Supply chain management in Sports & Outdoor goods brands

The supply chain plays a vital role in the success of any company, and mid-sized sport & outdoor goods companies are no exception. Managing the supply chain of these companies effectively is essential for staying competitive in an ever-changing market, and the key for success is understanding the common pain points, as well as developing strategies for overcoming them.

In this article, we’ll explore these topics, providing you with hand on tips and tricks for future success. 

Common supply chain pain points

a. Absence of Transparency: In order to grow and move any business forward, specifically one selling goods and services, visibility and insights into your supply chain is key to avoid taking any costly wrong turn.  

b. Limited Resources: Companies often struggle with lack of resources or know how necessary to manage their supply chain effectively. 

c. Insufficient Capacity Planning: Poor capacity planning can lead to supply chain disruptions and other problems. 

d. Inefficient Processes and Poor Performance Tracking: Inefficient processes and a lack of tracking of performance indicators can lead to supply chain inefficiencies and make your company invest in the incorrect tools or partnership.  

e. Difficulties Adapting to Changes in the Market: Mid-sized companies often struggle to quickly adapt to changes in the market due to a not so agile  supply chain. Can your supply chain model deliver what your consumers want? 

Overcoming the Pain Points

Fear not! These challenges are quite common in the industry, it is possible to successfully manage the supply chain and add value to the company with the right strategies. 

a. Utilise Technology and Automation: Technology and automating process is a great investment into improving visibility, managing resources more efficiently, and to keep up with the changes in your production flow and into the global market. 

b. Improve Data Visibility and Analysis: Creating easy access to reliable data is essential for comprehensive analytics, to identify potential areas of improvement and develop optimal strategies. Read more about the power of supply chain visibility here. 

c. Develop Robust Capacity Planning: Capacity planning needs to be comprehensive and should take into account the company’s demand and other factors to ensure a reliable supply. Learn more about why it's important to plan capacity with your suppliers. 

d. Prioritise Efficient Processes and Track Performance Indicators: It is important to improve processes, track performance indicators, and make adjustments to your goals as needed to ensure optimal performance. 

e. Streamline Business Practices: Streamlining business practices can help to eliminate waste and improve efficiency. This can mean consolidating raw materials, shipments or suppliers. 

Supply chain management in sport & outdoor goods companies can be challenging, but it is also possible to successfully manage the supply chain by leveraging technology and automation, leveraging data visibility and analysis, developing robust capacity planning, prioritising efficient processes, and streamlining business practices. With the right strategies, companies can reduce the pain points of supply chain management and make sure their supply chain is able to adapt to ever changing market and delivery what consumers want when they want it.