Optimization and Model of SaaS-based Multi-level Supply Chain Information Platform

This paper develops a conceptual information platform that manages the unified information for the each partner in the supply chain. The SaaS-based platform model differs from previous studies by designing a third part information service platform to improve the process performance of the supply chain and decrease its cost. Our objective here is to let the partners (including raw material suppliers, product manufacturers, distributors and retailers) in the multi-level supply chain, just need to register on the platform to acquire the real-time shared information about demand processing, orders, inventory and so on, without building their own information system respectively and integrating these systems among the supply chain. In this study, we compare two models: traditional model and SaaS-based information platform model. Our results show that the SaaS-based model is optimal to promote cooperation, minimize the cost of total supply chain and keep the inventory' stability.