End-to-End visibility in the Supply Chain: a critical lever to face shortages

In a context of recurring shortages, supplier delays, and raw material price hikes, end-to-end visibility in the supply chain has become a strategic necessity rather than a nice-to-have.

When companies lack visibility beyond their Tier-1 suppliers, they are forced to react too late: orders are placed in panic, inventories explode, service levels drop, and costs spiral out of control. On the contrary, organizations that achieve strong supply chain visibility are able to anticipate risks earlier, adapt faster, and secure their operations despite uncertainty.

This is exactly the challenge addressed in our webinar “Improving visibility on the extended supply chain”, with concrete insights from industrial supply chains facing shortages. Fill out the form to get your free access and learn how to turn visibility into a competitive advantage!

What does End-to-End Supply Chain visibility really mean?

From Tier-1 to extended Supply Chain visibility

End-to-end supply chain visibility refers to the ability to monitor, anticipate, and coordinate flows of materials, information, and decisions across the entire supply chain — from raw material suppliers to final customers.

Unlike basic visibility limited to internal stocks or direct suppliers, true end-to-end visibility in supply chain includes:

• Multi-tier supplier insights
• Future demand and confirmed orders
• Lead times, constraints, and risks upstream

This extended view is essential to detect shortages before they impact production or customer service.

Visibility vs Transparency vs Control

These concepts are often confused:

• Visibility = knowing what is happening and what will happen
• Transparency = sharing information across stakeholders
• Control = acting proactively based on insights

Without visibility, there can be no control. And without control, shortages become unavoidable.

How poor Supply Chain Visibility amplifies shortages

A lack of visibility in the supply chain is one of the main reasons why shortages hit companies so hard.

When future demand, supplier commitments, or capacity constraints are not visible:

• Shortages are detected too late
• Planners over-order “just in case”
• Excess inventory and cash pressure increase
• Collaboration with suppliers becomes reactive

As highlighted during the webinar, the more visibility we have on future orders, the more manageable the situation becomes.
Visibility transforms shortages from a crisis into a manageable risk.

Key capabilities required for End-to-End Supply Chain visibility

Achieving end-to-end supply chain visibility is not just about dashboards. It requires a combination of capabilities.

Real-Time and forward-looking data

Visibility must include future demand, forecasts, and scenarios, not only historical data.

Supply Chain collaboration visibility

Sharing forecasts, orders, and confirmations with suppliers improves reliability and reduces uncertainty across the extended supply chain.

Scenario Simulation and What-If analysis

The ability to simulate supplier delays, demand spikes, or price increases helps teams prepare before shortages occur.

AI-Powered alerts and exception management

Instead of firefighting, planners are alerted early and can focus on what really matters.

👉 These capabilities are explored in detail during the webinar, with concrete use cases from real supply chains.

Practical examples of End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility in action

Companies that improve end-to-end visibility in supply chain can:

• Anticipate raw material shortages several months ahead
• Adjust safety stocks dynamically instead of increasing them blindly
• Reallocate inventory across sites before stockouts occur
• Improve supplier reliability through better collaboration

These examples show how visibility directly impacts service level, costs, and resilience.

Watch the webinar replay to see how companies apply these practices in real shortage situations.

Tools that enable End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility

Modern supply chain visibility relies on advanced planning and visibility tools that connect demand, inventory, and supply decisions.

However, tools alone are not enough. The real value comes from solutions that:

• Integrate forecasting and inventory optimization
• Provide extended supplier visibility
• Support collaborative planning
• Use AI to anticipate risks

To explore concrete solutions, tools, and platforms that enable end-to-end supply chain visibility, we’ve compared the best supply chain visibility software in a dedicated guide.

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Why This Webinar Is the Right Starting Point

This webinar is designed for supply chain leaders who want practical answers, not theory.

You will learn:

• How to improve visibility beyond Tier-1 suppliers
• Why end-to-end visibility reduces the impact of shortages
• Best practices to secure supply without inflating inventory
• Concrete lessons from industrial supply chains

👉 Fill in the form to access the webinar replay and start improving your end-to-end supply chain visibility today.

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FAQ – End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility

What is end-to-end visibility in the supply chain?

End-to-end visibility in the supply chain is the ability to see, anticipate, and manage flows of materials and information across the entire supply chain, from raw materials to final delivery.

Why is end-to-end supply chain visibility important during shortages?

Because it allows companies to detect risks earlier, anticipate shortages, and adapt decisions before disruptions impact production or customer service.

How does supply chain visibility help reduce shortages?

By improving forecasts, supplier collaboration, and early alerts, supply chain visibility helps prevent late reactions, panic ordering, and stockouts.

What is the difference between supply chain visibility and end-to-end supply chain visibility?

Supply chain visibility often focuses on internal stocks or Tier-1 suppliers, while end-to-end supply chain visibility extends to multi-tier suppliers and future demand.

How can companies improve visibility in their supply chain?

By combining demand forecasting, inventory optimization, supplier collaboration, and AI-driven planning tools.

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Do I need a control tower to achieve end-to-end visibility?

Not necessarily. What matters is the ability to connect data, anticipate risks, and support decision-making across the extended supply chain.

Is end-to-end visibility only for large enterprises?

No. Mid-market companies can also benefit from end-to-end supply chain visibility, especially when facing shortages and high demand volatility. There are several AI-Driven Demand Planning Software for Small and Mid-Size Businesses than can drastically improve ROI quickly, making it affordable for SMBs.

How does this webinar help improve supply chain visibility?

The webinar shares actionable best practices, real examples, and concrete methods to improve visibility and face shortages more effectively.

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