Amazon.com's Inventory Management

            
 
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Case Details:

Case Code : OPER023
Case Length : 13 Pages
Period : 2003
Organization : Amazon.com
Pub Date : 2003
Teaching Note : Available
Countries : USA, Global
Industry : Online Retailing

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This case study was compiled from published sources, and is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion. It is not intended to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. Nor is it a primary information source.



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Innovative Inventory Outsourcing

In early 2001, Amazon decided to outsource its inventory management though it knew that it was a huge risk. When Amazon managed its own inventory, it had earned the reputation of providing superior customer service, which was its biggest strength.

Now, the company wanted to concentrate on its main activities and outsource inventory management in order to earn more profits. However, Amazon was apprehensive that this move would damage the hard-earned reputation of the company. Nevertheless, it decided to go ahead with the decision to outsource its inventory.

Operations Management Case Studies | Case Study in Management, Operations, Strategies, Marketing Management, Case Studies

Amazon did not stock every item offered on its site. It stocked only those items that were popular and frequently purchased. If a book that was not too popular was ordered, Amazon requested that item from its distributor who then shipped it to the company.

In the company, the items were unpacked and then shipped to the respective customers. So, Amazon basically acted as a trans-shipment centre and ensured that the entire process of shipping from the distributor to the customer was done very efficiently...

Future Challenges

Although online shopping has become popular over the years, Amazon had to struggle to make profits. One of the reasons was the variable costs incurred by multiple delivery attempts and reverse logistics-the return of products by the customers. Multiple delivery attempts cost the company about 20-30 percent of the total costs for home deliveries.

This was due to the additional shipping charges which had to be borne by the company. Several incidents of thefts and product damage were reported as the shipped goods were at times left at the customer's doorstep. All these incidents also led to a lot of frustration among customers. The expenses on reverse logistics and multiple delivery attempts ate into Amazon's profits and hence it had to find a solution to this problem...

Exhibits

Exhibit I: Products and Services Offered By Amazon.Com

Exhibit II: Amazon's Six Core Values

Exhibit III: Amazon's Partners

Exhibit IV: Amazon's Supply Chain Management: Key Objectives

Exhibit V: Income Statement


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