MARK 1189 Procurement and Supply Management Assignment Sample

Section 1

Introduction

The pandemic has changed peoples lives and some developments have happened suddenly such as wearing masks, maintaining social distance, reducing public transportation, restricting travel and many other things. The spreading of the coronavirus has led to numerous issues in various sectors such as health, business, education, economic level, and many other sectors. This critical situation has increased the panic purchasing practices all over the world. The purchasing behaviour of consumers has been changed after the pandemic happened. The paper includes an analysis of the purchasing practices of consumers before and during covid-19 pandemics. Before the pandemic, people were going out and purchased products from shopping malls, markets, supermarkets, and they enjoyed the whole day with family and their friends. During a pandemic, people have switched to online shopping to maintain social distancing. Now people are afraid to get infected by this severe disease so they can not go outside and do offline shopping with their friends.

The report will include the changed purchasing behaviour for the food retailer organization such as Tesco Plc company. This organization is a multinational retailing business organization that provides groceries, daily usable things, and many more important things to its consumers. The organization is also famous for its food retailing among customers. The changing behaviour of the organization was also discussed during and before covid-19 pandemic. The report includes a comparison between time before and during covid-19 pandemics purchasing practices for the food retailer company Tesco. The demand of consumers also changed for the purchasing process and they can order from the eCommerce websites when they need products such as groceries, clothes, foods, and many other things. The paper will describe recommendations to develop a strategy for Tesco to enhance business in the international business market.

Section 2

Analysis of the purchasing practices during and before the pandemic

Purchasing practices before the pandemic

Tesco is Britain’s most popular supermarket that provides groceries, foods and many other essential products to the consumers. Before the pandemic people have to come to the retail stores of Tesco and purchase products as per their needs and choices. People come to the various retailer stores with their family and friends to purchase things and they also spend time together through offline purchasing practices (Strotmann, Baur, Börnert, and Gerwin, 2021). Before the pandemic people preferred offline product purchasing rather than online purchasing. Tesco also provides packaging foods or groceries to targeted people to run business in the international business market. Before pandemics, Tesco conducted its business in the offline business procedures in which superior can engage to provide better customer services to customers (Kravitz-Wirtz, et al. 2020). Before the pandemic, consumers were purchasing foreign products rather than domestic products. In this situation the organisations, despite the regulations imposed by the Brexit laws, were concentrating more on forgain products. A high demand is for means and wine. France is one of the top most exporters for the UK. Thus Tesco had to contact suspliers for exoctic meat and wines which were more in demand.  (Faour-Klingbeil, et al.  2021). Consumers were more attracted to the various cuisines before the pandemic and they were looking to source the raw materials that were not regional. Before covid-19 pandemics, consumers were addicted to international brands and the nation’s brands were faced with losses. Tesco had their stcok loaded with forgain goods and supplies for forgain countries.

Purchasing practices during the pandemic 

The covid-19 pandemic has created various changes in people’s lives. People have changed their point of view to purchase products from the retailers. People are more concerned about their health during a pandemic. The world was under global lockdown and maintained social distancing to reduce chances of coronavirus infection (Lyons, et al. 2021). The virus has spread across the world and it is declared as a pandemic on 11th March 2020 by the Director of the World Health Organization. In the absence of the vaccine, it has spread all over the world and various countries have been forced to take preventive measures such as social distancing and lockdown. In this critical situation, people were afraid to go outside and purchase products from the markets. Supermarkets, and shopping malls. People have switched their purchasing practices into online rather than offline purchasing. The global food supply chain is also distressed by this critical pandemic situation (Faour-Klingbeil, et al.  2021). Tesco has made decisions to provide people with essential products through its online websites or various e-commerce websites to run business and achieve desired profit margins. People have changed their tendency to purchase international products and purchased organic, eco friendly, and domestic products for leading a healthy lifestyle. China is the epicentre of the global manufacturing hub but during the pandemic, several Countries have banned Chinese products and foods too. The purchasing practices for the food retailing stores were changed into online platforms that help to increase economical values all over the world.

Demand changes led to changes in the purchasing practices during the pandemic

Coronavirus has transformed the whole World’s purchasing practices for essential products. People started to use online websites to purchase their essential products. According to the reports, the lack of vaccines helps this virus to spread all over the world through contact transmission between people (Bender, et al. 2021.). In this situation, the whole world has started to maintain social distance and also the government of every nation has declared a lockdown to reduce the chances of getting infected by this virus. The panic behaviour of consumers has increased in this pandemic situation. People have thought that groceries and other essential products will be finished so they have started to store huge amounts of products from offline and online purchasing. In this situation, several people have not gotten their essential products when they need them. The retailer stores are always facing issues with their manufacturing and lack of inventories.

