Digitization in supplier management

With digital processes and integrated capacity assurance, we ensure efficiency, planning reliability, and delivery capability.

Ensure delivery capability before bottlenecks occur

In complex development projects, the stability of the supply chain determines the success of the project. Risks often arise during the transition phase from development to series production: parallel series, heterogeneous supplier structures, and a lack of feedback can quickly lead to bottlenecks.

With SupplierSync and SupplierInsights, we digitize capacity assurance as an integral part of structured supplier management. The result: end-to-end transparency, clear responsibilities, and stable production planning.

RLE’s digital capacity assurance creates transparency and security in the supply chain. Automated workflows, documented feedback, and live dashboards reduce the workload for project teams and increase response speed.

>90% time savings through automated and personalized initial contact emails
100% progress transparency for customers thanks to live dashboards and management reports
100% user satisfaction – previous Excel lists have been completely replaced
20% reduction in personnel costs through automated processes and clear responsibilities
The small RLE project team independently clarified and documented over 60% of supplier inquiries

When capacity becomes a weak point

Capacity assurance is more than just a checkpoint. It is the basis for stable production planning. Heterogeneous supplier networks in particular require clarity: Which components are secured? Which suppliers have queries? Where do adjustments need to be made?
With our digital solution, we create a reliable foundation for technical and organizational project management – structured, traceable and scalable.

Practical example: From fragmented processes to structured control

As part of an OEM project, our team was faced with the task of completely reorganizing the existing capacity query. Originally, supplier feedback was collected and tracked using various Excel spreadsheets that were not linked to each other, spread across different series and responsibilities. The manual maintenance effort was high, coordination was time-consuming and it was virtually impossible to achieve consistent transparency regarding the current status.

Right at the start of the project, we worked with the customer to introduce a digital toolset that bundles all supplier queries centrally. Standardized processes, automated workflows and a consolidated overview of all feedback formed the basis. Existing coordination channels were taken into account and specifically supplemented with digital functions – such as automated status updates, structured communication processes and role-based access.

Two apps, one goal – digital control in supplier management

With SupplierSync and SupplierInsights, RLE has developed an integrated solution for efficient supplier communication and capacity management.
The two applications create end-to-end transparency, clear task allocation, and automated workflows – in a system that integrates seamlessly into existing processes.

Whether for internal control or coordination with the customer: feedback, status information, and progress are recorded in a structured manner, documented centrally, and evaluated in real time.
This results in a smooth process from the initial inquiry to the final approval of delivery capability – efficient, traceable, and scalable.

App: RLE SupplierSync

Central organization of all suppliers to be secured across all model lines
Transparent display of communication history for each supplier
Easy tracking of processing status by the RLE project team
Development and handover to the RLE team for direct use in project operations

App: SupplierInsights

Direct insight for the customer into current processing progress
Automated reports and clear management dashboards
Communication between the RLE and customer project teams directly within the tool
Integration with the RLE Kapa Tool for end-to-end process handling
Complete replacement of previous Excel-based solutions on the customer side

End-to-end overview:
How capacity management becomes a controllable process

Central Coordination on the RLE Side (RLE SupplierSync)

All capacity confirmations are centrally managed in the app RLE SupplierSync on the RLE side. Project teams handle communication, responses, and tasks in a structured and transparent way:

Cross-project overview without Excel files
Tasks and responses clearly assigned per supplier
Maintained contact data for seamless project handovers
Clear task distribution within the RLE team
Filter options for focused work management, e.g. by last contact

This ensures a smooth process from initial request to final confirmation.

Transparency and Collaboration on the Customer Side (SupplierInsights)

Key functions are also available on the customer side in the app SupplierInsights to actively support the safeguarding process, enrich information, and guide activities in a targeted way:

Cross-project overview without separate Excel files
Joint handling of open items per supplier, fully documented
Capture relevant information such as required price adjustments or minimum quantities and analyze them using flexible filter options
Insight into processing status and feedback history provided by RLE

This enables a shared, structured approach to securing delivery capability.

Live Dashboard for Management and Project Control

A tailored visualization is available for customer-side project management, bringing together all ongoing capacity confirmations in one clear view:

Cross-project live data for quick insights during management reviews
Processing status by vehicle line and supplier at a glance
Critical suppliers can be identified and addressed with focus
No manual preparation required – data is immediately usable and exportable

This dashboard supports informed decision-making without the need to sift through scattered sources.

Transferable to any industry: digital efficiency in supplier management

The challenges in supplier communication are cross-industry: wherever information, approvals, and progress are exchanged between multiple parties, SupplierSync and SupplierInsights create structure and efficiency. Whether in industry, energy supply, or public administration, the modular apps can be flexibly adapted and integrated.

Your added value with RLE Mobility

Flexible scaling: from a few to hundreds of suppliers per series
Central control for all project participants
OEM-tested in complex development environments
Seamless integration into existing processes and tools
Clear decision templates through live dashboards
Fully supported by the experienced RLE team

Capacity assurance requires a consistent view of component scopes, confirmation status and critical dependencies across all suppliers and series. Especially for new series ramp-ups with a high number of variants, it is crucial not only to recognize potential bottlenecks, but also to take active and structured countermeasures. With our solution, we create the basis for reliable decisions in ramp-up management.