Question

based on Amazon company. answer the following question.
Distribution Marketing application criteria:
1. strategic role of intermediaries.
2. types of distribution channel function
3. channel strategy decisions
4. channel design and competitive advantage
Planning, sales forecasting and budgeting application criteria:
1. strategic planning and linkage marketing.
2. efficient and effective sales strategy
3. forecasting approaches and methods of sales forecasting.
4. purpose and process of sales budget.

(distribution management)SCM

Answer 1

Answer to the first question and its four sub parts:

Distribution Marketing application criteria:
1. strategic role of intermediaries: The main strategic support or roles of intermediaries are in Logistics and marketing of the products. They also give time and place utility in the supply chain of products. For e-commerce the role of intermediaries becomes very important because there are many players involved in making the product to the customer’s doorstep.
2. types of distribution channel function: The distribution channel of Amazon provides the time, place and ownership utility and helps in moving the products from manufacturers to the customers with help of logistics support.
3. channel strategy decisions: Direct to customer, Wholesale then retail or Direct to retails are the three key option a manufacturer has. Amazon acts like an intermediaries as most of the time amazon does not keep the inventory with them and they act like an intermediary which facilitates the movement of goods from manufacturer or wholesalers or retailers to the customer.
4. channel design and competitive advantage: Channel design plays a very crucial role in achievement of competitive advantage. The channel design helps in making the time to deliver products in e-commerce as shorter as possible and in e-commerce the shorter delivery time is very important to keep the customers satisfied. The channel design helps in determination of the order cycle and delivery timeline. It also helps in saving the cost of shipment for the products. In e-commerce it is important to note that the cost of shipment must be kept at lowest possible level as there are many reverse shipment cost also involved. Therefore, forward as well as backward movement of products should be designed well in the system.