Bulk Purchase Research Articles

The Influence of Product Quality and Price on Consumer Purchase Interest at Nay Kids Store

This study examines the influence of product quality and price on consumer purchase interest at Nay Kids Store in Banjarmasin. The population in this study consists of 206 consumers, and using the Slovin formula, a sample of 67 consumers who made bulk purchases of clothing was obtained. Quantitative analysis was conducted, including validity and reliability tests on the research instruments, as well as hypothesis testing through classical assumption tests, F-test, t-test, partial correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that both product quality and price simultaneously affect purchase intention. Specifically, product quality and price also show significant partial effects on purchase intention. Additionally, product quality has the strongest influence, with the highest partial correlation coefficient. These findings highlight the importance of product quality as the most dominant factor in influencing consumer purchase intention, providing valuable insights for retailers who aim to enhance customer satisfaction and sales performance.

An Internet Snapshot Survey Assessing the sale of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists for use with Electronic Vaping Devices

IntroductionSynthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are associated with significant toxicity and are increasingly used in electronic vaping devices. We assessed the availability of SCRA vaping products to UK purchasers on the surface web.MethodsAn internet snapshot survey was performed between October 2022 and January 2023 on ‘google.com’ using the search terms “buy c-liquid vape”, “buy herbal incense vape liquid”, “buy cannabis vape liquid”, “buy hashish vape liquid”, “buy K2 vape liquid”.Results62 websites selling 128 SCRA vaping brands were identified. Most were purportedly based in the USA (41 websites, 66%) and most sold other controlled substances. Purchase incentives offered included discreet packaging (38, 61%), discounts for bulk purchase (34, 55%) and tracked delivery (30, 48%). Many websites stated SCRA products were: not for human consumption (41, 66%), for research purposes only (15, 24%), or legal (28, 45%). Websites sold a median (IQR) of 16 (7–25) SCRA vaping brands. Almost all were bottles of vaping liquid (1220/1225, 99.6%). The most common bottle size was 5mL (60%), the median (IQR) total volume of SCRA liquid per sale was 50mL (10–200mL). Median (IQR) price was £3.39/mL (£2.01/mL– £5.29/mL). Price decreased with increasing volume purchased (£6.58/mL for ≤ 5mL, £1.60/mL for > 200mL).ConclusionSCRA vaping products are easily obtainable online, in both small and bulk quantities. Information provided to purchasers on safety and legality is lacking or misleading. Further studies are needed to confirm the chemistry of these products. Policymakers should consider steps to limit the potential harm caused by the purchase and use of these products.

Integrated Role of Human Resource Management in Mitigating the Post-Covid-19 Challenges in Retail

The decline in retail sales during the COVID-19 pandemic was driven by quarantine measures, household financial problems, social distancing norms and changes in consumer shopping behaviour. Shopping habits have been significantly transformed: customers refrained from visiting crowded and large stores where it was difficult to maintain social distancing, often preferred to shop online, made bulk purchases in one visit, reducing the need for frequent trips to the store, delegated a family member to do the shopping, avoided group visits to stores to minimize the impact of the virus on the family, etc. Therefore, the post-pandemic recovery of the retail sector is becoming an important task for many countries. The article systematizes the main problems of the retail sector after the COVID-19 pandemic in general and human resources issues in particular. It structures the scientific work of scholars from different countries on human resources management in retail in the post-pandemic period. During the pandemic crisis, the retail sector experienced a surge in job losses, wage cuts, and high staff turnover, and the pandemic created a problem of employees’ isolation from the team, as well as staff adaptability, as employees were forced to multitask and perform additional, non-standard functions. The rapid changes in quarantine restrictions during the pandemic left retailers’ management with limited time to consider and execute critical business decisions, including recruitment, which often resulted in either a shortage or overstaffing. As the economy has gradually recovered from the pandemic, this loss of human capital has proved irreversible, with many experienced employees having already adapted to other jobs or changed careers. The article explores the mechanisms for overcoming post-pandemic staff losses in retail through effective planning of human resource management policies, in particular, the bottom-up approach, trend analysis and the Delphi method, implementation of creative recruitment strategies in retail in the face of staff shortages, in particular, through digital technologies, with a focus on soft skills and adaptability of candidates, etc. The article also discusses the mechanisms for overcoming post-pandemic challenges in retail using effective methods for assessing the effectiveness of human resources (in particular, straight-ranking appraisals, grading, management by objectives and 360-degree appraisals), techniques to evaluate employee engagement, the integrated role of HR management and HR administration in this regard is substantiated. A separate part of the study is devoted to post-pandemic lessons for the human resource management system in ensuring safe working conditions and employee health and safety when retail workers still experience fear of large crowds and psychological distress about the transmission of viruses in the workplace through direct interaction with customers and objects. The next block of the study focuses on the changes in career planning requirements in the post-COVID-19 era, building appropriate strategies and scenarios.

