Supply Chain Digitalisation: a new master’s degree at SDU
From Data to Decisions: Transforming supply chains through digitalisation
We all know the frustration of not having enough information to plan ahead and make good decisions. The tension as we scan the operations dashboard, heart pounding with uncertainty. That last-minute notice informing that the delivery of critical parts is delayed, throwing the production schedule into chaos. Or yet another quarter where demand forecasting fails, creating excess inventory in one corner of the warehouse and empty shelves in another. At night, watching the news of geopolitical tensions looming large, it presses for a tough call: boost safety stock at the risk of ballooning costs, stick to leaner inventories, and gamble with fulfilment.
To navigate that amount of uncertainty, companies realised they needed more and better data. A higher level of digitalisation is required to avoid, or at least to better deal with turbulences. A survey run by McKinsey¹ shows that 84% of supply chain executives in recent years have increased their focus on digitalising their supply chains. However, it’s first necessary to transform a large amount of data into digestible and relevant information, to therefore use it for informed decision-making.
Talking to managers in Denmark, it is not uncommon to hear that lots of data have been collected for years, but only a small part of it has actually been used. There is hidden and unexplored value in their hand. When asked why, the lack of skilled people to handle the vast amount of data appears at the top of their reasons for not further exploring it.
The new master’s programme in “Supply Chain Digitalisation”, which will be launched in September 2025 at SDU Sønderborg, emerged from this context. The focus is to equip students with tools and methods to collect, handle, and transform data from supply chains into smart decisions.
By working with data, they will support the industry in understanding the past, framing the present, and predicting the future (or at least being less wrong about it).
But what is supply chain digitalisation?
Supply chain digitalisation is a response to deal with a society transformation. Fast changes in consumer preferences, technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, and an urge to stop climate change have shifted how businesses need to operate and quickly react to market changes.
This makes supply chains – the critical arteries of any organisation – pressured to transform and adapt at an unprecedented pace. The goal is to make operations smoother, increase visibility, and improve the quality of decision-making. This requires leveraging a comprehensive integration of digital technologies and quantitative approaches for a more data-driven supply chain.
Luckily, more than ever, game-changing technologies are coming into play and bringing a whole lot of possibilities on how to understand, analyse, and use data to plan ahead.
Hard to grasp what it means in real life? Let’s delve deeper and see how the new master’s programme curriculum fosters the development of these skills.
The skills for supply chain transformation
First, before using it for decision-making, data must be collected, many times cleaned, transformed, and integrated. For instance, it’s not unusual to see headlines about market bumps and wonder: “Should we adjust our replenishment frequency given the potential shortages?”. It is a valid and straightforward question, but it requires some data to make an appropriate decision. For instance, the procurement department typically tracks inventory levels, while the sales team forecasts demand based on historical trends. Meanwhile, the production department may provide lead time data and capacity constraints, while the finance team enforces budget limits. To make an accurate decision about something as simple as replenishment frequency, all these data points need to be considered together.
However, in many organisations, these departments operate in silos, and their data is stored in separate systems or even disconnected formats, such as spreadsheets, legacy databases, or disparate software. This fragmentation makes it extremely difficult to get a holistic view of the entire supply chain. More than that, the lack of interoperability between systems hinders the ability to achieve seamless visibility, which not only slows down decision-making but also causes costly errors, redundancies, and missed opportunities.
Technology can play a role in fixing this. We designed this new master’s program in a way students learn how to harness technologies to break down these silos. First, understanding the journey of data along the supply chain, and later exploiting technologies to enable data integration and systems interoperability. Making accurate data available is just the first step but the keystone for supply chain digitalisation.
Second, uncertainty often makes us think about several possible scenarios, particularly when multiple variables are at play simultaneously, making it very hard (not to say impossible) to predict all outcomes. “If I need to increase my production throughput by 20% next year, how many more employees should I hire? What about space in the warehouse, will that be enough? Is my fleet sufficient for distribution?”
