Supply Chain Solutions – Paul Mason, CEO, PMC Ltd.
The biggest mistake that any retailer can make when considering new technology is to not know their maturity state – and either develop bespoke systems beyond their capabilities or ‘straight-jacket’ their key differentiators in a ‘best of breed’ process. The one certainty is that it will probably cost more than was expected.
The four main stages of supply chain maturity, and their key characteristics, are:
Getting the Basics Right
Face it – however unique and exciting your customer proposition may be, you still need to get products and stores together just like everyone else. Concentrate on differentiating your proposition, not your supply chain. At an early stage in your growth selecting a package solution has to be the right route – the right package will introduce best practice without the need for bespoke development.
Supporting Growth
You want to be the next leading retailer and you are expanding fast. Your focus must be on getting the infrastructure in place to support that growth. Selecting the package that is right for you will introduce best practice and ensure efficiency, and recognise the fact that you’re not that different from the rest - yet.
Looking for the Difference
You now know what makes your business unique, and what changes and improvements are needed to leverage those differences. Now is the time to start looking at tailoring. Now you are ready for a system that is focussed on your strengths.
Being an Individual
How do you remain the top dog? Those processes that helped to make you different and fuelled your growth to the top need to stay fresh. Now your practices are probably better than those within a package. Now use a package as a framework within which you can build on your own best practise.
These stages recognise the fact that most packages contain some elements of industry best practice. For younger and smaller business, the implementation of one of these packages can drive significant benefits. However, a business may reach the point when they are better than the competition – the way they do things makes them successful. At this stage, their processes and systems will be bespoke or heavily tailored, and replacement will necessitate more of the same. At the outset, businesses look for a package that can help them do things better; later, they look for a framework within which they can perform the processes that make them different.
The rules are simple
1. Understand your maturity
2. Know what makes you different
3. Be clear about your objectives
4. Do not underestimate the business change
5. It will probably cost more than you expect
For further information please contact enquiries@paulmasonconsulting.co.uk |
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“With a project of this scale to be delivered within such an aggressive timescale, getting the right skills and expertise on board quickly was essential. We mobilised a team around a large number of BrightHouse personnel and then went outside the organisation to find the skills we lacked. PMC provided a crucial skill we needed – they are experts, and gave us a real focus on testing – and they played a key role in helping us achieve our goals.” Simon Mouncer, Head of Business Change and IT at BrightHouse.
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