Strategy Analysis Using the Business Model Canvas Method

This research aims to analyze the Business Model Canvas of Hendys Bakery, which comprises nine elements: customer segments, value propositions, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost structure. The research adopts a qualitative descriptive research method, employing semi-structured interviews for data collection. The analysis reveals that Hendys Bakery's customer segments encompass individuals of all ages, including tourists visiting attractions in Deli Serdang Regency and Medan City. Value propositions consist of quality products with delicious and fresh taste (bread and cakes), attractive packaging, affordable prices, and a variety of more than eight product types. Customer relationships are fostered through effective communication, easy ordering processes, bulk purchase discounts, and secure packaging for online transactions. Channels for distribution include online promotions and sales via social media, direct sales, collaborations with large supermarkets, and participation in events or bazaars. The primary revenue streams for Hendys Bakery originate from direct sales and sales through gift shops, minimarkets, or supermarkets in Tembung. Key resources comprise production facilities, equipment, high-quality cake ingredients, and appealing packaging. Key activities involve diverse product manufacturing processes and direct sales. Key partnerships for Hendys Bakery include raw material suppliers (flour, butter, sugar producers), local government, financial institutions, supermarkets/minimarkets, and gift shops. To enhance its business model, Hendys Bakery needs to focus on improving customer relationships, channels, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost structure. However, customer segment and value proposition elements require maintenance rather than improvement.

Detection of anomalous ticket purchasing behavior for concerts based on machine learning

In recent years, there has been a continuous increase in the demand for entertainment activities. With the changing policies related to epidemic prevention and control, consumers ticket demands for various entertainment events, particularly concerts, have seen a significant rise. This has led to the emergence of anomalous ticket purchasing behaviors, including ticket scalping software, bulk purchasing, and fraudulent transactions. Such behaviors not only infringe upon the rights of legitimate audiences but also harm the interests of concert organizers. Therefore, the detection and prevention of anomalous ticket purchasing behaviors for concerts have become essential. This paper focuses on the use of automated systems, robots, or malicious software for ticket purchases, limiting consumers participation in abnormal ticket-buying activities. Combining previous research on railway ticketing systems and real-life experiences, this study selects ticket-purchasing frequency, speed, quantity, seat selection, payment method, IP address changes, and historical ticket-purchasing records as feature values. Different machine learning models are chosen for different feature values to conceptualize the construction of an anomalous ticket purchasing system for concerts. This paper emphasizes the importance of detecting anomalous concert ticket purchasing behavior, provides different machine learning models for various feature values, and lays the foundation for building an overall anomaly detection system. This research serves as a crucial reference for the security and user experience of ticketing systems, aiming to continually improve and upgrade anomaly detection systems to adapt to evolving challenges. The hope is to enhance the ticket-buying experience for future concerts and large-scale events.

Profitability and Determinants of Output of Rice Production in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study examined the profitability and determinants of output of rice production in Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: estimate the profitability of rice production; establish the determinants of production output; and identify constraints to rice production in the area.Multistage, purposive and random sampling methods were used to select respondents. Though 378 copies of the questionnaire were administered to the farmers by personal interview, 315 adequately filled copies were sorted and used in data collation. Primary data used for the study were collated and analyzed by means of descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as the enterprise budgeting technique (gross margin, net farm income, mean net farm income and net return on income) Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, One- way ANOVA and Scheffe’s Multiple Comparison test. Findings on the profitability of rice production in the area showed that per hectare gross margin figures were N315,300, N285,600, N302,800 and N301,233 for Anambra, Aguata and Awka Agricultural zones, and the State (study area) respectively. Net return on investment figures were 1.49, 1.23, 1.30 and 1.35 respectively. The NROI values indicate that for every N1.00 investments in rice productions in the three zones and the State the farmers are likely to realize on one hectare N1.49 in Anambra Agricultural zone, N1.23 in Aguata zone, N1.30 in Awka zone and on the average N1.35 in the State, hence rice production is a profitable enterprise in the area. Meanwhile, Schefee’s Multiple Comparison test indicated no significant difference between per hectare mean net farm incomes realized by farmers from paired agricultural zones. Findings on the influence of socio-economic characteristics of the farmers on production output indicated that five regressors (educational level, farming experience, farm size, amount of credit obtained and cost of inputs) exerted independent and statistically significant influences on output while the rest six did not have significant influence on output. Constraints to rice production posited insufficient fund as the most serious problem of rice production in the area, followed by scarcity and high cost of labour, scarcity and high cost of quality seeds, among others. Government should encourage financial institutions to make loans available to farmers and form cooperative societies to obtain bulk purchase of high quality seeds and other input resources.

