Innovative solutions for wholesale

Mastering the advantage of a unique position

To stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market, wholesale and distribution companies need to leverage their unique position to meet their customers’ needs with precision and efficiency. The traditional role of wholesalers, bridging the gap between suppliers and customers, is no longer sufficient as new technological developments allow customers and suppliers to grow closer. Maintaining a competitive edge in the changing landscape requires wholesalers to take on a multidisciplinary approach that includes servitization and other strategies.

Unlocking wholesale excellence

Wholesalers and distributors must outperform producers, retailers, and competitors in buying and selling. They need to excel in market forecasting and consumer behavior to procure items in bulk, ensuring cost efficiency and allowing them to sell in smaller units to benefit their customers.
With in-depth knowledge of local markets, wholesalers and distributors are trusted and exclusive resellers, understanding regional preferences and demands, and making them the go-to source for a variety of products.
An extensive product range makes wholesalers a one-stop shop for both professional and end-customers. Whether seeking everyday essentials or specialized items, customers find everything under one roof, saving time and effort.
To stay ahead and meet rising customer expectations, an adaptive business model beyond distribution is needed to continuously evolve. Wholesalers must add new and optimized value at every step with services such as:
- Expert advice: knowledgeable staff offers tailored advice.
- Training programs: provide training to maximize product understanding and use.
- Customer support: service teams re-invent their processes and added value according to customer demand.
Cost efficiency is the hallmark of all wholesale operations. From procurement to distribution, wholesalers must focus on minimizing costs without compromising on quality. This commitment to cost efficiency allows them to offer competitive prices and ensure maximum value for their customers.

Right-time logistics

Ensuring timely delivery is crucial for wholesalers to maintain customer satisfaction and trust. Implementing advanced logistics solutions can help optimize routes and reduce delivery times, meeting customer expectations while lowering operational costs.

Customer experience

Providing exceptional customer experience means personalized service, prompt responses, and understanding customer needs. Investing in customer relationship management (CRM) systems can enhance interactions and build loyalty, leading to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Competitive margins & cash flow

Maintaining competitive margins while managing cash flow is vital for wholesalers’ financial health. Effective pricing strategies and cost control measures can help preserve margins. Additionally, robust cash flow management ensures your business can meet its obligations and invest in growth.

Multi-echelon inventory planning

Multi-echelon inventory planning allows wholesalers to optimize inventory levels across different stages of the supply chain. This approach improves inventory turnover and reduces carrying costs. By balancing stock levels, wholesalers can ensure product availability and minimize stockouts.

Customer reference: Van Marcke's focus on cost efficiency at every step

A couple of years ago, Van Marcke embarked upon an ambitious transformation journey. As a leading wholesale distributor of bathroom, kitchen and heating products, the group had realized that change was a must to keep its business healthy in the face of digital disruption.

“Insights weren’t easy to get with our former ERP system. We are now using one central solution for every Van Marcke branch: processes are standardized and streamlined and there is only one version of the truth. These up-to-date insights help us optimize cash flow and improve margins, while they help the management team make informed business decisions."
- Michèle Adams, CFO at Van Marcke

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How delaware can help

In business for over 20 years, and with more than 150 consultants working on over 50 projects in various industries, we are in the best position to understand the complexities and opportunities of wholesalers and distributors of different sizes. We’ve tackled challenges in the technical, food and beverage, baking, garden, flowers and plants, household, and medical wholesale sectors.

Together, we deliver operational excellence by focusing on customers and employees alike, crafting strategies, implementing projects, deploying technologies, and turning data into winning actions.

Heuschen & Schrouff creates exceptional customer experiences

The Limburg-based company wanted to better offer their impressive range of over 5,000 products online to B2B customers. Thanks to the help of delaware and the implementation of SAP Commerce Cloud, Heuschen & Schrouff now has a brand new web shop with current prices and stocks.

“Together with delaware, we have taken a valuable step toward providing even better service to our customers. Prices and inventory now refresh continuously on the customer commerce site and orders come in automatically, leaving us time to make more personal contact with our customers.”
- Roger Stoffelen, Director Business Unit Ethnic at Heuschen & Schrouff

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