As a small to mid-size business owner, it is crucial to understand the costs involved in supply chain management and the techniques that can be used to reduce them. The movement of goods and services from the manufacturer to the end consumer can be expensive and challenging. By optimizing supply chain costs, small to mid-size businesses can free up cash to be allocated where it is needed most, take a holistic view of their supply chain, and identify ways to save money and improve efficiency.
There are five main types of costs involved in supply chain management: investment costs, transportation costs, procurement costs, production costs, and inventory costs. Making informed and strategic decisions on where to invest in new facilities and resources is essential for global supply chains. Inefficient network planning, routing, and deployment of resources are the primary causes of higher transport costs. Choosing the right supplier who can deliver the right products and materials at the right times and at the lowest price is integral to keeping procurement costs down. Inflated production costs can be caused by inefficient utilization of certain machines and poor workforce management. While increased inventory may act as a potential safety net, it is also a large source of costs, such as warehousing and transportation costs, that could otherwise be spent elsewhere.
To reduce supply chain costs, SME businesses can employ the following six essential techniques:
By employing these six essential techniques, SMEs can optimize supply chain management costs and improve their financial health. Freeing up cash, taking a holistic view of the supply chain, and identifying ways to save money can unlock new business opportunities, better adaptability, and an enhanced corporate image. Making informed and strategic decisions on where to invest in new facilities and resources, optimizing transportation, automating processes, and streamlining ordering processes can significantly reduce supply chain costs of SMEs and help them to stay competitive in the market.
By regularly monitoring customer demands, making use of space, and managing inventory effectively, small to mid-size businesses can avoid unnecessary expenses and allocate their budget where needed the most. Bucephalus can help SMEs with their demand forecast and inventory planning with a state-of-the-art supply chain ops platform to move their products faster, cheaper, and more sustainably using AI. We supercharge our customers’ operations by giving them a birds-eye view of their supply chain, acting as the connective tissue between the backend of their operations and single-use apps. Our product is continuously processing customer data using our AI systems inspired by our team’s experience working in data science at Amazon.