Green growth in e-commerce : Environmental management and customer actions

The global e-commerce industry has been experiencing rapid growth, especially post COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly transformed market structures and consumer shopping behaviour. The waste generated and the plastic pollution due to e-commerce is increasing tremendously post pandemic. The surge in e-commerce has contributed to an alarming increase in packaging waste, aggravating the plastic pollution crisis. Research indicates that traditional in-store shopping can substantially reduce CO2 emissions highlighting the environmental impact of online shopping. In response to these challenges, many e-commerce companies are implementing green technologies and sustainable practices to mitigate environmental impacts. However, individual customers also play a crucial role in promoting sustainability in online shopping. By making informed choices, consumers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. This research explores effective strategies for managing environmental impacts and integrating green technologies in e-commerce operations, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of companies and customers to achieve sustainability. The research reveals that though majority of customers are concerned about environment and sustainability; while shopping they aim to satisfy their immediate needs. Customers have shown willingness to opt for the strategies like concession on returning the packaging, discounted price for less packaging and bulk purchases in a single order if introduced and implemented effectively by e-commerce companies.

Smart Contracts for Mobile Network Operator Bandwidth Sharing

We propose a new way to share licensed spectrum bandwidth capacity in mobile networks between operators, service providers, and end users using blockchain-based smart contracts. We discuss the foundational building blocks in the contract as well as various extensions to support more advanced features such as bulk purchases and future reservations. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the system can be implemented with an open source, permissioned enterprise blockchain, Hyperledger Sawtooth. We show that our smart contract implementation can improve blockchain transaction performance, by approximately four orders of magnitude compared to serial transactions and one order of magnitude compared to parallel transactions, by using public key infrastructure driven bulk purchases of mobile access grants, paving the way for fully automated, efficient, and fine-grained roaming agreements. We conclude with a discussion of lessons learned from two end-to-end use cases we implemented to validate our distributed ledger design.

ANALYSIS OF DEMAND FOR FRUITS AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA.

Fruits and vegetables’ consumption is germane in obtaining food and nutritional security but, its consumption is far below the minimum nutritive recommendation in Nigeria. Thus, this study analyzed the demand for fruits among households in Kwara State. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents. A well-structured interview schedule was used to collect information on socio-economic features, types of fruits consumed, frequency of consumption, consumption patterns, demand for fruits and factors influencing the demand for fruits in Kwara. Descriptive statistics and Linear Approach Almost Ideal Demand System (LA-AIDS) were used to achieve the research objectives. Majority (80%) of the respondents were males with a mean age and monthly income of 51 years and N56, 381 respectively. The study revealed that mango is the most frequently consumed fruit with mean score of 3.29, this was narrowly followed by cashew (2.97), Banana (2.69), Watermelon (2.66), Orange (2.59), Cherry (2.12), while Pineapple (2.06) is the least frequently consumed fruit. The consumption pattern indicated that respondents earn an average income of N56, 227 and they spent most (49.79%) of their incomes on food and least (8.48%) on fruits. LA-AIDS showed positive and significant cross parameter. The demand for fruits was influenced by perception, level of income, and storage facilities with the mean score of 3.69, 3.65, and 3.65 respectively. The study therefore recommends the need to change the perception of the people through aggressive sensitization on the benefits inherent in fruits consumption. Policies and strategies towards making efficient storage facilities available to households to enhance bulk purchases of fruits should be encouraged.
 

