SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Supply chain management (SCM) refers to the handling of all operations that relate to building
a product and getting it to the right customer. The purpose of a supply chain is to get goods
produced and distributed as quickly and efficiently as possible. The supply chain can include,
for example, designing, planning, manufacturing, storing, and distributing. Some companies
are able to own every stage of their supply chain, but most supply chains are made up of a
collection of companies—suppliers, manufacturers and distributors to name a few—that are
each responsible for completing certain processes in the chain.

CHALLENGES AND ADVANTAGES OF B2B SUPPLY CHAIN

MANAGEMENT.
Supply chain management can be complex, particularly for B2B businesses who may not own
the entire supply chain. When multiple companies are involved in the supply chain, everyone
needs to be on the same page and have the same information, which can be quite the challenge
in itself. A miscommunication at even one point in the supply chain can slow the entire
process.B2B and B2C both have quite a few of the same issues when it comes to supply chain
management. However, B2B SCM does face some unique challenges. B2B usually has to work
under tighter deadlines. While the consumer in B2C may want their product as soon as possible,
the business in B2B needs the product by a specific time and day.

ERP SOFTWARE INTEGRATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN

MANAGEMENT
By using software integration, B2B companies can combat SCM challenges and take advantage
of online SCM benefits. Integrating your supply chain management system with your ERP
software enables up-to-date data, allowing you to make the right decisions. Integrated e-
Commerce also allows you to automate processes such as shipping integration and order
tracking, ensuring that important information and details won’t be forgotten. This information
can be shared with the rest of the supply chain to ensure that everyone has the same
understanding. Consistent information also helps ensure that schedules are kept to deliver to
the customer in a timely manner. Automating processes can reduce your company’s operating
costs and save time. Integrating your ERP with your SCM system benefits you, the entire
supply chain, and your customers.

Article Review

SUPPLY CHAIN B2B E-COMMERCE AND TIME-BASED

DELIVERY PERFORMANCE.

-Karthik N.S. Iyer

-Richard Germain
-Gary L. Frankwick
Core idea/Purpose

The research mainly deals with the relationships between supply chain B2B e-commerce,
environmental uncertainty, organizational structure, and time-based delivery performance.

Methodology

The list consisted of 1,372 US-based manufacturers. A random target of 1,000 firms was taken
for the study. People with designations such as Vice President and Director were chosen to take
the survey. A telephone screening was done to see the willingness and competency of the
participants to complete the survey. A total of 538 questionnaires were sent to willing
participants.

