B2B Web sales to revamp supply chain

The anticipated growth in business-to-business (B2B) online sales is set to transform the supply chain, according to a study by management consultants, AT Kearney.

The study, 'Insight to Impact', predicts a 25-fold increase in B2B Web sales, particularly in the commodity sector, in the next three years. This rapid growth is predicted to reduce logistics costs by 12 per cent and cut the time taken from order to delivery by 25 percent.

By 2003, twice as many deliveries will be made on the same day as order as are now.

However, the AT Kearney Supply Chain Study emphasised that improving the supply chain should not be the top priority of manufacturers and retailers. Rather, companies should focus on what the customer wants, and make the supply chain more efficient on that basis.

For more information see: http://www.atkearney.com .