Supply Chain Management - Case Study Example

Supply Chain Management Table of Contents Decisions about Picking Location and Method 3 Decisions about Distribution and Delivery 3 Decisions about Integration of New Technology with Existing Technology 4Reference 5Decisions about Picking Location and MethodSainsbury’s is planning to build a ‘regional picking centres’ model for business purposes will enable the business to manage expansion of its e-commerce services. The rate of expansion of e-commerce service management remains highly important factor to meet the customer services and conduct successful business.

These regional picking centres develop by the company in different places, where customers able to pick their orders more efficiently. The main problem behind using this method is that it is rapid as well as high chances that it resulting to over-capacity issues. Another model of picking location is mixed fulfilment model, which enable customers to order directly and the orders will being dispatched from warehouse as well as supermarkets. This method is regarded to be highly flexible but this method is difficult to schedule by the company (Ody, 2000).

Decisions about Distribution and DeliveryThe customers of Sainsbury’s are involved with both the method of business to pick the ordered goods on time of delivery from picking centres or supermarkets or warehouse. At times, home delivery approach is also scheduled by the companies for high convenience of customers. However, such approach of distribution and delivery is regarded to be difficult as customer when customer is not available. This situation mainly happens when the ordered goods reach quickly or earlier than pre-defined time at pre-defined location.

On the other hand, customers pick the ordered goods directly from regional picking centres and warehouses or supermarkets. These were regarded to the distribution centres for company (Ody, 2000). Decisions about Integration of New Technology with Existing Technology The Sainsbury’s business utilises the ‘orderline’ technology to run its standalone operations efficiently. However, in the current scenario, for high business expansion as well as sustainability Sainsbury’s needed to incorporate a new IT system within its existing system.

To integrate such new technology within the old but will take five years’ time to establish the same. Additionally, the company developed website to stay connected with its customers and assimilated a loyal customer base for better future prospective (Ody, 2000).ReferenceOdy, P., 2000. Taste for the Web. e.business Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 9, pp. 56–9.