Focus on fixing supplier issues or on supporting the sales process: Which would you choose?

Focus on fixing supplier issues or on supporting the sales process:Which would you choose?See what members of our LinkedIn group for midsize businesses said.

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IBM wanted to know where midsize businesses would focus their budgets.

So we asked them.Here’s a recap of our recent LinkedIn discussion.

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The Scenario:You’re the CEO of a growing midsize manufacturer dealing with a growing order volume.

You go global, adding international suppliers. But your systems are 10 years old and weren’t built for the amount of orders and supplier complexity you face today.

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The Scenario:You can’t process and ship as quickly as customers expect. Suppliers are upset over late payments. Your excess inventory is growing. You meet with IT to discuss the issue.

Your budget is limited, so you need to prioritize where to focus. Which do you choose?

The Scenario:A. Find ways to make it easier to work

with suppliers by streamlining paperwork and processes.

B. Focus on improving the customer experience by innovating ways to simplify, speed up and support the sales process.

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The results of our non-scientific survey

10chose customer experience

45chose supply chain

45chose both/other

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of participants chose finding ways to make it easier to work with suppliers.

45 “Improving the operational aspects of the supply chain always has positive effects on the customer experience.”

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of participants chose finding ways to make it easier to work with suppliers.

45 “You don’t have customers if you can’t properly manage your supply chain to ensure timely delivery and efficiency.”

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chose improving the customer experience.

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“Customers want to start the order process in one channel, then continue in another—or more than one—and you must be prepared to respond.”

chose improving the customer experience.

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“Stay on the floor and fix what is wrong.”

said they need to focus on both or chose “other.”

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“I think it would be important to focus on two projects simultaneously.”

said they need to focus on both, or chose “other.”

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“You need to study your customer requirements or you run the risk of ‘optimizing’ a supply chain which could…be redundant, irrelevant or out of sync with the needs and wants of the market that feeds it.”

No matter which answer you choose, there’s one solution.

IBM Smarter Commerce™.

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IBM Smarter Commerce can help you find the keys to success that are hidden in your organization, as well as: Optimize both supplier and sales processes

Anticipate customer behavior

Drive intelligent, adaptive supply chains

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Read the Aberdeen Group white paper and learn more about how to improve your supply chain processes.

Read the IBM white paper and learn more about how to improve the customer experience.

IBM Smarter Commerce can help you get started, no matter which direction you choose.

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