Updated Estimates of Annual U.S. Health System Spending from a Hypothetical National Naloxone Co-Prescribing Mandate

Background: Naloxone-prescription opioid co-prescribing mandates have increasingly been proposed and adopted in the U.S., at both the national and state levels, as a public health intervention for mitigating the impacts of opioid overdoses. In this study, we assess whether a hypothetical national, naloxone co-prescribing mandate has become less costly for the U.S. health system since 2018. Methods: We expand and update an existing economic model of naloxone co-prescribing to estimate annual health system spending. We refresh the model inputs through 2021 to reflect changes to the opioid and naloxone landscapes, expand the model to account for more types of market responses, and develop additional scenarios around alternate implementation strategies such as bulk purchasing. Results: We estimate annual spending increases across all retail opioid patients of $1.4–$4.0 billion with naloxone nasal sprays and auto-injectors, and $0.6–$0.9 billion with traditional injectable naloxone formulations. We also find that bulk purchasing could lead to higher spending increases in some patient populations absent volume discounts. Conclusions: Our estimates are substantially lower than prior research. Key drivers include lower prices for naloxone, higher current naloxone distribution, a longer approved shelf life for naloxone, and lower estimated sizes for some patient populations. Additional research is needed to estimate the potential benefits of naloxone co-prescribing for mitigating opioid overdoses, and whether they could outweigh spending increases. Steps that could make this policy more beneficial or less costly include targeting higher risk patient populations and promoting large-scale purchasing agreements with volume discounts to help offset potential price increases.

The use of distributed energy resources to mitigate the negative imbalance between bulk purchase versus distribution tariffs in South Africa

The use of distributed energy resources to mitigate the negative imbalance between bulk purchase versus distribution tariffs in South Africa

An optimal replenishment cycle and order quantity inventory model for deteriorating items with fluctuating demand

Suppliers often prefer to offer their retailers a delay period in payment to attract more sales and promote revenue in a supply chain. The retailers usually ask their customers to pay a portion of purchasing cost when receiving the product (i.e., a downstream partial trade credit) to reduce the default risk. On the other hand, the suppliers provide discounts for bulk purchases, and the retailer has enough capital to purchase more goods than can be stored in its warehouse. The retailer must store the excess quantities in a rented warehouse if the storage capacity is limited. A two-warehouse inventory system is needed to model this problem. In reality, the demand rate fluctuates with time, and the relevant cost is usually affected by the present value of time. This study focuses on the limited storage capacity inventory model for deteriorating items with fluctuating demand, downstream partial trade credit transactions, and discounted cash-flow considerations. The aim is to find the optimal replenishment cycle and order quantity and keep the present value of the total relevant cost per unit of time as low as possible. We further present numerical examples to demonstrate the applicability and develop managerial insights.

“2.5 g, I could do that before noon”: a qualitative study on people who use drugs’ perspectives on the impacts of British Columbia’s decriminalization of illegal drugs threshold limit

BackgroundIn May 2022, Health Canada approved a three-year exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act decriminalizing possession of certain illegal substances for personal use among adults in the province of British Columbia. The exemption explicitly includes a cumulative threshold of 2.5 g of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. Threshold quantities are commonly included in decriminalization policies and justified within law enforcement systems to delineate personal use among people who use drugs versus drug dealers who are carrying for trafficking purposes. Understanding the impact of the 2.5g threshold can help define the extent to which people who use drugs will be decriminalized.MethodsFrom June-October 2022, 45 people who use drugs from British Columbia were interviewed to gain an understanding of their perceptions on decriminalization, particularly on the proposed threshold of 2.5 g. We conduced descriptive thematic analyses to synthesize common interview responses.ResultsResults are displayed under two categories: 1) Implications for substance use profiles and purchasing patterns, including implications on the cumulative nature of the threshold and impacts on bulk purchasing, and 2) Implications of police enforcement, including distrust of police use of discretion, potential for net widening and jurisdictional discrepancies in enforcing the threshold. Results illustrate the need for the decriminalization policy to consider diversity in consumption patterns and frequency of use among people who use drugs, the inclination to purchase larger quantities of substances for reduced costs and to guarantee a safe and available supply, and the role police will play in delineating between possession for personal use or trafficking purposes.ConclusionsThe findings underscore the importance of monitoring the impact of the threshold on people who use drugs and whether it is countering the goals of the policy. Consultations with people who use drugs can help policymakers understand the challenges they may face when trying to abide by this threshold.

Smokeless Tobacco Use and Cessation Attempts during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Qualitative Study.

