a web based hypermarket supply chain management system

enabled Dell to involve suppliers into its operations as a company. Dell’s Web site enabled
its customers to view prices for computer systems that were available, place their orders as
well as keep track of the orders right up to shipping [7].
Federal Express [10] enables customers to keep track of their packages in real time and this
has led to its partnering with Hewlett-Packard. When orders for printers are made directly
online on Hewlett-Packard Web site, Federal Express receives these orders as well via the
Internet. Federal Express does the shipping of the orders from its ware house containing
all products. It notifies both the customers and Hewlett-Packard by sending e-mails to
customers letting them know that the goods are on their way and notices of inventory to
Hewlett-Packard in order to continuously replace stock at Federal Express warehouse [10].
Wal-Mart which is a leading hyper store was using VMI and APO which are best suited for
linear relationships, but with new developments, it has been using EDI and now considering
to use RFID [6].
2.4 Conclusion
In order to satisfy customer requirements, boost profits and revenues, companies through the
effective collaboration and coordination with their various suppliers and distributors have
created cartels we now know as supply chains. As these cartels grow in size, many problems
manifest ranging from communication, distribution and information exchange. Various technologies
have been used to try to solve some of these problems for example EDI,RFID and
POS which however have limitations as noted above (Section 2.2.4). However, when looked
at individually, these technologies have some specific benefits we can exploit to develop a
means of collaboration and coordination between retailers, suppliers and distributors as a
means of achieving effective supply chain management.
10