At a time that costs are rising in every factor of life, companies are looking for ways to cut their supply chain costs. Regardless of the sector, all businesses want to be competitive in their market and, by reducing supply chain costs as much as possible, they’re able to offer more affordable prices to their consumers. No one wants to spend more than they have to, which is why reduced prices are a great way to improve your presence in the market. Read on to discover more about how you can cut supply chain costs for your business.
Transportation
First up is the cost of transportation, from the vehicle to the transport storage. Retailers such as INKA Pallets provide plastic pallets that are more cost-effective, thanks to their extended lifespan and stackability. In addition to transport storage, you also need to consider the most appropriate mode of transport, with options such as road, rail, sea freight, and air. Every mode has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to weigh up which would be the best suited and most cost-effective solution for your company’s individual needs.
Production Processes
One of the main areas that businesses aim to optimize is the cost of production; getting the products made as cheaply as possible is one of the most effective means of cutting costs. In order to reduce production costs, companies tend to assess the input costs of product and compare these with that of their competitors. For customers to choose your product over another in a competitive market, your price will have to grab their attention. Despite this, you shouldn’t sacrifice the quality in the name of a better price, as your customers won’t make a repeat purchase of a poor-quality product.
Warehousing and Distribution
The biggest affecting factor of the cost of warehousing and distribution is the size and scale of the product, as this determines how much space is needed. In order to minimize these costs, businesses should assess how processes can be changed to require less storage space. For instance, a drop ship strategy might be a wise idea, as your business is able to distribute products directly from the supplier warehouse. Not only does this minimize warehouse costs, but it also boosts your company’s efficiency. As a result, this efficiency will also contribute to your finances in a positive way.
Inventory Management
Keeping stock to a minimum is a good way to reduce supply chain costs, as you don’t have to pay for storage, and you don’t waste as much product. Instead, you should look at getting your stock delivered just before you need it. With this being said, this method only works for some businesses, as other companies require their stock to be available immediately. These businesses would experience the opposite effect when it comes to minimal stock, as they’ll likely lose sales from this strategy. Ultimately, the way in which you manage you inventory is dependent on your business model, meaning you need to make a personal assessment of such.
Outsourcing
If possible, outsourcing some of your work is a good idea when it comes to cutting supply chain costs. For instance, companies with high overhead levels could outsource distribution and printing, whilst others could think about outsourcing production or delivery. In some ways outsourcing can save a business a lot of money, but in others it can contribute to the costs. It’s important that you assess your individual company to see which side of the fence you fall on as far as outsourcing is concerned.
