivity: With an efficient rostering and scheduling system, staff can be assigned to shifts based on their skills and availability. This can lead to higher productivity, as staff members are more likely to perform better in roles that suit their strengths.
2. Better Resident Care: When staff members are scheduled effectively, they can provide more personalized care to residents. This can lead to improved resident satisfaction and overall well-being.
3. Cost Savings: Effective rostering and scheduling can help aged care providers manage their operating costs more efficiently. By scheduling staff based on their availability and skills, providers can avoid overstaffing and reduce avoidable operating costs - in the form of travel, overtime, external labour, etc.
4. Compliance with Regulations: Aged care providers are required to comply with a range of regulations and standards. Effective rostering and scheduling can help providers meet these requirements by ensuring that staff members are appropriately trained and qualified.

‍

Best Practices for Rostering and Scheduling

To achieve service and operational excellence through effective rostering and scheduling, aged care providers should adopt the following best practices:

1. Utilise Rostering Technology: The type of scale of technology will vary based on your requirement, that said, rostering software can help automate the scheduling process, reduce errors, and save time. With rostering software, providers can quickly and easily schedule staff members based on their availability, skills, and preferences.
2. Consider Staff Preferences: Aged care providers should consider staff preferences when creating rosters. Staff members are more likely to perform better and stay motivated when they are assigned to shifts that suit their preferences.
3. Be Flexible: Aged care providers should be flexible when creating rosters to accommodate unexpected events or emergencies. This can help prevent staff burnout and ensure that residents receive the care they need.
4. Monitor Staff Performance: Aged care providers should regularly monitor staff performance to identify any issues or areas for improvement. By tracking staff performance, providers can identify opportunities to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.

‍

Effective rostering and scheduling can be a powerful tool for aged care providers in Australia to unlock service and operational excellence. By implementing best practices, providers can improve staff productivity, resident care, and compliance with regulations, while also reducing labour costs. Rostering software can be particularly useful in automating the scheduling process and saving time.

Ultimately, the success of aged care providers in Australia depends on their ability to deliver high-quality care to residents. Effective rostering and scheduling can play a significant role in achieving this goal. By implementing best practices and utilising rostering software, providers can improve their service delivery, staff satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Aged care providers in Australia should prioritize effective rostering and scheduling to unlock service and operational excellence. With the right tools and practices in place, providers can ensure that staff members are assigned to shifts based on their skills and preferences, resulting in better care for residents, cost savings, and compliance with regulations. It's time for aged care providers to take rostering and scheduling seriously and unlock their full potential.

‍

‍Contact us today, trace. your supply chain consulting partner.

‍

‍

Optimising Inventory Management with AI: Reducing Costs and Enhancing Efficiency

Introduction: The Shift Toward AI-Driven Inventory Management

Inventory management is a cornerstone of supply chain efficiency. For businesses in Australia and New Zealand, maintaining the right inventory levels is crucial to ensuring product availability, reducing storage costs, and maximising customer satisfaction. However, traditional inventory management methods, which rely on manual processes and outdated forecasting models, often fall short in today’s dynamic business environment.

As supply chains become more complex and consumer demand more unpredictable, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a game-changer in optimising inventory management. AI-driven tools offer unprecedented accuracy, real-time insights, and predictive capabilities that empower businesses to manage inventory levels more effectively. In this article, we’ll explore how AI is transforming inventory management, the benefits for Australian and New Zealand businesses, and how AI can help organisations reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and improve overall supply chain performance.

The Challenges of Traditional Inventory Management

Inventory management involves balancing supply with demand while minimising costs and ensuring timely product availability. Traditional approaches to inventory management, which rely on manual data entry, spreadsheets, and basic forecasting models, have several limitations. These include:

1. Inaccurate Demand Forecasting
   Traditional methods often use historical sales data to forecast future demand. While this can work in stable markets, it is insufficient in today’s volatile environment, where demand can fluctuate due to seasonal changes, market trends, and external disruptions.
2. Overstocking and Stockouts
   Businesses that overestimate demand may end up with excess inventory, leading to higher storage costs and potential waste. Conversely, underestimating demand can result in stockouts, lost sales, and dissatisfied customers. Traditional methods struggle to find the optimal balance between supply and demand.
3. Limited Real-Time Visibility
   Traditional inventory management systems often lack real-time visibility into stock levels and supply chain operations. This can lead to delays in decision-making and slow responses to changes in demand or supply chain disruptions.
4. Manual Processes and Inefficiencies
   Manual inventory tracking and data entry are prone to errors and inefficiencies. As supply chains grow more complex, relying on manual processes can lead to costly mistakes, missed opportunities, and a lack of agility in responding to market changes.

