A supply chain control tower is a connected, centralized dashboard that integrates data, key metrics, and events across the entire supply chain, providing a clear, real-time view of all operations. It enables faster, smarter decision-making and puts all stakeholders on the same page.
Some experts describe the control tower as the nerve center for supply chain activity, as all information—including logistics, procurement, and inventory—passes through this centralized hub.
The control tower is well-positioned as a first responder to any supplier delays, demand shifts, new opportunities, or potential bottlenecks. With a constant pulse on all operations, the modern control tower provides proactive support rather than reactive firefighting.
Control towers of the past were more focused on quickly reacting (scrambling) to disruptions. Early iterations focused on logistics, including tracking shipments and coordinating delivery flows, as well as crisis response.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud-based integration power advanced control towers to provide end-to-end predictive insights. Increasingly, this helps anticipate disruptions and automate mitigation plans.
Core components of a contemporary control tower typically include:
Here’s a more in-depth look at the key capabilities and benefits of a supply chain control tower.
Control towers typically merge siloed data sources and external events into a single data center, providing continuous, accurate, and timely monitoring of supply and demand. Companies can more quickly detect and curtail threats, such as material shortages or port closures, and then take proactive measures to minimize the impact on customer service.
AI-powered alerts and scenario modeling enable businesses to understand the upstream and downstream effects of events. Predictive analytics can help manufacturers anticipate raw material shortages or retailers forecast inventory stockouts during peak shopping periods.
Control towers streamline manual processes, improve on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery, and lower the need for costly expedites.
Modern towers feature AI-enabled resolution rooms and digital playbooks, providing teams and partners with shared tools for exception management. This reduces delays in communication and creates alignment around clear, data-backed decisions.
Combined, these benefits ultimately translate into greater resilience, reduced costs, and higher customer satisfaction; these capabilities are all the more essential in an era of fractured supply chains and global volatility.
Not all control towers are created equal. Companies can choose from several types, depending on their operational scope and strategic objectives.
Operational control towers focus on day-to-day execution, such as monitoring inbound shipments or warehouse activity. Strategic towers, on the other hand, provide predictive modeling, scenario planning, and long-term optimization to support executive decision-making.
Specific towers can address unique challenges:
Retailers deploy omnichannel-focused towers to balance store and warehouse fulfillment, while pharmaceutical companies leverage cold-chain towers for compliance and safety.
Automotive manufacturers are building transportation-focused towers to manage thousands of suppliers and carriers in real time.
The right choice depends on business priorities. A global manufacturer might need an end-to-end tower with predictive analytics, while a regional distributor could benefit most from a logistics-focused solution.
Visibility is the foundation of modern supply chain resilience, yet siloed ERPs, WMSs, and transportation management systems create blind spots. A purpose-built control tower integrates these systems and normalizes the data for a holistic view.
Renault Group’s recent implementation shows the power of this approach. By partnering with Shippeo and Google AI, the automaker built a transportation control tower that calculates accurate estimated times of arrival and proactively reroutes shipments in the face of delays.
In addition to the €260 million in savings previously cited, Renault reduced line stops and unfinished vehicles by 50% (SupplyChainBrain).
An end-to-end supply chain tower also strengthens sustainability and compliance. PricewaterhouseCoopers highlights how towers can track environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, including emissions and supplier labor policies.
This offers Renault a clear, auditable data trail for regulators and customers. Full-on visibility supports risk mitigation and strengthens brand reputation.
Control towers can easily adapt to the unique challenges of different industries.
In a case study, McKinsey highlights a metals producer that used their control tower to improve throughput and reduce inventory by up to 10%. By integrating production and inventory planning with advanced analytics, the company boosted EBITDA by 2–5% and cut emissions by 8–10%.
Retailers adopt control towers to achieve complete omnichannel visibility, ensuring that inventory is balanced across warehouses, stores, and in-transit goods. This reduces stockouts, improves order fulfillment, and helps control cost-to-serve.
Hospitals lose up to 10% of inventory value due to misplaced supplies. Control towers track critical equipment across locations, reducing waste and improving the quality of care.
These examples demonstrate that while the core concept remains the same—visibility, analytics, and agility—the applications are tailored to sector-specific needs.
The next generation of control towers is poised to deliver even greater value through advanced technologies.
Today’s supply chain leaders are adopting unified data platforms that connect ERP, supply chain management, industry, and macroeconomic data. When paired with AI and machine learning, these platforms can forecast potential shifts in supply curves, recommend optimal inventory levels, and even automate supplier communications. With the growth of cloud-based tools, these capabilities are now within reach for small and midsize businesses, providing advanced forecasting and decision support without the cost or complexity of traditional enterprise systems. By bringing all data together in one governed environment, organizations gain the insight and agility needed to respond faster to changing market conditions. In many cases today, firms may only realize parts of this—such as forecasting modules or limited automation—but the architecture is evolving toward fuller integration.
Towers are morphing into autonomous decision-making engines, using AI to simulate disruption scenarios and recommend realistic alternatives in real time (IBM).
Distributed ledger technology is being integrated to improve traceability and trust across trading partners, particularly for industries with rigorous compliance, such as food, pharma, and aerospace (Market.us).
Control towers are increasingly key to meeting ESG goals. These towers gather complete, transparent ESG data across all impacted areas, including carbon emissions, waste, and labor practices. This enables companies to meet regulatory requirements and strengthen their reputation for sustainability (PwC).
The global market for supply chain control towers reached $6.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a 30.2% CAGR to $93.8 billion by 2034 (Market.us). This surge reflects the increasing recognition of visibility and resilience as strategic imperatives rather than optional investments.
Control towers are rapidly evolving from visibility tools to intelligent, adaptive systems that help businesses thrive amid volatility.
Supply chain control towers are masters of data. They consolidate fragmented data for rapid, predictive insights, and smarter, faster, truly aligned collaboration. Every day, control towers help companies reduce costs, strengthen resilience, and deliver better customer outcomes as they transform how industries of all types operate and withstand market disruption and regulatory scrutiny.
If your organization is ready to build greater visibility and agility into its supply chain, explore Epicor resources to see how our supply chain solutions can accelerate your transformation for order and clarity in an unpredictable world.
Let’s talk. Chat with an Epicor expert today to discover how we can create a custom solution that cuts through the noise and reveals the insights your supply chain already holds.
Success awaits: Connect now.