This is where simulation tools come in. By modelling different scenarios and testing the interaction of various factors in a virtual and risk-free environment, simulations allow us to obtain more accurate knowledge of potential outcomes. And luckily, we are not limited in scope since it can be used at different levels. This means that companies can use simulation for very operational analyses like comparing gains of performance from different warehouse automation technologies, or even very strategic decisions like evaluating the best location for a new distribution centre to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
The Simulation Lab at SDU Sønderborg is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and a wide range of software licenses to handle different types of supply chain issues. Researchers at the institute have long supported various companies in simulation efforts and facilitated their internal adoption. However, they often struggle to find skilled talents to sustain and expand these initiatives over time. Now, students in the new master’s program will learn how to use such tools to deal with operational, tactical, and strategic dilemmas over the semesters, therefore getting a full picture of each part of the supply chain and appropriate tools to exploit.
Third, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into supply chain is transforming the field. Questions like “from which suppliers could we get better deals” or “would we get a better throughput with a different order scheduling?” are not simple to answer because the inputs might frequently change, making static decisions not optimal. Machine learning models can support understanding patterns, making more accurate predictions, and supporting adjustments given the current status.
For instance, AI can more accurately forecast demand by considering market trends and seasonal fluctuations, helping companies align inventory levels with actual demand. Similarly, it can support optimising routing and scheduling in logistics. Likewise, streamlining procurement processes by analysing market prices and supplier performance to negotiate better deals.
Therefore, we expect students to learn how to develop AI and ML models extensively. These technologies allow them to analyse vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, identifying patterns and predicting trends with precision. They will gain hands-on experience with the latest tools while working on real-world projects. This way, they can tackle complex supply chain problems head-on.
Be part of it
This new master’s programme is an engineering-oriented study programme that focuses on providing most courses with a quantitative approach to advance the digitalisation of supply chains with a hands-on approach. Our program is designed to build real-world competencies, not just academic knowledge.
To develop the curriculum, we engaged in a broad, iterative dialogue with 20+ companies to truly understand and define the relevant and unique competence in need. Besides, to enable launching the programme, we secured a substantial financial support from a broad consortium of companies across the country that recognize an urgent need for these competencies and have invested significantly to make this initiative possible.
However, we can’t update and operate hands-on courses alone. That’s where you come in. Joining us in this journey will be a real win-win.
By bringing your company’s current challenges into the courses, you allow students to tackle actual problems and learn on the job rather than just in theory. This hands-on experience helps them develop the practical skills they need to make smarter decisions while providing insights to drive change in your supply chain, now and in the future.
Moreover, when you share your company’s needs and challenges, you’re helping to tailor the teaching to ensure that graduates are not just prepared to fill roles—they’re ready to lead the digital transformation your organisation might need.
Therefore, by being an active collaborator, you’re shaping the talent pool that will help drive your company’s digital agenda tomorrow and push innovation across your entire supply chain ecosystem. It’s a win-win: you get access to skilled, forward-thinking professionals, and students get the experience they need to hit the ground running.
The cherry on the cake
This programme is delivered in English at SDU Sønderborg, which offers a very international environment that encourages cross-cultural exchange. The campus is located in Sønderborg, a charming coastal city surrounded by natural beauty, providing an inspiring setting for learning.
Our graduates will be equipped to pursue careers as consultants, managers, and coordinators, with a focus on leading and transforming digital, global, and sustainable supply chains.
Besides, through strong partnerships with companies in Southern Denmark, SDU Sønderborg has introduced a unique “First-Job Guarantee” scheme that offers new graduates 6 months of employment if they have not already landed their first job.
There are several ways to get to know our programs better. If you see the programme as an inspiring opportunity and a good fit for the ones around you, consider sharing this article with that niece, nephew, or the child of a friend who might be interested. They can experience this international environment by being a student for a day or visiting us during Open Days. See more about the possibilities on the SDU pages below.
If you are part of a company willing to find ways to collaborate, you are very welcome to contact us at: supplychain@iti.sdu.dk
You can read more about the studies on the education page:
https://www.sdu.dk/en/uddannelse/kandidat/supply-chain-digitalisation
You can read more about the first-job guarantee scheme:
https://www.sdu.dk/en/uddannelse/kandidat/supply-chain-digitalisation/fremtidsmuligheder/first_job_guarantee
You can read more about the Open Days at:
https://www.sdu.dk/en/uddannelse/moedsdu/aabent_hus_sdu