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among women is widely prevalent in Manipur state accounting for 45% users as per Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)-2 India. Studies from India and elsewhere indicate changes in the way people used SLT during COVID-19 lockdown. This study explores individual and economic influences on SLT consumption and cessation attempts by tribal women in Manipur during the first COVID-19 lockdown (March-June, 2020) in India. Twenty in-depth interviews, both in-person and telephonically, were conducted among tribal women from Imphal west, Manipur, India, who used any SLT, from April to September 2020. Objective of the study was to understand the use, factors associated with consumption, purchasing behaviors, and cessation attempts of SLT during the lockdown. Thematic content analysis was used to identify core themes and codes. Study participants reported of changes in current SLT use during restrictions imposed to contain COVID-19 pandemic in India. Majority reported of reduction or quit attempts in SLT use. Reasons included inaccessibility due to travel restrictions, limited availability and price rise of SLT products, fear of COVID-19, and disposable income for purchase of SLT products. However, a few women reported of increased consumption due to bulk purchasing, or switching to other SLT products as a result of unavailability or price rise of preferred products or to cope up with social isolation caused by the lockdown. Study findings on factors influencing quit attempts and strategies used for reducing SLT use by tribal women in Imphal, Manipur provide valuable insights for development of appropriate intervention for prevention of SLT use among women.

SUPPLY CHAIN MARKETING MANAGEMENT

The article explores the work of scientists in organizing marketing activities in a company, specifically in managing the distribution policy that involves organizing distribution channels, forming a portfolio of contractual obligations within the product portfolio, and developing a supply plan for each contractor. It is noted that the organization of distribution channels in a company must ensure: the creation of a system for delivering products to the point of sale or operation at an exactly specified time and with the highest level of service; minimizing costs for organizing the movement of goods, which should in no case affect the level of service. It has been proven that the advantages of including a wholesale intermediary in the distribution system are: ensuring product distribution in the absence of contact with the consumer; bulk purchasing reduces supply costs; reducing the risk of unsold products; favorable pre-payment conditions, etc. However, the negative factors that arise as a result of the inclusion of intermediaries in the product distribution channels are: a large number of intermediaries significantly reduces market control and complicates the interaction process with the consumer; dependence on a small number of intermediaries in the future can cause serious commercial losses. Therefore, in practice, in order to reduce risk, mixed forms of product movement organization should be used, which in turn requires the development of new methods and approaches to this process. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the need for re-organization of the existing distribution channel system arises when the company's production capacities are not fully supported by the capacity of the trade network. To diagnose such a situation, graph theory, in particular the adapted maximum flow problem, is used within the framework of this research. The authors stated that the result of applying the proposed models and methods is optimization of the existing distribution channel structure and development of further management methods for the company's distribution policy, including formation of its portfolio of contractual obligations and construction of a map of competitive advantages.

Psychosocial Challenges of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic Among Frontline Health Care Providers and Their Coping Mechanisms at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Southwestern Uganda.

As a novel global health pandemic, Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-2019) has posed various challenges to frontline healthcare providers (FHCPs). This study explored the social and psychological challenges of COVID-19 to the FHCPs at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, southwestern Uganda. This was a cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach. Participants were purposively selected, consented, and interviewed. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were entered into NVivo 10 software and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Fourteen FHCPs with diverse roles, including 8 men, were interviewed. Participants' median age was 38 years (range: 26-51 years) and eleven of them were married. The subjects' experiences were explored in relation to perceived social and psychological challenges of working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and coping mechanisms in the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The social challenges identified were burnout, domestic violence, and a financially constrained environment. A further, psychological challenge was anxiety, as well as fear and distress. FHCPs responded with a variety of coping mechanisms, including situational acceptance, religious coping, coping through emotional support of others, and bulk purchase of supply-constrained basic necessities. FHCPs experienced numerous social and psychological challenges, which negatively affected their quality of life amidst a wavering pandemic. As the pandemic rages on, creative and low-cost psychosocial interventions for FHCPs are needed, possibly including more formal peer support, and an improved flow of information about ongoing infectious disease control interventions, so FHCPs feel more knowledgeable about what is ahead.

