Finding the Single-Source Supplier for the E-commerce Supply Chain

Today's supply chains are driven by the competitive tenets of e-commerce – speed, accuracy and access to a broad inventory – all delivered at low cost.

This mandate has driven distribution centers to become increasingly complex and dependent on automation systems, while raising the stakes to threaten critical damage in the event of cost overruns or project delays.

Concentrating supplier responsibility for these automation projects with a single, lead provider simplifies vendor management and accountability, enabling companies to approach a single point of contact and avoid juggling delays and charges from multiple contractors.

But not all single-source suppliers are created equal. Each comes with their own in-house technology offering, approaches to outsourcing, design and simulation capabilities, geographic locations, aftermarket resources, experience and more. The trick is to pick the right supplier with the right blend of attributes to get the job done well, on-time and on-budget.

This white paper serves as a guide to help large distribution centers select the best supplier for their needs, including what qualities to consider and how those translate to real-world success... or failure.