How AI Optimises Inventory Management

AI-driven inventory management offers a solution to these challenges by leveraging machine learning, predictive analytics, and real-time data to enhance decision-making, automate processes, and improve overall efficiency. Here’s how AI optimises inventory management:

1. Demand Forecasting with AI
   AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of historical and real-time data, including sales trends, market conditions, and external factors such as weather and economic indicators, to predict future demand with greater accuracy. By identifying patterns and trends that are invisible to human analysts, AI-driven demand forecasting can help businesses anticipate changes in demand and adjust inventory levels accordingly.
2. Automated Replenishment
   AI systems can automate inventory replenishment processes by continuously monitoring stock levels and triggering orders when inventory reaches predefined thresholds. This reduces the risk of stockouts and ensures that products are always available to meet customer demand.
3. Optimising Safety Stock Levels
   Safety stock is the extra inventory kept on hand to account for unexpected demand or supply chain disruptions. AI tools can analyse risk factors and recommend optimal safety stock levels that minimise excess inventory while reducing the risk of stockouts.
4. Real-Time Inventory Visibility
   AI-driven inventory management systems provide real-time visibility into stock levels across multiple locations, including warehouses, distribution centres, and retail stores. This enables businesses to monitor inventory in real-time, identify potential shortages, and make informed decisions on stock transfers or reordering.
5. Inventory Classification and Segmentation
   AI tools can help businesses classify and segment their inventory based on various factors, such as sales velocity, profitability, and customer demand. This allows organisations to focus on high-priority items and allocate resources more effectively.
6. Predictive Maintenance for Inventory-Related Equipment
   In industries such as manufacturing, AI can be used to predict maintenance needs for equipment used in inventory management, such as automated storage systems or conveyor belts. Predictive maintenance reduces downtime and ensures that inventory-related processes run smoothly.

Benefits of AI-Driven Inventory Management for ANZ Businesses

Implementing AI-driven inventory management systems offers significant benefits for businesses in Australia and New Zealand, helping them optimise stock levels, reduce costs, and improve overall operational efficiency. Here are some key advantages:

1. Reduced Inventory Holding Costs
   One of the most immediate benefits of AI-driven inventory management is the reduction of excess inventory. By providing more accurate demand forecasts and optimising safety stock levels, AI can help businesses avoid overstocking and reduce the costs associated with storing and managing excess inventory.
2. Improved Cash Flow
   With optimised inventory levels, businesses can free up cash that would otherwise be tied up in excess stock. This improved cash flow allows organisations to invest in other areas of their operations, such as marketing, technology, or product development.
3. Minimised Stockouts and Lost Sales
   By automating replenishment and providing real-time visibility into inventory levels, AI-driven systems significantly reduce the risk of stockouts. This ensures that products are always available when customers need them, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
4. Enhanced Supply Chain Agility
   AI-driven inventory management allows businesses to respond more quickly to changes in demand, market conditions, or supply chain disruptions. Whether it’s adjusting stock levels in response to a sudden spike in demand or rerouting shipments due to supply chain bottlenecks, AI enhances overall supply chain agility and responsiveness.
5. Reduced Waste and Environmental Impact
   AI-driven inventory management helps businesses reduce waste by minimising overstocking and ensuring that products are used or sold before they expire. For industries such as food and beverage, healthcare, and agriculture, this is particularly important in reducing spoilage and aligning with sustainability goals.
6. Scalability
   AI-driven systems are highly scalable, making them suitable for businesses of all sizes. As organisations grow and their supply chains become more complex, AI tools can easily adapt to changing inventory needs and provide continuous optimisation.

