LIFT Lab Director Josué C. Velázquez Martínez wrote in the latest Innovation Strategies column in Supply Chain Management Review. Here's a brief excerpt:
Some 50 million micro-retailers, also known as nanostores, serve local communities in developing economies across the globe. They are the backbone of retailing in these countries. Yet, much of their commercial potential remains untapped due to obstacles such as inefficient distribution strategies and punitive payment terms imposed on store owners. These obstacles can be overcome if suppliers—notably large-sized consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies—and supply chain management solutions providers adopt new, more creative approaches to serving nanostore businesses. Many of the changes required are relatively straightforward and can potentially increase the profitability of micro-retail markets for all the players involved.