Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) face the undeniable challenge of meeting consumer needs while addressing operating costs that can be unforgiving for companies of a smaller size. With those challenges, comes the need to invest in savvy supply chain solutions that won’t hold them back. While there are countless strategies they can employ, some rise to the top with the most promise.
Inbound Logistics recently spoke to Alpine’s Senior Director, Brandon Novak, about his insights into how SMBs can thrive in an ever-fluctuating market. In their article, Getting to Big: SMBs Embrace Tech Partnerships, they uncover different supply chain strategies SMBs can implement to stay ahead of the curve. The main takeaway: SMBs require investment in supply chain partnerships and technology to sustain and grow.
Five Steps to Success
Read on for five tips that Novak and other industry experts suggest SMBs implement to stay on top.
- Navigating supply chain operations and partnering with logistics and technology vendors are crucial for SMBs. It provides access to advanced technology, can present cost savings, is scalable and flexible, and allows them to focus on their core competencies while providing superior customer service.
- For SMBs working with high demand or the unexpected popularity of certain products, a short-term solution to implement is to lean on vendors for extra assistance. Pushing packaging and labeling needs upstream to other vendors gives SMBs time to search for and eventually implement a long-term solution they can depend on later.
- Working with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider can offer SMBs specialized offerings, like cold storage or transportation management. Delegating supply chain functions to a 3PL will free SMBs to focus on their core competencies while bridging supply chain cost gaps.
- Eliminate “technical debt” as soon as possible. SMBs that have been operating for decades may have a cobbled-together set of enterprise software solutions that are barely keeping the operation on track. The inefficiencies within this are countless, and are more than likely leading to “technical debt” — the potential expenses that arise from choosing expedient but constrained solutions over more comprehensive approaches during software development. The longer it takes for operations to address these directly, the more inefficient and hindered they become.
- Regular check-ins and assessments of supply chain operations are essential for SMBs’ continued growth and scalability. Running an operation is not a set-and-forget business, it requires periodic evaluations to ensure nothing is falling through the cracks.
For more details on these expert recommendations, read the full article Inbound Logistics article here.
In a dynamic market environment where SMBs contend with both consumer demands and operational constraints, investing in robust supply chain solutions is paramount. These decisions are big ones, and it’s often difficult to get the full picture. That’s where we come in. We have the knowledge you need to determine what your SMB needs to thrive. Reach out to speak with one of our supply chain experts today, and let’s see how you can make the most out of your supply chain.