Article review

B2B web based business usage. Moreover, the relationship of B2B web based business with
time-based conveyance execution was contemplated. The outcomes have vital administrative
suggestions and aid theory on additionally examine. At the essential level, the investigation
proposes that executing B2B internet business adds to productive and successful business
forms bringing about upgraded time-based conveyance execution (i.e. the length of the request
cycle and on-time conveyance). Firms utilizing B2B online business are better situated to build
up the capacities required for turning into a part in a responsive store network. These capacities
are encouraged by B2B online business and have turned out to be basic focused differentiators
that may affect worldwide and useful execution. The examination uncovered that exclusive
joining among the authoritative structure factors related with B2B internet business. Chiefs
ought to comprehend that coordination and correspondence crosswise over units gives
adaptability to the firm to react to economic situations. The examination likewise analyzed the
impacts of the ecological and hierarchical structure on B2B internet business. Process
turbulence relates decidedly with formal control, between utilitarian joining, and
decentralization, while request flightiness prompts less formal control. The interceding impact
of association structure proposes that procedure turbulence too in a roundabout way adds to
B2B internet business execution. The outcomes validate the thought that hierarchical outline is
an adjustment reaction to natural possibilities. Directors could consider adjustments in
authoritative outline that encourages better use of B2B web based business in light of updating
strategic and generation forms. The examination uncovered that exclusive joining among the
authoritative structure factors related with B2B internet business. Chiefs ought to comprehend
that coordination and correspondence crosswise over units gives adaptability to the firm to
react to economic situations. The examination likewise analysed the impacts of the ecological
and hierarchical structure on B2B internet business. Process turbulence relates decidedly with
formal control, between utilitarian joining, and decentralization, while request flightiness
prompts less formal control. The interceding impact of association structure proposes that
procedure turbulence too in a roundabout way adds to B2B internet business execution. The
outcomes validate the thought that hierarchical outline is an adjustment reaction to natural
possibilities. Directors could consider adjustments in authoritative outline that encourages
better use of B2B web based business in light of updating strategic and generation forms.
 B2B services: IT adoption in travel agency
Supply chains
Past investigations accentuate the significance of web based business also, theoretical impacts
of the web on the travel and tourism industry, yet experimental confirmation has been less, and
when all is said this proof has tended to be somewhat expressive. Concentrated on travel
offices supply chains, this investigation inspects what's more, test a model which coordinates
the forerunners and results of embracing e-business, and in addition the connection between its
measurements. Our discoveries affirm the impact of e-correspondence on e-acquirement in
travel organizations' supply chains. As guessed, its reception for correspondence forms impacts
decidedly on its utilization for making reservations and getting e-tickets. By methods for web,
the procedure of e-correspondence can be received successfully at a minimal effort in the travel
business. Our outcomes affirms that this e-business measurement impacts decidedly on another
e-business measurement. With respect to predecessors, not surprisingly, natural variables also,
purchaser merchant collaborations mostly improve e-business appropriation. In spite of the fact
that the openness of online travel sites might lessen the significance of travel offices, i.e.
voyagers bypassing travel organizations, a key strength of travel agencies is their ability to
provide personal information and advice to travellers continuously. From a managerial point
of view, it is imperative to realize that its selection in its two measurements, on the web
correspondence and e-acquisition, should be taken into account by any administration business
given its constructive outcomes on the business development and cost diminishment.

This examination has certain restrictions which can be tended to in future research. Despite the
fact that this investigation is cross-sectional, it might enthusiasm to build up a longitudinal
report to know what the advancement of this wonder is, similar to its application is later and
will change sooner rather than later. Additionally research could likewise incorporate the
investigation of the e-business inventory network from a dyadic approach. Besides, new e-
business precursors could be considered and in addition results.
 B2B technology adoption in customer driven supply chains

By Anthony K. Asare

Core idea/Purpose
The purpose of the article is to develop and propose a comprehensive framework that identifies
the factors that influences a company’s decision in order to adopt B2B technologies

Methodology

For this article the author has tried to capture information and literature from various disciplines
that include supply chain management, logistics, Information systems, marketing, and
economics etc. The information captured from this literature serves as the base for developing
the comprehensive model of the inter firm technology adoption.

How this article/s affects/can affect/affected business practices.

The article identifies the antecedents of the B2B technology adoption and this can be used as a
guiding framework by both the academics and practitioners.

Article review

In today’s time the entire supply chain in B2B market is majorly influenced by the customers.
All B2B channels are trying are trying to adopt all sorts of technology in their entire supply
chain network in order to satisfy the ever changing needs of its customers. Moreover in order
to stay competitive in the industry and in order to maintain the complex partnerships and
relations, it has become important to incorporate the information technology in supply chain.
The author in the article suggests that the IT has played the most important role in making the
entire supply chain sufficient. The author cites the example of big industry players such as
P&G and Wal-Mart who have successfully implemented efficient supply chain technologies
and logistic network in order to better respond to their customers in order to serve them better.

