E-Supply Chain

Online supply chain management is your key to virtual success
By Lisa Maloney Thanks to the Internet, supply chain management now moves faster than ever before. The basic principles, however, are the same: optimize what you buy, when you buy it and where you buy or store it. Squeeze enough dollars out of the cost of goods, and you'll improve your bottom line.

Companies like Dell Computer Company and Ford Motor Company have developed some notoriety for stream-lining their e-supply chains and are called cutting edge by some, but it doesn't take a razor to apply these simple steps and optimize your e-supply chain:

1. Collect as much information about your current online supply chain management and implementation as possible

2. Identify and troubleshoot areas that need to be improved

3. Take proactive steps to improve your electronic supply chain management

Hunt down supply chain information

Collect documentation, invoices and receipts or a record of such so that you're dealing with hard facts and figures. Consult with your purchasers and sellers to clarify anything that isn't immediately clear. Your goal is to understand why purchases were made in that particular place, at that particular time, for that particular price.
Try:  Sometimes the very first step is just recognizing that a problem is possible. Use the Scribd Supply Chain Checklist and steps three through seven of Goliath's Supply Chain Management Checklist 172 to guide you through evaluating your E-supply chain management. You can also create your own checklist by recording every step of the process and then brainstorming with advisers on how each step could be performed more efficiently.

Eliminate e-supply chain problems

If your supply chain is functioning well, you're beyond fortunate! Most of the time, though, you'll find at least a few small areas that can be improved upon. Choose ways of troubleshooting the problems you've found.
Try:  If you have a clear understanding of your supply chain's problems, gather your trusted advisers and brainstorm possible solutions. If you still need help or just want an outside pair of eyes and ears helping look for solutions, you may want to employ a consulting firm like Clarity Consulting or Alloquor Consulting to help you target the problem and provide innovative solutions.

Enhance your electronic supply chain management

In all but very small businesses, e-supply chain software can do a lot to automate and optimize your buying, selling and shipping operations.
Try:  Review Phred Solutions' online e-supply chain management system software to see if it's a good fit for your company. FedEx offers their own online supply chain management solution. A wide variety of other e-supply chain software is available through the Capterra Supply Chain Management Software Directory.

• If you're already a seller in the Internet supply chain, shouldn't you be applying the same principles to selling as you just did to buying? Follow the same general action steps with an eye toward optimizing what, when and where you sell. If you're not already a seller - shouldn't you be?