5 Supply Chain Management Tips & Rules for New Entrepreneurs

Supply Chain Management

Being new at something is always difficult. There are always people who have been there for years before you even started thinking about it, decades even. As a beginner one has to learn and get information on literally everything if they mean to get better at it. This is especially true in business regardless of the industry and the market you plan to become a part of. Carving a part of it for your future company can only happen if all of the preceding aspects fall into place and that is something you as the founder and owner have to make sure of. Doing it will prove challenging and almost impossible at times but if you stick to it and work hard there is no reason to believe you will not success.

One of the most important factors in your whole operation is how and where you are getting what you need. This is called the supply chain and managing it will be the most crucial thing you do in your entire career. If you have a steady supply of goods you need in order to meet the demands of your customers and clients, your business will thrive. If there are constant hiccups along the way, you will struggle and the business will suffer. It is as easy as that really. Because of this, supply chain management is of the utmost importance and the sooner you realize this, the better entrepreneur you will eventually become. In this article you will find out about the most important rips and rules on how to properly manage your supply chain, as well as why it matters. Read on to learn more about this and be sure to check out unilog.company.

1. Pick the Right Supplier

Pick the Right Supplier
Source: domer.co

Obviously, the very supplier that gets you everything you need is where it all starts. Choosing the right supplier will make all the difference and it is where your judgment needs to be at its peak. If you strike gold from the start, you will have a huge thing off your back. If not, the first period of your entrepreneurship will surely be more difficult than it needed to be. While you are still evaluating the options, let it be known to your potential suppliers what it is you require and do not settle for anything less or different than that. From safety and performance to respecting the schedules and maintaining the volume, it all needs to be a well-oiled machine for your own business to be successful. You can always change the supplier later but isn’t it better to pick the right one to be your partner immediately?

2. Multiple Products, Multiple Suppliers

One thing that many new entrepreneurs think is a must is for one single supplier to carry out the supply of everything they need. They scour the markets for such a business only to be disappointed that they cannot find it. That is because it is usually impossible to expect something like this to even exist, especially now. Most businesses rely on the use of various different items, products, ingredients, and spare parts. More often than not, what they need is made by entirely different industries which further means that a single supplier cannot exist for all of it. If you need different products, get different suppliers. Even if most of the items come from one side, you could still need a few more suppliers for other specific things. Some businesses even have multiple suppliers for the same item, just in case one cannot meet the demand or if a certain problem arises.

3. Regular Communication

Regular Communication
Source: entrepreneur.com

From the moment you shake hands on the deal and start collaborating, your company and the supplier you rely on for the deliveries of goods have to establish nothing short of a great communication. Being constantly on the line, whether through emails or phone calls, guarantees that your representatives will remain on top of things as they change. Keeping in constant contact to check the deliveries, to update each other on the situations, or just to give the heads up when necessary is how the relationship will remain strong from day one. Being aware of when and how things are operating will mean that your own operation is able to know what expect and better prepare. Regular communication means continuous source of relevant information about the items your business needs. Building and strengthening trust also comes with communication, so is there really anything more important than this?

4. Mistakes Will Happen

Mistakes happen all the time. Freak accidents that nobody can see coming as well as honest mistakes that happen due to the volume and speed needed to do things right will eventually arise as a challenge for you and your supplier. The important thing here is not to penalize them for it nor to dive too deep into why it happened and how much it (will) cost. If you receive more than you ordered, it will be fine. If you receive less, they will send another truck soon. Through proper communication that we already talked about everything can be solved. Make sure to work through incidents and mistakes because both sides will still prosper the most if your contract stays intact. They will still have a client to ship to and you will remain with a supplier that has done their job well so far.

5. Negotiating the Prices

Negotiating the Prices
Source: incimages.com

Last but not least, in order for this contract to work, it is crucial for you to have the best possible prices you can get out of the supplier. Negotiating should be done during the initial talks when you place your cards on the table and tell them what you need, how much of it, and how frequently. If the price does not work, try to have them agree to a better deal. Work around it and offer certain incentives to motivate them. They will be doing the same. What you should not do is settle for a deal you do not find attractive enough or favorable enough. Suppliers usually look for clients who commit for a long time, at least a year in most cases. You should not suffer under unfavorable conditions if the offer does not work for you.