Supply chain automation, supply chain efficiencies, supplier managed inventories, Demand chain management, bull whip effect, are all subjects that have been studied and optimized. In the future, I think the focus will shift to Specialized Supply chains. Supply chains can borrow from concepts like HACCP for food and be able to claim a uniqueness. Brahmin supply chain, Hallal supply chain, low carbon foot print supply chain, fair wages supply chain, never exposed to ultra violet rays supply chain...the list is endless. This will help significantly in brand building and brand identity creation in the future.
How did I think of this? Recently I stopped going to the grocer nearby because I found they had not one but two pet cats. I saw one of the cats going over the open bag of rice. That was it. I stopped going to that shop. My wife has given up going to another shop because at the stainless steel check out table, from a meat pack picked up by the the customer before her in the line, gooey stuff oozed out and entered the bunch of greens she had picked up. Most customers ( and readers too!) might find this stupid, however, for me it is difficult to accept rice which a cat has been all over or greens with a lacing of meat juice. I know, what we don't see we cannot worry about, however if there was a brand that guaranteed a particular kind of supply chain, I think customers will see great value.
Do write in. Do you think this already exists? what is such a supply chain called? Do you think it helps brands connect to segments of customers? What kind of special purpose supply chains do you see emerging?
That's a good thought on where the customers are expecting the service / products to deliver. Alas, I don't think a lot of businesses are listening, let along actioning on this.
ReplyDeleteThat's what we at Business Marketing System / Online Business School call Niche marketing. Whatever it takes, understand your customer by listening and then providing / altering your service or the product to suit that need.
My few cents for your observation...
Mcdonalds gets fresh supply of fresh vegetables every two hrs. The new philosphy of supply chain management looks into everything- that can and must add value to the Consumer rupee, ensuring both responsiveness and efficiency. Quality will definitely continue to getr more and more importance.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, the time is ripe for concepts such as green marketing and related concepts to take off.
Incidentally, my wife has also warned me from shopping from some kirana stores.
Very interesting! My grandma would sure have approved of this.
ReplyDeleteIndeed customers prefer to buy diamonds that don't have the blood of innocent African civilians, and patronize the Fair Trade supply chains for different agricultural produce.
My only reservation about specialized supply chains is that it often sets higher base prices than prevailing market prices. That could, in theory, distort prices in even the non-specialized market. Do I sound like a rightist?
Sustainable and environmentally conscious supply chains are getting big. Walmart now sources only sustainable seafood after repeated concerns that the Beast from Arkansas was gobbling up all the wild fish.
ReplyDeleteDisaster supply chain management may be the concept to manage the issues related to environment problem like tidal wave, oil spill and so on.
ReplyDeleteA time will come when we will also have no-supply chain food supplies where the local village/community will provide many inputs.
ReplyDeletevery true Sir, only customer preference for local and fresh needs to increase and the trend has started.
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