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Supply and distribution of products among the vendors and customers tend to play a major role in enhancing the efficiency of services delivered by an organisation. According to the views of Abbas (2020), product delivery to the customers represents the responsible nature of the organisation that helps them to build a brand reputation. Moreover, the present project will focus on the development of a sustainable resource distribution service that will help the small scale organisation to invest in door-step delivery. The entire idea of the business that will be implemented in the process will be discussed in the assignment brief. Moreover, a clear validation of the project goals along with the statement of work will also be highlighted in the respective context. The business aims for a better sustainability platform within the country, which can help in making faster moves while making our competitive market with the usage of technological transformation. Developing a sustainable work environment can also employ masses that can ensure effective organisational growth along with enhancing the sustainability of the environment. Consumers can also enjoy online shopping along with keeping in mind the well-being and healthy environment. The business can also engage more consumers while providing a better consumer experience.
In the present case, the overview of the business will be provided along with the project Life cycle management stages. Moreover, the report will also showcase different types of operational management and the quality assessment plan along with the employee management and the leadership structure in a coherent manner. The risks associated with the business and the challenges faced in the present day will also be highlighted in this study. Time scale and cost analysis plan will also be done in this study which will help in determining the exact cost and time required to set up the business. The business plan will be based on grocery delivery services which can help in engaging more people in less time and growth of business accordingly. This can be one of the most profitable businesses in recent times as it can leverage craft fairs. This can also leverage and develop local markets which can eventually be helpful for the overall community in the concerned area.
Main body
Overview of the business
Supply and distribution of products can be referred to as the process of overseeing the different movements of goods from manufacturer or supplier to the point of sale. This refers to numerous activities within the business, which includes inventory, packaging, warehousing, logistics and supply chain. The concerned business is regarded as the way of business that helps consumers to get their products as per the financial goals and the needs of the business. Moreover, the concerned organisations sell products directly to the clients and not with any third-party distribution process. As stated by Dartnell & Kish (2021), after the outbreak of covid-19, the process of distribution and selling has increased as people are more comfortable in getting their products at home rather than going out. The business can be quite profitable however; it might take some time to get the stability of the business. In order to decrease the operational cost, the business might collaborate with local shops which can make the delivery process easier and thus can help in engaging the interest of selling of goods while having a greater exposure of the same. Social media can be a greater power for business start-ups as it helps in getting a huge consumer base for the business. Moreover, the supply chain and distribution of products can also tie-up with courier companies as these people can make the business faster and easier.
Statement of Work (SOW) and the overall project goals
The main purpose of the Statement of Work (SOW) is to define the responsibilities, liabilities and the agreement of work based on the two parties which include service providers and the clients. As opined by Alegre et al., (2018), SoW needs to be written in a precise language and needs to be relevant as per the business. The same helps in preventing the misinterpretation of the requirements and the terms of business. The average time and cost of the products, along with the delivery charges needs to be defined in the same. Moreover, in this case, the standard outlines of the deliverable, scope and pricing help in stating concise, clear goals for the business and its consumers. The goal of the project is to assist the completion of supply and demand products to the consumers and help them to get the required items delivered at their doorstep without any issue. The business possesses a huge scope of improvement, as in the present scenario, people are more into getting product at their doorsteps rather than getting it from the stores. Therefore, making a proper business base can help the business to grow on a large scale and help consumers to get their products as per their requirements. The major objectives of the business are:
Increasing the sustainability of the business by providing a greater consumer experience
Engagement of the consumers with online shopping while improving the health and wellbeing of the individuals
Developing a positive work environment ensuring the effectiveness and growth of business
Increasing the usage of technology by implementing technological transformation
Definition of the product and deliverables of the project
The business majorly possesses grocery products and food items. As for the present business, the major operational strategies can be to provide needed help to the consumers while delivering the product at their doorstep. As stated by Sarkis (2020), the operational management of the product can be such that the. Products are delivered to their home and can be taken in their containers, which can also help in maintaining the sustainability of the business. This can also help in producing a lesser number of wastes in the environment. Marketing and advertisement of the company can be done with the help of social media as it is cheaper and can bring in a greater number of consumers as per the requirements of the business and can encourage the business to grow on a large scale. The product can be stated as the items that are offered for sale and the services that are provided to the consumers in virtual or physical form. It can be noted that products are made at a cost and are sold at the price in every case.
In this business case, the core purpose of the business is to ensure the welding and to help people along with determining the product functionality and the success criteria. The foundation of the product and the business can aid in the development of the community. The supply and distribution business can be profitable in the present days as the people are more into getting the product at their home rather than going to the market. The project needs to differentiate its products and its offerings in the marketplace, which can help in the revenue growth of the business and can provide clear clarification for the success of the same
Cost estimation plan
The practice of cost estimation helps in forecasting the cost of completion of a project that is being designed for the scope and development of the business accordingly. This involves monitoring, planning and controlling the project's monetary costs from the start to the end of the process (Fam et al., 2018).
