Retail EDI

CPFR®
CPFR is a business model which has received significant attention in Supply Chain over the years.  A noticeable percentage of the VICS website is dedicated to it.  Dozens of papers have been written on the subject.  You as an individual can take classes and become certified and so on.  I first read the VICS CPFR content back in ’05 trying to learn more about VMI processes.  Just as a person learns the difference between a boat and a ship, CPFR didn’t tell me much of anything about VMI, but I kept coming back to it.  The concept of CPFR is amazing.  Collaboration is something our mothers taught us when they first set us into a sandbox with other children.  We all mutually benefited by sharing toys and helping someone build a sand castle can be incredibly rewarding, even fun.  Being in the sandbox with trading partners, working to improve margins, inventory turns or reduce stock-outs is better.   {jcomments on}

I’ve also “started” a new venture –a gift shop/store at a local “open air market” (aka Farmer’s Market) in the Palm Springs area.  And since things there are doing … well, pretty good so far … I’m thinking of going “brick and mortar” and starting a regular store in a real store front – not just on weekends, but 7 days a week and seeing how it goes and grows…

At Bear Necessities (what we’re calling the gift shop), we really strive to deliver great prices and excellent service.  We had a customer have an issue with an item and I went out of the way to order a new one and deliver it to the customer’s local place of business.  They were happy with that support.

 And service and support came to mind with all of the talk about the recently announced “merger” of two of the EDI world’s biggest players – GXS and Inovis.  So many fear that the relatively superior service and support from Inovis will slip with the mating of GXS, who is not known for exemplary support and service…

So, on with the original article and topics of support and service and the importance of it all…