Extending the Supply Chain: How Cutting-Edge Companies Bridge the Critical Last Mile into Customers' Homes [Hardcover]

Kenneth Karel Boyer (Author), Markham T. Frohlich (Author), G. Tomas M. Hult (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 2004

This book looks at how retailers and specifically grocers are using the Internet, to help them build stronger relationships with their customers and thus relieve the constant pressure of competing on price points along. The strategies in the book will help readers strengthen their relationship with customers, increase customer loyalty and minimize costs using the Internet to extend the supply chain.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Supply Chain Management Review: "The authors do a good job on taking a fresh, very real-world based look at what was, just a few years ago, an overplayed subject."

Review

"""No one sells more office products online than Office Depot, but leading-edge technology solutions aren't enough. The strength of our supply chain makes the difference. This book offers important insight into the critical role the supply chain plays in a company's success.""-- Monica Luechtefeld, Executive Vice President, Global ECommerce for Office Depot

""The business graveyards are filled with many conceptually great strategies that die as a result of failing to solve the supply chain ‘last mile’ challenge. Boyer, Frohlich, and Hult offer new insights concerning how to deploy technology and managerial skill to turn the last mile into a differential advantage. A practical approach that has great application for both new and established businesses."" -- Donald J. Bowersox, Ph.D.,

The John H. McConnell University Professor & Professor of Logistics, The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University

""Extending the Supply Chain provides the definitive guide to delighting last mile customers. Defines, explains, and guides readers through the challenges of marketing, IT, order fulfillment, and delivery while showing how the integration of the parts brings a competitive edge. An essential part of a 21st century manager's bookshelf."" -- Jason Ackerman, President, FreshDirect

""Extending the Supply Chain is an outstanding evaluation of the challenges faced by e-commerce companies attempting to extend the supply chain the last mile. The review of the operational challenges is outstanding and on point."" -- Thomas F. Coyne, CEO Diamond Phoenix"

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 17 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM; 1st edition (August 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814408362
• ISBN-13: 978-0814408360
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,745,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The new age for supply chains, October 4, 2004

By 

John Olson "John" (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extending the Supply Chain: How Cutting-Edge Companies Bridge the Critical Last Mile into Customers' Homes (Hardcover)

This book provides great insight from "industry leaders" on how to promise and deliver product sold through the Internet. Many of the early adopters of Internet based sales systems failed to consider the difficulties of integrating a new system into their existing strategy. Extending the Supply Chain provides great examples of both failures and successes in industry, as well as, outline a framework that will help companies better position themselves to use the Internet as a competitve advantage. This book is a must read for all individuals that wish to take the last mile and use the Intenet to build a strong, viable sales channel.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Other End of Supply Chain Analysis, January 24, 2006

By 

Ziad Zacca "cyberzizo" (Jdeidet-el-Metn, Mount Lebanon Lebanon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Extending the Supply Chain: How Cutting-Edge Companies Bridge the Critical Last Mile into Customers' Homes (Hardcover)

While most books on logistics and Supply Chain focus on the manufacturing and suppliers' side of the chain, this one takes you to the complete opposite, where the real value is, the CUSTOMER.
The book provides a thorough analysis of the 4 different models of delivery used by online retailers. The greatness of this book resides in the fact that it describes both the most successful online retailers' practices (Amazon, Freshdirect...) AND the biggest failures (Webvan) so we can learn from their mistakes.

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and thorough, May 23, 2005

By 

Carla Hendon (Greenwood, SC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Extending the Supply Chain: How Cutting-Edge Companies Bridge the Critical Last Mile into Customers' Homes (Hardcover)

Extending the Supply Chain is an excellent resource for the individual interested in establishing or perfecting a business that involves home delivery. The authors clearly identify the challenges relate to each type of customer. The research is thorough and comprehensive. The book is well laid out and easy to read. It is a great reference book!