Food consumption patterns and trends in response to inflationary pressures

Food prices have increased significantly in Hungary over the past year due to rising inflation. Price changes are crucial in shaping consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions. Supply chain disruptions, rising energy prices and extreme weather conditions have also had an adverse impact on prices. Another factor in the unfavourable situation was the distorting effect of the “price cap” (a government-imposed ceiling on the price of certain products) applied in Hungary. Based on an extensive and representative survey conducted during the autumn of 2022, this study presents the examination of trends in the food purchasing habits of the above 18 years of age population of a county of Hungary. The findings have confirmed a decrease in both supermarket visits and the level of consumption of fresh products including vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and baked goods due to high inflation and rising food costs. Additionally, there has been a noticeable shift towards shopping at discount supermarkets, accompanied by a decline in both bulk and small purchases. As spending on food has increased by over 40%, consumers are increasingly mindful of their spending.

MANAGEMENT MODELS AND METHODS OF CURRENT ASSETS IN TRADING COMPANY

Currently, quantitative data analysis methods and the latest computer technologies can significantly improve the efficiency of logistics and supply chain management. The purpose of the study is to develop economic and mathematical models of the company’s activities to study the options for using all types of company assets, including financial ones. Methods of mathematical modeling and operations research are used. The article examines the working capital management models of a trading company, in which there is no uncertainty about the initial values, but there is an uncertainty about the parameters of the problem. The optimal solution can be obtained using the described method. The paper presents a methodology for analyzing the stability of the optimal solution, as well as an approach to assessing the risk of bulk purchases. The authors consider the developed software as a tool for finding the optimal portfolio for wholesale purchases. The algorithm used by the software tool is based on the branch and bound method.

Challenges in setting up a primary human papillomavirus-DNA testing facility in a lower and middle income country: lessons learned from a pilot programme.

Detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) is the most sensitive test for the screening of cervical cancer. Although most high-income countries have adopted this strategy in their screening programme, there are a lot of barriers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in setting up this facility for screening. The lessons learned based on this experience can be useful for other LMICs in their first steps to integrate HPV testing into a screening programme. HPV testing using self-sampling was offered to eligible women residing in one district of Sikkim state. To implement the same, a testing laboratory was set up in the district and the challenges faced are listed. The cost of testing equipment, sampler and cold storage was beyond the budget capping. Setting up of the HPV testing lab accessible to study sites and referral centre was a difficult decision to make. Training the health care providers in their proficiency in triaging and treatment was challenging. Coordinating with community health workers and beneficiaries for effective screening and establishing referral linkages was not easy, as we expected. The cost of transportation, consumables and contingencies was higher due to the difficult terrain. The cost of the equipment and consumables for primary HPV screening can be reduced in bulk purchases through negotiations. Adequate knowledge of the terrain and economic implications of the area of interest is crucial during the budgeting of the programme. Collaborating with the state government, integration with the existing health system and repurposing the available resources are key for success. The barriers faced during implementation are stepping stones for improvement.

Horizontal Collaboration among SMEs through a Supply and Distribution Cooperative

Introduction: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages the governments of low and middle-income countries to support specifically small and medium enterprises to reach sustainable economic conditions. Strategic collaborative alliances among small and medium enterprises help these companies to overcome difficulties confronted in supply chain processes, such as procurement and transportation. This study describes a horizontal collaboration among small and medium enterprises (i.e., customers) where the demands are satisfied by a supply and distribution cooperative in Turkey. The cooperative is responsible for making bulk purchases with a discounted price that is not attainable for individual customers and making product deliveries to the customers. The benefits of establishing a supply and distribution cooperative that involves horizontally collaborating customers are assessed through a proposed decision support model. Methods: The model comprises a dynamic programming-based heuristic to determine a distribution plan and simulation to calculate total cooperative profit and customer profit shares. The model incorporates a comprehensive energy estimation approach for conventional vehicles that allows decision-makers to better estimate fuel consumption and, therefore, transportation emissions. Results and Discussion: The results show that horizontal collaboration among customers does not always guarantee profit. The amount of financial gain is dependent on many factors, such as logistics network, monetary demands, or discount rate observed due to the bulk purchase of the cooperative. Furthermore, such strategic alliances could allow companies to improve the efficient use of resources to have sustainable logistics systems. Conclusion: The proposed model can be used (i) to provide a detailed evaluation of the related costs and revenues, (ii) to provide analyses of the effects of the discount rate and the sector demand rate changes on the total cooperative profit, and (iii) to analyse the effects of uncertainties in several parameters on the total cooperative profit and customer profit shares.