The Fluid Distribution Network: Consumers drive demand that drives the need for optimized supply chain networks

摘要

Companies have historically reviewed their distribution networks every five or six years. These reviews were easy to delay, given their complexity and the likelihood that a consultant would be required to facilitate the process. Once the distribution network was set, costs were then justified to fit into that network, which had a multi-year life cycle. But today's rapidly shifting customer bases and business models no longer mesh with a more "fixed" distribution network strategy. "In the current environment, consumers want their orders right away and the service expectations are rapidly rising," said Greg Braun, senior vice president sales and marketing for C3 Solutions a provider of dock scheduling and yard management solutions. "Any bottlenecks in the supply chain must be removed."