The article also states that although the use of technologies is widely accepted in the B2B
industry, it has been a very difficult task for any company to convince or get their supply chain
partners to adopt these technologies and even after adoption certain adoption and performance
related barriers still exists in adopting this supply chain technologies. Also inter firm
relationships are important in any effort towards inter firm technology. The author mentions
the use of two most commonly used models to explain the adoption of technology by the
individuals. They are Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Attributes of Innovation
model. TAM is one of the most widely used method model which helps understand the user
acceptance behaviour. According to this model if a user perceives a computer systems to be
useful and easy to use then they are likely to develop positive attitude toward it. However both
these models explain a lot less in organization and inter firm environments since decision
making in these environments is lot more complex. The author in this article has cited various
other factors that influence the technology adoption according to various other researchers and
sources. The author them discuss the proposed TASC (Technology adoption in supply chain)
framework and identifies four key determinants of the adoption of inter firm technology. They
are characteristics of technology, organizational factors, and external factors and inter firm
relationships. Further there are different attributes and characteristics associated with each of
these determinants. Characteristics of technology include relative advantage complexity,
compatibility, testability and cost. The organizational characteristics include size,
centralization, management support and IT readiness. The External environment includes
factors such as environmental uncertainty, competitive pressure and industry support and Inter
firm relationships include power, justice and trust. All these factors play a huge role in
influencing the firm’s decision to adopt technology in their B2B supply chain. Here the
proposed framework is different from the existing supply chain models of supply chain because
it emphasizes the importance of inter firm relationships that has been ignored earlier and states
power, trust and justice as important relationships that influence the adoption of inter firm
technologies. Hence this paper would help both the practitioners to learn more about the things
they can implement in order to improve the success rate of their inter firm technology adoption
initiatives which would make them more complex.

Coordinating B2B cross-border supply chains: the case of the

organic coffee industry

By Danny Pimentel Claro & Priscila Borin de Oliveira Claro

Abstract
Here in this article the author has compared two models of B2B relationships in order to
investigate options for alternative inter organizational arrangements in order to achieve a better
coordination. Here the B2B relationships mentioned are not only on contracts but more
importantly on the informal safeguards of mutual trust, long term orientation and joint actions.
For the two proposed chains, a cross border integrator is included to support the coordination
of the business relationship. Emphasis is placed on the coordination to increase the overall
efficiency of supply chain through reduction of internal and transaction costs.

Methodology

A series of 40 interviews were conducted in order to gather valuable information. The

interviews focused on managers and decision makers of organic coffee growers (associations
and cooperatives), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and processing companies,
roasting companies, exporters, importers, certification bodies, supermarkets and retail outlets
specializing in organic products. The majority of the individuals interviewed are either
recognized leaders or key participants in the ongoing effort to promote sustainable organic
coffee.

Article Review

The author compared two organizations of supply chain wherein B2B relationships are based
not only on contracts but more importantly on the informal safeguards of mutual trust and
shared long-term orientation. While one proposed chain model elaborates on the redesign of
the supply chain for organic green coffee beans, the other elaborates on a roasting company
located in the producing country. The conclusion was made by analysis of the entry strategy
modes and impact of each proposed chain to the overall efficiency

Based on the various studies and literature carried out, the author focuses on the transaction
costs, asset specificity, product flow and information flow as the factors that influence the
coordination of B2B relationship. The author identifies certain characteristics that would
reduce the risk of opportunism and uncertainties in the trade of organic coffee. These are
premium for quality, limited number of companies that deal with organic coffee, a certification
body that plays a pivotal role in the coordination of chain, need for investments and the need
for the coordination in order to reduce transaction costs. These characteristics are central in
B2B to coordination between the independent companies in the chain and they provide the
basis for collaborative planning and problem solving. On studying the B2B relationship for
both the supply chain the author states that relationship between the producers and buyers drive
the design of market transactions. Also the issue of certification can help increase the trust and
coordination among the parties involved. Overall the based on the information gathered from
the interview the author states that success of any product in B2B lies in hands of both the
producers and buyers and it is necessary to establish high level of commitment amongst
themselves that would eventually lead to better coordination and success.

Bibliography

Claro, D. P. (2004). Coordinating B2B cross-border supply chains: the case of the organic coffee
industry. EmeraldInsight , 405-414.

Asare, A. K. (2015). B2B technology adoption in customer driven supply chains . EmeraldInsight , 1-
12.