Logistics
Executive Summary
The development of information technology has caused the nature of logistics and supply chain management changing dramatically. Furthermore, the relationship between retailer and supplier changed as well due to the changing of retail exchanges. As retailers are going to gain much more business opportunities and reduce cost on supply chain, it has affected the supplier in somehow. According to the change, there are some issues cannot be ignored because of the importance of the relationship between retailers and suppliers. This study aim to state what is the retail exchange: maintaining relationship and what should retailer and supplier do to remain the collaborative relationships.
1.0 Introduction
With the development of information technology, the way in which retailers manage their supply chains has been altered fundamentally (Sparks, 1998; Fernie and Sparks, 1998). Logistics and other activities have to be managed over greater distances than ever before due to information technology (Sparks & Wagner, 2003). Which means retailer activity is trend to be global. It is reasonable as retailers are going to maximize profits by enhancing their appropriate activities and reducing costs. Monczka and Trent (2003) also state that no matter in which business environment, searching for the most appropriate management methods, tools and activities of competitive advantage is demand. Thus, retailers could utilize the contribution of information technology to strategic supply chain activities such as efficient consumer response. The advantages of using the internet for exchange and communication purposes, such as the ability to source for suppliers on a global scale, would need to be considered in light of the potential to automate supply chain processes (Eng, 2004). Furthermore, the relationships between retailers and suppliers cannot be ignored. Based on Sparks and Wagner (2003), closer relationships among a network of suppliers
The development of information technology has caused the nature of logistics and supply chain management changing dramatically. Furthermore, the relationship between retailer and supplier changed as well due to the changing of retail exchanges. As retailers are going to gain much more business opportunities and reduce cost on supply chain, it has affected the supplier in somehow. According to the change, there are some issues cannot be ignored because of the importance of the relationship between retailers and suppliers. This study aim to state what is the retail exchange: maintaining relationship and what should retailer and supplier do to remain the collaborative relationships.
1.0 Introduction
With the development of information technology, the way in which retailers manage their supply chains has been altered fundamentally (Sparks, 1998; Fernie and Sparks, 1998). Logistics and other activities have to be managed over greater distances than ever before due to information technology (Sparks & Wagner, 2003). Which means retailer activity is trend to be global. It is reasonable as retailers are going to maximize profits by enhancing their appropriate activities and reducing costs. Monczka and Trent (2003) also state that no matter in which business environment, searching for the most appropriate management methods, tools and activities of competitive advantage is demand. Thus, retailers could utilize the contribution of information technology to strategic supply chain activities such as efficient consumer response. The advantages of using the internet for exchange and communication purposes, such as the ability to source for suppliers on a global scale, would need to be considered in light of the potential to automate supply chain processes (Eng, 2004). Furthermore, the relationships between retailers and suppliers cannot be ignored. Based on Sparks and Wagner (2003), closer relationships among a network of suppliers
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