Activities
Expected cost (£)
Actual cost (£)
Inaugurating the stores
7,000
6,500
Setting up the product line
13,000
12,000
Developing sustainable transportation service
5,000
4,500
Appointing and managing human resource
7,000
6,800
Inventory setup and maintenance
3,000
2,500
Supplier management
7,000
5,900
Promotion and branding
6,000
6,500
Technical maintenance
4,000
3,500
Miscellaneous
3,000
5,500
Total
48,000
47,200
Table 1: Cost management plan
It is observed that most of the expenses are associated with the inauguration of the stores and setting up the products. Other major expenses are associated with the process of hiring and managing human resources to maintain a consistent nature of services from the point of initialisation of the products. The above plan can help in determining the financial constraints of the executive and the stakeholders (Waldman, Siegel & Stahl, (2020). while successful progression and the accuracy of the project estimation. This also helps in setting up better measures of the project in successful processing of the same.
Time analysis plan
A time management plan helps in maintaining the sequence of operations and thus helps in supporting and maintaining the integrity of operations (Basaure, Joignant & Mascareño, 2021). This also aids in collecting the data for use and analysing the same for the business.
Activities
Required time (in days)
Predecessor
Opening the store
55
1
Setting up the product line
20
2
Developing sustainable transportation service
15
3
Appointing and managing human resource
18
2
Inventory setup and maintenance
26
4
Supplier management
13
5
Promotion and branding
6
6
Technical maintenance
35
3
Miscellaneous
4
7
Total time duration (in days)
192
Table 2: Time management analysis
The present organisation can follow the present time chart in order to optimise its performance while reducing the time of business initiation from an initial scale. A time analysis plan also ensures the decision-making and integrity of the business while ensuring that everyone has understood the vision of the project with a well-defined scope of the same (Brous & Janssen, 2020). This is necessary to meet the initial goals of the project.
HR requirement for assembling and planning the project
Strategic imposition of business can help in executing the goals associated with the business. The current staff need to be prepared for the future hr needs and which can also prevent the turnover of the employees and prepare business leaders in strategic hiring and decision making in the business. As stated by Rodríguez-Sánchez et al., (2020), productivity and higher employee satisfaction, along with the better bottom line result can be the major goal and HR strategies as per the present business. This can also add value to the company and can transform the HR department into a more fruitful aspect. Planning strategically can also improve the leadership succession and the employees which are one of the most important aspects of the business to create a competitive advantage in the market. As for the business requirement, the employees need to be selected duly by the requirement of the business. Specific requirements in the business need to be added which can help in getting more consecutive employees for the business.
On the other hand, the structure of leadership can be determined by the adaptability and the accountability of the workflow and the authority of working in the business scenario. In order to develop a good business structure in the start-up case, a hierarchical leadership structure can be followed as it is a narrow power and can trickle down the bases of the employees. The employees need to be selected for their education assessment, interpersonal relationship, job experience in the associated business (Lacerenza et al., 2018). Thus, this can aid in the faster development of the market and the small number of subordinates in a coherent manner. Transportation and storage rates also are coherent in this project, especially for the products with low shelf life. Providing fresh products to consumers is a major challenge in the present day.
Risks associated with the project
Global trade wars between the UK and the rest of the world have continued to impact the supply chain and management after the imposition of US tariffs and retaliatory tariffs in a consequential manner in different countries which has placed a wide range of consumer components and products to impact the industries. Moreover, Unnikrishnan & Figliozzi, (2021) states that after the outbreak of covid-19, people are more comfortable getting products at home. Therefore, the major risks that are associated with the same are the production and the distribution of the products to the consumers in competitive pricing. Lockdown and political instability, along with the shortage of raw materials, are critical risk that needs to be managed by the business personnel in a coherent manner. It can also be challenging as improper communication with the consumers can lead to humiliation in the business, which can affect the business in a varied number of ways.
Training of the employees is a necessary aspect and a major challenge in the present day as the approach towards the consumers’ needs to be encouraged (Aldawood & Skinner, 2019). Controlling and disposing of the waste material is another challenge, as, in the present scenario, the wastes in the business needs to be reduced concurrently. Making the consumers understand the refillable packages can be challenging as the consumers want handy packaging in the present day. Lack of clarity and operational changes can be another major challenge that might lead to disrupting the continuity of the business equivalently.
Quality assurance plan
Quality Assurance plan aims in providing quality services and products at a specified level while focusing on the delivery and production system in each step for ensuring smooth production and the operation in the business (Akalegbere & CICA, (2022). The programme also identifies the goals of the business by clarifying the areas that need to be worked out. The services on the quality of the products can be monitored online with the help of an effective inventory management system. The use of certain technologies can also help in keeping track of their goods and can be considered as a better idea for maintaining the quality of the product and the consumer experience in a coherent manner. As stated by Velsberg, Westergren, & Jonsson (2020), the usage of technologies can help in maintaining a steady balance and transparency of the behaviour in organisational cases and also helps in increasing the performance of the organisation and also the employees accordingly.
