5 Tips to Improve Omnichannel Inventory Management
The world of commerce is an ever-changing one. Tech developments such as 5G and the Internet of Things are reshaping everyday life. And that includes how we all shop. Customer support is evolving with social media, artificial intelligence and unified communications. That’s a lot for any eCommerce business to keep up with. Some things, though, [&h ... Read More
June 25, 2020 inventory management, multi-channel, multichannel, omni-channel, supply chain, supply chain managementWhy JIT Isn’t to Blame for Broken Supply Chains
As governments and hospitals work to stamp out Covid-19, manufacturers are also struggling to manage the virus’ impact on their supply chains. Many are quick to blame just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing for their lack of components and raw materials. Is the lean system at fault or is it something deeper? We’ll take a closer look at: […] ... Read More
May 11, 2020 Covid-19, JIT, just-in-time, manufacturing, push and pull production, supply chainHow Will a Recession Impact Your Supply Chain?
Recessions occur when there is a consecutive decrease in economic growth. The global economy is volatile, and its impacts can travel through many parts of business and society. Recessions happen when there’s a drop in real gross domestic product, income, employment, manufacturing production and consumer retail sales. When the economy goes south, ... Read More
March 19, 2020 lead time, supply chain, supply chain riskRecommendations for Managing Supply Chain Risks and Challenges
Globalisation means that our supply chains are more entwined and complex than ever. When a global disruption like the ongoing Covid-19 virus outbreak happens, its impact will be felt on both social and economic levels. Disruptions in the supply chain The Covid-19 outbreak is having a major impact on global supply chains, especially as governments [ ... Read More
March 4, 2020 Covid-19, supply chain, supply chain challenges, supply chain riskWhat’s Affecting Your Lead Time?
Manufacturers rely on suppliers and lead times to plan out their production line. Suppliers are a critical part of the supply chain and your final product as a manufacturer. However, getting the supplies you need can often be trickier than you thought. Suppliers have many variables that impact their lead time. As a result, these […] ... Read More
March 2, 2020 increase lead times, supply chainHow Can Small Businesses Make the Most of Big Data?
Having access to information about competitors and customers can be key to the growth and success of a business. For smaller businesses just starting out, they may not have adequate resources to capture this information — and managers may not know what metrics to look out for. In this article, we explore what big data […] ... Read More
February 21, 2020 inventory management software, supply chainBefriending the Conscious Consumer
Increasingly, the consumer market in the developed world is becoming dominated by a demand for products which meet certain criteria. From sustainable products which are kinder to the environment or made from organic materials, to those made without the use of animal testing. There is a huge demand for products from what has been termed […] ... Read More
February 20, 2020 supply chainIn the Eyes of a Manufacturer: Lead Times
A product’s lead time is the time between when an order is placed and when the product is delivered. This when you are on the recipient end of an order. When you are a manufacturer, your lead times are the times between when an order is presented to you, and when that order is fulfilled, […] ... Read More
January 30, 2020 lead time, manufacturers, supply chainThe Ethical Implications of Outsourcing You Need to Know
What is outsourcing? Outsourcing is the practice of hiring outside your business, or getting an individual to perform contracted work as opposed to paying your employees to do the work. Many businesses use outsourcing to: Reduce costs Focus on their core business Resolve capacity issues Enhance service quality Access to intellectual capital Busines ... Read More
December 16, 2019 inventory management, suppliers, supply chain, supply chain challengesThe Pros and Cons: International and Domestic Sourcing
It’s easy to oversimplify the differences between sourcing for parts locally or internationally. When considering where to purchase from, the prevailing idea seems to be that domestic sourcing allows for better control and shorter lead time, but international sourcing is more cost-effective. Let’s compare the strengths and weaknesses of both in ... Read More
December 16, 2019 inventory control, logistics, shipping, supply chainThe Remarkable Supply Chain of the Coffee Bean
For so many people, coffee is a staple of their everyday routine. And its popularity is apparent in the global market — global coffee production reached 158.6 million 60-kilogram bags in 2018, up from 148.6 million 60-kilogram bags in 2015. In fact, the average per capita consumption stands at 1.0 kg in 2019. Within each […] ... Read More
December 9, 2019 coffee, inventory stock, logistics, supply chainPurchase Orders and Purchase Requisitions: What’s the Difference?
