Role of Social Media in Supply Chain

Social media has played a major role in every walk of life, be it business or social relationships. The supply chain management however, has remained aloof towards it. This article talks about the role, benefits and future of social media in supply chain and procurement services in India.

Social media is only considered as a means for socializing. Majority of the companies in India have banned Facebook, Twitter and other such social media platforms because they are said to hamper the productivity of the employees. This is, definitely is a matter of debate. However, social media does benefit your business, even if it is supply chain.

Customer is the most important link of any procurement service and supply chain. After all, he is the one who is going to get your business going. The profits of any supply chain depend on the demand, and how effectively supply managers fulfil it. Direct procurement, on the other hand is the factor that determines the working of the supply chain. Everything has the customer as the centre. Only if the customer demands for a particular product or service will the procurement process begin which in turn will motivate the supply chain.

This is where social networking comes into the picture. We as employees might not be active on social media, but as customers we definitely are. We have our set of choices and are also alert about the quality of it. Thanks to social media, we can now voice opinions clearly and precisely. Hence, social media platform is the apt place for business to be.

Not only can you understand the requirements of the customer through social media, you can also use it to respond to any sort of internal or external issue in the supply chain. With social media, it is possible to check the probable effects of a change in advance. In a nutshell, we can thus state that social media can be used for product marketing, customer service, sales, news updates and recruiting for procurement services India and supply chain.

International Procurement from India is bound to flourish with the inclusion of social networking services; however there is a long way to go. Supply chain managers need to be convinced about the benefits of social media and the extra perks it provides.

The companies which see this as too big a step can start by using social network for a small project. See the difference for yourself and then opt for social media for your bigger projects.

Companies Positive about Third Party Inspection

Indian industries are being more proactive when it comes to quality inspection services.

Third party inspection in India has become not only a popular option, but a necessary one for industries. Companies are realizing the importance of their products passing world requirements for better sales and distribution.

To meet this goal, companies are investing in the best machines and systems that will allow them to create products efficiently and of the best quality. Quality inspection service firms in India are raising the bar by not only hiring qualified and experienced professionals, but also bringing in new inspection systems. This helps them to provide a comprehensive report to their clients, and also acts as a highly efficient and cost effective solution.

While there are debates as to whether computerized inspection is better than manual inspection, there are immense advantages to using both systems.

·         Faster Inspection Time: High image quality cameras and scanners can capture the image of a product. This makes it easier for the inspector to evaluate the product properly. The image can also help to point out irregularities in it. Thus, less time is spent in identifying defects and recommending changes.

·         Better Testing: While computerized inspection eases the workload, one cannot rule out the intricacy in manual inspection. Industries such as the automotive, oil and gas, and die casting industries, to name a few, can benefit by inspectors who test every product to find the smallest defects or irregularities.

·         Approved Authenticity: In an effort to fight against cheap or imitated products, companies are working hard to make sure that their products have a stamp of authenticity and quality. With ISO certifications providing support, and computerized bar codes already in use, quality inspection also take these factors into account when approving products.

New developments are also coming in to improve the inspection process. Rather than relying on one type of identification, companies are using various methods at the same time. One example is forensic markers such as micro tags, microscopic thread or particles. These markers are now being used to encode information and prove the authenticity of the product. The main reason for this step is to prevent counterfeiters who target high-end products. Other methods include using security graphics such as micro images or text, similar to what you see on banknotes. Another method is thermo-reactive printing, which changes colour when the temperature changes.

Third party inspection in India has come a long way. As companies continue to make efforts to provide safe, reliable and durable products, one may see many improvements like the above mentioned points in the future.