Industry Applications of AI-Driven Inventory Management

AI-driven inventory management is being adopted across various industries in Australia and New Zealand, helping businesses improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Here are some examples of how AI is transforming inventory management in key sectors:

1. Retail and E-Commerce
   AI is helping retailers and e-commerce companies optimise their inventory levels by predicting demand more accurately, automating replenishment, and providing real-time visibility into stock levels. In Australia, where consumer demand can fluctuate rapidly during sales events such as Black Friday or Boxing Day, AI-driven systems ensure that retailers have the right products in stock without overcommitting on inventory.
2. Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
   In the healthcare sector, maintaining accurate inventory levels is critical to ensuring that hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics have access to essential medications, medical supplies, and equipment. AI-driven inventory management systems help healthcare providers optimise stock levels, reduce waste from expired products, and ensure that critical supplies are always available.
3. Manufacturing
   For manufacturers in New Zealand, AI-driven inventory management helps optimise raw material stock levels and ensure that production processes run smoothly. By predicting demand for finished goods and automating replenishment of raw materials, AI tools help manufacturers reduce downtime and avoid production delays.
4. Food and Beverage
   AI-driven inventory management is particularly valuable in the food and beverage industry, where products have a limited shelf life. AI tools can predict demand more accurately, optimise stock levels, and reduce waste from spoiled goods, helping businesses minimise costs and improve sustainability.

Implementing AI-Driven Inventory Management: Key Considerations for ANZ Businesses

For businesses in Australia and New Zealand looking to implement AI-driven inventory management systems, there are several important factors to consider:

1. Data Quality and Availability
   AI models rely on large amounts of high-quality data to deliver accurate insights. Businesses must ensure they have access to reliable data from various sources, including sales data, customer behaviour, and supply chain operations. Investing in data management systems that ensure data accuracy and completeness is critical to the success of AI-driven inventory management.
2. Integration with Existing Systems
   AI-driven inventory management systems need to integrate seamlessly with existing supply chain management and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Businesses should assess their current technology infrastructure and ensure that AI tools can be incorporated without causing disruptions to their operations.
3. Skilled Workforce and Training
   Implementing AI-driven tools requires a workforce with the right skills to manage and interpret AI-generated insights. Organisations should invest in training programs to upskill employees in AI technologies and data analytics. In some cases, hiring data scientists or AI experts may be necessary to oversee the development and implementation of AI-driven systems.
4. Collaboration with Supply Chain Partners
   Effective inventory management requires collaboration across the entire supply chain. Businesses should work closely with suppliers, distributors, and retailers to share data and insights that enhance overall supply chain efficiency. Building strong relationships with supply chain partners is essential for optimising inventory levels and ensuring timely product availability.
5. Cost-Benefit Analysis
   While AI-driven inventory management offers numerous benefits, it also requires a financial investment in technology and training. Businesses should conduct a cost-benefit analysis to assess the potential return on investment (ROI). In most cases, the long-term savings from reduced inventory costs, improved cash flow, and enhanced operational efficiency will outweigh the initial investment.

How Trace Consultants Can Help ANZ Organisations Implement AI-Driven Inventory Management

At Trace Consultants, we specialise in helping businesses across Australia and New Zealand optimise their supply chain operations through advanced technologies, including AI-driven inventory management. Our team of supply chain experts works closely with organisations to implement AI solutions that improve accuracy, reduce costs, and enhance supply chain agility.

We offer a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Data Assessment and Strategy Development: We help organisations assess the quality and availability of their data, develop strategies for data collection and management, and ensure that AI tools are integrated into their existing supply chain systems.
• AI Tool Implementation and Customisation: We work with businesses to implement AI-driven inventory management tools that are tailored to their specific needs and industry requirements. Our solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems and provide real-time inventory insights.
• Training and Support: Our team provides training and ongoing support to ensure that your workforce is equipped with the skills needed to manage and interpret AI-driven insights. We also offer continuous monitoring and optimisation of AI models to ensure they deliver accurate and actionable results.
• Collaboration and Supply Chain Partner Engagement: We foster collaboration across the supply chain, ensuring that data and insights are shared with key stakeholders to enhance overall supply chain performance.

AI-driven inventory management is transforming how businesses in Australia and New Zealand optimise their supply chain operations. By leveraging AI tools for demand forecasting, automated replenishment, real-time visibility, and predictive maintenance, organisations can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction. As supply chains become more complex and customer demand more unpredictable, adopting AI-driven inventory management systems is critical to maintaining a competitive edge.

‍