Supply chains are a fundamental tool for any inventory business. However, supply chains are a very involved and sometimes complex process. It’s vital to understand how the procurement process works and making sure you understand what different parts of the process mean. Two key parts of the procurement process are the purchase order and purchase ... Read More
September 10, 2019 inventory control, inventory management, purchase order, supply chainLet’s Talk About Delivery In Full and On Time
If you’re involved in the manufacturing or distribution business, you’ll know how important it is to deliver to your customers on time. When a product lands into a customer’s hands on time, this leads to greater customer satisfaction. On the other hand, if a product is late, a customer can become disgruntled and brand loyalty […] ... Read More
August 17, 2019 customer satisfaction, inventory reporting, order fulfillment, supplier relationship, suppliers, supply chainHow Printed Product Labels Can Assist Manufacturing
If you run a manufacturing business, you’ll appreciate the complexities of procuring, producing and shipping products. The supply chain is full of raw materials that need to be tracked and turned into a final product. It’s a busy process with production lines churning out goods, warehouses stacked full of inventory stock, and transportation log ... Read More
August 3, 2019 cost efficiency, inventory accuracy, manufacturing, supply chain4 Key Differences Between B2B and B2C Supply Chains You Need to Know
Business relationships for the sale of goods and services can be split up into two broad categories: business to business (B2B), and business to consumer (B2C). B2B products and services are sold from one business to another business, and in B2C, the products are sold from a business to the end user. As a result, […] ... Read More
May 7, 2019 B2B, B2C, supply chainSupply Chains Made Simple: 4 Tips to Improve Your Business’ Supply Chain Performance
When it comes to improving a business’ inventory performance, interrogating the supply chain can be an intimidating prospect. Supply chains are complicated and difficult, and the prospect of change typically provokes a reflexive ‘if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it’ response. Businesses see the upfront pain but fail to recognise ... Read More
May 3, 2019 stock control, supply chainWhat a Multichannel Strategy Means for your Supply Chain
A shift in consumer shopping preferences and behaviours is driving the growth toward multichannel retailing. This multichannel strategy has a direct impact on a business’ supply chain and creates different priorities for both retailers and their suppliers. For retailers, supply chain priorities include increasing on-shelf availability while reduc ... Read More
April 23, 2019 eCommerce, multi-channel, retail, supplier relationship, supply chainThe Impact of a Multichannel Strategy on Your Entire Supply Chain
Multichannel retail strategies open up selling opportunities to the vendor, increasing the level of interaction with consumers and offering a more and more customised approach to retail. However, this does not come without impact to the supply chain, both positive and negative. So, what are some of the effects to be aware of? Top of […] ... Read More
April 17, 2019 inventory management software, multi-channel, retail, supply chainIdentifying the Key Differences Between a B2B and B2C Supply Chain
There are two broad categories of business relationships for facilitating the sale of goods and services. B2B is the business to business category and B2C the business to consumer category. In B2B, transactions take place between one business and another business, whereas with B2C the transactions happen between the business and the consumer. B2C b ... Read More
April 15, 2019 B2B, B2C, eCommerce, inventory control, multi-channel, retail, supply chainSupply Chain Efficiency vs. Effectiveness
Supply chain managers can often think that if a process is efficient, it is also effective. In fact, this is not always the case. Confusion can arise because the relationship between efficiency and effectiveness is interrelated yet independent. This article will explain the difference between supply chain efficiency and effectiveness, and although ... Read More
April 6, 2019 business growth, inventory management, supply chain, supply chain challengesHow Inventory Management is Paving the Path Forward in an On-demand World
Inventory management in an on-demand world is one of the biggest challenges in the supply chain today. No longer is a business merely buying in bulk and selling from just a brick-and-mortar store. Customers now have the ability to buy from many places online and also expect to be able to return things easily too. […] ... Read More
March 20, 2019 B2C, inventory management, order fulfillment, retail, supply chainHow You Can Tackle Your Supply Chain Inefficiencies
The supply chain is a dynamic, logistical-laden beast. It has so many interworking parts, organisations, relationships, information, technology and people. Everything and everyone is dependent on the suave execution of supply chain getting them the right goods and services, at the right time. They call it a chain for a reason — everything is inte ... Read More
March 15, 2019 supply chain, supply chain challenges, supply chain management