E-Supplier Management Practices on Supply Chain Performance of Sugar Processing Firms in Kenya

Evans Biraori Oteki

doi:10.5121/ijmvsc.2021.12201

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of electronic supplier management practices on supply chain performance of sugar processing firms. The target population is 7,584 employees of sugar processing firms in Kenya and Yamane Taro’s formula was applied to come up with a sample size of 379 respondents. Data was gathered by a questionnaire, interviews and observation. Correlation was used to determine the relationship between E-supplier management practices and Supply chain performance while regression analysis tested the hypothesis. The study established that E-supplier management practices enhances supply chain performance. Two kinds of supply chain are proposed; Managerial and demand. Managerial supply chain where as a result of electronic supplier management practice, flow of goods and services from the suppliers are properly managed through information sharing between the buyer-seller thus improved deliveries. Demand supply chain where as a result of electronic supplier management practice, buyers and suppliers tend to develop a single shared forecast of demand and a plan of supply in the sense that buyers issue order for only needed materials from the suppliers and that suppliers fulfills the orders as requested by the buyers. To ensure that the proposed supply chain under e-supplier management,it is recommended that Sugar processing firms’ management should ensure working Websites, working internal and external mail and also provide their suppliers with access credentials to company electronic procurement portal to increase buyer and supplier access to information to enhance E-supplier management practices.

Highlights

A good e-procurement system must have all elements that enable the buyers and sellers interact effectively including all supply chain activities from procurement planning information to supplier evaluation
To a large extent buyers and suppliers develop a single shared forecast of demand and a plan of supply, buyers issue order of materials from the suppliers is streamlined, quick information sharing with suppliers, predictability of flow of goods, electronic payment to suppliers improve delivery and improved relations with channel partners
E-supplier management practices enhances supply chain performance as buyers and suppliers develop a single shared forecast of demand and a plan of supply, buyers issue order of materials from the suppliers is streamlined, quick information sharing with suppliers, predictability of flow of goods, electronic payment to suppliers improve delivery and improved relations with channel partners

Summary

Introduction

A good e-procurement system must have all elements that enable the buyers and sellers interact effectively including all supply chain activities from procurement planning information to supplier evaluation. Both buyers and sellers should have access to each other’s information as and when required electronically for smooth functioning of E-procurement. The commonly adopted e-procurement practices used in procurement includes: E-Tendering, E-Request for Quotations, E-Auctions, E-Catalogues, and E-Invoicing [1]. Others considered in this study include; Enterprise Resource planning (ERP); an information system package that integrates information and processes across organizational functions [3], E-maintenance; maintenance managed through computer over the internet [4], E-tendering, tendering through online platforms and E-Sourcing (online sourcing).

Methods

Results

Conclusion