The concerned organisation involves the delivery of the food products to the consumers in a proper container and packages which can ensure the quality assurance measures. Moreover, keeping an eye on the products that are being stored in the inventory along with taking in an integrated strategy for preserving the quality of the products can also help in maintaining the quality of the product coherently. The organisation can develop a plan which can focus on the quality of the products and successful delivery of the same to the consumers.
Branding and promotional strategies
The branding and promotional activities can be done by issuing different highlights to the consumers on social media and other online platforms, which can help in maintaining the engagement of the business. In order to maintain the sustainability of the business, the business person can also stop the usage of plastics in their marketing, which can also encourage the consumers to develop a positive mentality for the business. The company can also make its branding an equal friendly business which can help in bringing in more consumers to the business. Moreover, in order to increase the awareness of the services among the consumers, the business can develop certain plans which can enable the organisation to gain a highly competitive advantage to attract more potential consumers as per the targeted market (Haseeb et al., 2019). This can also aid in strategising the plans of marketing and the acceptability of the products as per the needs of the consumers. The business person can strategies their marketing plan as per the reusability promotion and wide range of branding and marketing which can help in profitably attracting most of the consumers.
As per the research it has been found that in the year 2021 there are 28 million Instagram and 51 million Facebook users in the UK (Statista, 2022). As for the present scenario, the use of sustainable business and innovative ideas can hold potential in attracting the attention of the consumers in the masses. Therefore, the promotional ideas in the Facebook and Instagram advertisements can be an innovation that can enable the present organisation to gain the interest of the targeted population. Additionally, maintaining and developing a website can also highlight the idea of sustainable growth of the business and the delivery process at the doorstep which can help the consumers to evaluate the notion of the business (Grewal et al., 2021). Therefore, from the above study, it can be stated that the use of online websites and platforms can help the business to maintain the transparency of the same with its consumers which can thus turn out to be a major promotional aspect for the business and the markets in the UK. branding and promotional strategies aid in defining the tactics and plans which can be implemented in the marketing plan in order to increase the service and the product demand in the market.
Conclusion and recommendation
From the above report, it can be concluded that the business plan of supply and distribution of products can be quite profitable in the market as per the scenario of the contemporary days. People are more into environmentally friendly business and the concerned business demonstrates the business plan of doorstep delivery of grocery products. The above report demonstrates the business plan and the risks of branding associated with the same. Our time plan analysis has been done which can help in determining the average time required for the planning and the execution of the business in a coherent manner. The environmental impact regarding the packaging and demonstrating their products to the consumers can also highly determine the future of the business. Therefore, the report is helpful for the start-up business and the planning of the same.
Recommendation
From the above study, it can be recommended that
Demonstrating the power of operational efficiency
After the outbreak of the covid-19, the supply chain and management have a High negative impact as the transportation facilities are disrupted. As opined by Kittipanya-Ngam & Tan (2020), providing consumers with lower pricing can help in gaining the operational efficiency and high value of food, which can also improve the margins in case of a tough environment. The initiative can also bring in new opportunities in cost-effective food and also can help in gaining more money from the consumers. Operational efficiencies can also be shown by forecasting successful delivery numbers and the satisfaction level of the consumers which can help in developing a wider range of products in the business. Moreover, designing a proper value stream and creating a standard workflow can improve the satisfaction of the employees and thus can help in lesser employee turnover.
Development of the order fulfilment options
Fulfilling the demands of the consumers are greater challenges for the business person in the concerned days. As per the words of Marchet et al., (2018), online ordering and home delivery can cope with the pickup and the speed of the Omni channel as per the business and also can develop the operational efficiency for challenging the food retailers in the low-value products while high handling cost for the varied size of products including fragile products as per the requirement and the temperature control. High struggle in the grocery market can also be profitable as the food retailers cannot afford to go online. Cost control and competitive advantage can also be gained as the consumers are hesitant to spend much and streamlining the operations can improve the efficiency and also the business in a strategic manner (Roy & Roy, 2019). This can also encounter high market share and can appreciate the low cost of the private label product and well-curated assortment at the expense of the abundant choices. Online transactions and proper fulfilment of the orders can aid in the smooth flow of business while saving the time of the consumers. These days people have a shortage of time therefore; smooth transactions and quick services can provide retention of the consumers coherently.
Spotlighting the efficiency and freshness of the products with a short shelf life
Healthy eating trains are the major issues that consumers face in the current days. Personnel can bring in high-efficiency and comfort which can simplify the standardised large volumes in its business. This can also saturate the complexity of the experiment with the fresh products and delivering the same in the localised market and consumers. Dal Mas et al., (2020) states that getting fresh foods can help consumers to develop trust for the company thus can increase the efficiency and development of the business coherently. Providing real-time data and easy access to the products while improving the external and internal activities of the consumers can aid in the development of the technical aspects in the industry and the growth of the business equivalently. Thus, evaluating the shelf life of the products can aid in controlling the quality and safety of the same within the business.
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