As the ISSA SHOW® North America 2020 approaches, what many jansan distributors are likely to be discussing is how they can become more agile and resilient considering the changes brought on by COVID-19.
These changes have impacted their businesses, their profits, and in some cases, their very existence.
According to Michael Wilson, vice president of marketing and packaging for AFFLINK, a global leader in distributor sales and marketing, greater agility and resilience will be core to distributor survival and profitability in coming years.
“However, according to a Gartner* survey, only 21 percent of [distributor] respondents say they have a resilient network today,” says Wilson.
“This tells us most distributors are not going to be able to quickly shift directions, if necessary, finding other sources for the goods and products they market in North America.”
To address this and ensure greater resilience, Wilson suggests AFFLINK members and other distributors do the following:
Diversify sourcing. Many jansan distributors, as well as manufacturers, have few suppliers outside of China. “This could be a precarious position moving forward. Jansan organizations must now have supply partners in other parts of Asia as well as Mexico.”
Supplier mapping. Manufacturers invariably have their own supply chain networks. They depend on components produced in different parts of the world. “To protect ourselves, we need to know where these ‘secondary suppliers’ are located and how vulnerable they are to their own disruptions. Those disruptions can [negatively] impact the entire production of goods.”
Nearshoring. This is a relatively new word in supply chain management. In the future, many distributors will want to work with suppliers that are closer to our shores. The benefit is that it can help reduce distant supply chain weaknesses and improve inventory management.
It remains to be seen how long the pandemic will last,” adds Wilson. “The effects of the economic shutdown, however, are sure to continue well into the future. Agility and resilience will be key to ensuring distributorships moving forward and for years to come.”
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*Gartner is a U.S.-based market research organization. Gartner Survey Reveals 33% of Supply Chain Leaders Moved Business Out of China or Plan to by 2023
Editors: The AFFLINK name is trademarked and always capitalized, thank you.
About AFFLINK
Connecting more than 200 manufacturers of Facility Maintenance, Packaging, Safety, Office and Industrial Supply solutions with over 350 independent distribution experts, AFFLINK is, just as its name suggests – that critical link offering clients innovative products, market expertise, and improved profitability, all of which is fueled by our leading-edge information technology. For more info, visit: http://www.afflink.com/
Contact Information:
Michael Wilson, vice president of marketing and packaging
AFFLINK, LLC
1400 AFFLINK Place
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
P: 800.222.5521
Media Contact: Robert Kravitz
Email: robert@alturasolutions.com
Phone: 312-880-8176
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