LONDON -- Supermarket retailers and their suppliers in the United Kingdom are moving ahead with collaborative supply chain initiatives, but are shifting their focus from CPFR and public exchanges to event management, private exchanges and in-store logistics, according to a new study.
rocess justify the cost and complexity of implementing and operating it. Trading partners believe simpler methods of collaboration, with less emphasis on technology and formal process standards, can deliver more value.
Supply chain collaboration should focus primarily on event management. Events, such as promotions, new product introductions and holiday/seasonal items, account for the vast majority of supply chain problems and, therefore, call for a different approach to supply chain management.
Private exchanges offer much greater potential than public exchanges for enabling key supply chain collaboration initiatives.
The study was based on interviews with six of the top seven U.K. food retailers, CPG manufacturers and technology and logistics providers.