The Impact of Globalization on B2B Supply Chains

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2 min read

Updated: May 3rd, 2023

The advent of globalization has transformed the landscape of business-to-business (B2B) supply chains, creating both opportunities and challenges for companies operating in this space. As businesses expand into new markets and source products and services worldwide, supply chains become increasingly complex and globalized.

This has made it more challenging for companies to manage their inventory, logistics, and supplier relationships, leading to a growing demand for innovative solutions that enable companies to gain visibility of the entire supply chain process and optimize operations. 

In this context, B2B companies need to understand the impact of globalization on their supply chains and implement effective strategies to remain competitive in today’s digital landscape. As businesses expand into new markets, they need systems to gain visibility of the entire supply chain process and optimize operations.

An example of this is the customer relationship management (CRM) system, which provides a unified platform for capturing data and insights across the supply chain to streamline processes and improve performance.

Here are ten ways B2B companies can use a CRM system to get the most out of their supply chain operations:

1. Track orders in real-time

Monitor order status through a single dashboard view that includes order fulfillment and delivery times, enabling faster turnaround and improved customer satisfaction.

2. Manage inventory

Automate inventory management with visibility into stock levels across multiple warehouses. This allows for better forecasting of demand and more efficient ordering processes.

3. Set up automated reordering rules

A CRM system can identify when stock needs replenishment, triggering automatic reorders based on predefined parameters such as time intervals or minimum stock thresholds.

4. Monitor supplier performance

Leverage a CRM’s supplier scorecard feature to monitor the performance of suppliers against critical metrics such as quality, price, or delivery times.

5. Track shipments

Companies can track shipments in real-time using GPS tracking capabilities which can be integrated into CRM systems. This helps provide visibility into shipment location and estimated arrival times.

6. Automate demand forecasting

Use a CRM’s machine learning capabilities to automate demand forecasting, allowing companies to predict customer purchase patterns better and optimize inventory levels.

7. Streamline workflows

Create automated workflows that link together different departments in the supply chain, such as sales and logistics, providing real-time insights into progress throughout the process.

8. Manage billing processes

Track invoices, payments, refunds, and other financial transactions associated with supplier relationships through a single platform. 

9. Generate actionable insights

Generate reports on key performance indicators (KPIs) across the supply chain to gain actionable insights.

10. Optimize operations

Leverage a CRM’s machine learning capabilities to optimize inventory levels and order times and improve supplier performance through automated scorecards.

Conclusion

B2B companies can significantly benefit from using a CRM system to manage their supply chain operations by implementing the tips mentioned above and leveraging advanced systems like Saphyte. 

With real-time tracking, automated inventory management, supplier scorecards, and demand forecasting, companies can gain valuable insights into their supply chain operations, streamline workflows, and optimize operations.

By investing in a CRM system, B2B companies can improve the efficiency of their supply chain operations, reduce costs, and remain competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment.

Learn more about the use cases of CRM for B2B companies. Book a FREE demo below.