Today the business environment is hypercompetitive. Hence, enterprises need to develop competitive strategies to stay ahead of the competition. Moreover, they have to pay attention to the changing customer expectations and requirements.

1. Be Competitive by Outsourcing Supply Chain Activities
Today the business environment is hypercompetitive. Hence, enterprises need to develop competitive strategies to
stay ahead of the competition. Moreover, they have to pay attention to the changing customer expectations and
requirements. Therefore, in order to increase the competitive gap, enterprises need to focus their attention on their
core competencies. When doing so enterprises need to make sure that the non-core activities do not get affected.
The best means to ensure that is to outsource the various supply chain activities.
Managing core and non-core activities is a stressful activity. Collaborating with supply chain service providers help
enterprises to free themselves from the day-to-day cost and stress of owning or managing the various operations.
Their supply chain services and solutions help to improve flexibility and reduce risk, manufacturing costs, lead-time
and inventory overhead. Let’s look at the solutions offered by a leading provider of global supply chain solutions.
Last Mile Manufacturing Solutions
Last Mile refers to that part of the manufacturing process that happens in the final stages of the supply chain. This
comprises of
Integration and Configuration
Rack Integration
Fulfillment Solutions
Retail Fulfillment
Logistics and Distribution
Supply Chain Consulting
Supply Base Management
These solutions allow manufacturers to postpone the installation and integration of critical, IP-sensitive or volume-
sensitive components until late in the supply chain. This helps to improve flexibility and adaptability to demand,
reduce IP risk to overseas theft, cut down inventory and operations costs, and enhance speed to market.
Demo-Loaner Solutions
These solutions help to enhance a company’s sales strategy by allowing a “try before you buy” option. This is because
when given the choice, customers are ready to try something first, rather than buy a product without using it or fully
understanding its benefits. However, demo loan programs are difficult to manage as it involves various logistical and
operational challenges such as loss of demo equipment, monitoring problems, inadequately tested equipment,
delayed delivery or mismanaged returns and so on. By outsourcing this activity, enterprises get control, efficiency,
and low costs.
Returns Management Solutions
The return flow of goods is a headache as well as a profit drain if not managed properly. Outsourcing returns
management helps to take the headache out of dealing with inbound product, particularly product that has been
opened and, in many cases, used thereby minimizing inventory and improving profitability. The returns management
solutions allow a company to maximize the value of returned product quickly, by refurbishing it and getting it back
into inventory “like new” often within 24 hours.
Thus, collaborating with supply chain service providers help enterprises to not only reduce overhead and increase
flexibility but also infuse the confidence necessary to be competitive and adaptable in their market space.