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Supply Chain Management in B2B and B2C Environments
Supply chain management, whether in a traditional or E-commerce environment, involves distributing products, goods and services from point of manufacture to the delivery of the final product. Supply chain management, whether related to B2B or B2C retailers involves manufacturing, storage, distribution and delivery of products and services to consumers and other businesses. B2B supply chain management is slightly more complex than B2C transactions, as B2B wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers are typically working with larger corporate entities. For supply chain management to work in a B2B or in a B2C environment, the focus must be on provider customers with the utmost in quality services. The specific differences and similarities between supply chain management for B2B and B2C are explored in greater detail below.
According to Stephen David, CIO and B2B officer for Procter and Gamble, building a successful supply chain depends upon "the ability of manufacturers to develop a successful consumer driven system" (Reese, 2004). According to the successful business chain entrepreneur, the primary market for today's manufacturers is declining, thus "B2B supply chain management should not be focusing on consumer goods, but rather new categories" (Reese, 2004). Supply chain management in B2B must focus on the "fragmented market", comprised of very different types of consumers. B2B customers have very specific demands, and what works best in this environment is a "consumer-driven supply network that operates in real-time, is data driven and supplies products on demand" (Re ...