People have changed their offline product purchasing cultures into online purchasing practices. People have also stored their essential products through online purchasing and retailing business organizations also faced issues with a lack of inventories and manufacturing. The pandemic situation also increased issues at the economic level of every nation through devastating situations of the business organization. People have changed their minds to reduce using international products or food products (Vogt, et al. 2020). People are more fond of purchasing domestic products rather than international products. In Particular, people have changed their purchasing habits to purchase. Due to the lack of availability in the market for exoctic and forgain products. Tesco started to rely on local producers and local brands. being a large company with a huge stock. The company took advantage of the panic purchasing done by the consumers. Though the company faced issues with employee stock for certain daily items which were bought in bulk due to the fear of the virus and the lockdown imposed by the government. The supply chain of food was also devastated by this pandemic situation. In this situation, people panic and store food and groceries for a long time. People can not go outside because of the new rules and regulations such as lockdown and social distancing. Consumers are also concerned about their health and safety to not get infected by these severe health issues. As per the reports, retailing business organization’s have faced losses in their business markets. Several people have got a chance to work from home facilities from their offices. People who were far away from their hometown have started to use online food delivery apps rather than go outside and purchase foods from restaurants and groceries from retailer stores. These changing demands of customers have increased issues for the international brands and they started to face losses in several countries (Murphy, et al. 2021). People’s demand to purchase products from online websites has provided competitive advantages to several retailing organizations to compete with rivals in the international business market. Now people are habituated with their new normal life from the pandemic that happened. They have also tried to change their food eating habits.

Comparison between before and during a pandemic purchasing practices

The covid-19 pandemic has created various issues worldwide. This virus has changed the lifestyles of people. People are more health-conscious during and after pandemics. The pandemic situation locked people in their houses so the people have switched to the online product purchasing culture worldwide (Bentall, et al. 2021). Retailing business industry has faced numerous issues such as inventory management and manufacturing issues. Before the pandemic, people have enjoyed a lot of outings and travelling outside. During a pandemic, people have locked into their houses to maintain the lockdown and social distancing. Comparison between before and during the pandemic the purchasing practices have provided the changing cultures of people to lead a healthy lifestyle. People are more concerned about their health after coronavirus affects them. As per doctors, people have to take vitamins and protein-based healthy foods for their healthy lifestyles. Doctors also advised taking antibiotics to reduce the chances of getting infected by the coronavirus.

The pandemic situation is creating issues in every aspect worldwide. People have changed their taste to purchase products from online platforms rather than offline platforms. People are trying to purchase food products from the local organic farms rather than another international brand (Adams, Caccavale, Smith, and Bean, 2020). Before the pandemic, people are addicted to purchasing international products rather than domestic products or home-ground products. During a pandemic, people are maintaining the social distancing and lockdown processes seriously (Rodgers, et al. 2021). In this situation, retailing business organizations have changed their business strategies for the customer’s demand for their products. During the pandemic, retailer business organizations also provided home delivery services for consumers. Before the pandemic, people were addicted to travelling to various places. The proper evaluation of lockdown has changed the purchasing practices of people. People have now become addicted to online purchasing practices that help to increase business profits from the business markets.

The purchasing practices have changed during the covid-19 pandemic all over the world. In this critical situation, people have changed their tastes to purchase products from the online retailer application of Tesco. The proper implications  of the lockdown and social distancing forced people to change their prefered products. to adjust to the changes the companies also took the aidl toot when pricing products. The supply chain system for the company needs to adjust in light of the pandemic and the Brexit which made import and export a reasonably difficult option. ( Esper, T.L., 2021). During a pandemic, people are maintaining the social distancing and lockdown processes seriously. In this situation, retailing business organizations have changed their business strategies for the customer’s demand for their products. During the pandemic, retailer business organizations also provided home delivery services for consumers. Before the pandemic, people were addicted to travelling to various places. The proper evaluation of lockdown has changed the purchasing practices of people. People have changed their purchasing practices along with health consciousness for the betterment. During a pandemic, people have purchased more organic products rather than other international products.

Section 3

Recommendation

Consumer engagement

Tesco Plc is the most popular retailer business organization in the international business market. The organization is facing issues with the changing behaviour of people to purchase products before and during pandemics. The organization has to develop products with the help of organic farms such as groceries and other essential products that people have to use on a daily basis. Basically, Tesco has to develop more customer engagement through product development and home delivery services through online platforms (Rather, 2021.). The organization have to develop all health and safety measures to reduce the chances of coronavirus affecting. People have switched to organic and eco-friendly products rather than artificial products. They also switched to online purchasing rather than going to retailer stores. The organization has to develop its strategies to engage people to purchase products from its retail shops. The organization has to start an online product delivery application to engage more consumers to increase profitability. This strategy will help this organization to connect with customers easily.(MARK 1189 Procurement and Supply Management Assignment Sample)

Drive marketing and communication

Tesco has faced issues with the changing natures of consumers to purchase products from its retailer shops. The organization has to drive marketing for future development in the international business market. The proper evaluation of drive marketing and communication strategies will help this organization to develop effectiveness in the business strategies. This organization has to develop proper communication strategies with customers for the betterment of the business strategies (Kristinae, Wardana, Giantari, and Rahyuda, 2020). The organization has built strategies to promote product marketing on online platforms that provide effective business strategies in the international business market. The organization has to communicate with local firms to collect vegetables, milk, and other essential products. Tesco has to develop better communication skills to understand their queries and issues to resolve them easily and quickly. The organization has to develop proper online customer support channels for better communication. The proper evaluation of communication and marketing strategies to build better organizational effectiveness in the international business market.

Virtualized sales channels

During the pandemic, Tesco has to develop virtualized sales channels for future betterment. People have changed their choices to purchase products online rather than retail stores. The organization has faced issues during a pandemic for poor inventory management and manufacturing issues. The supply chain management has been devastated by this pandemic situation. The organization has set their business into the virtualized supply chain for the betterment of the business (El Junusi, 2020). The proper evaluation of virtualized channels will help to grow business in the international business market. The organization might develop visualised channels for product sales among customers. The proper evaluation of the virtualized sales channels to develop a better organization in the international business markets. Channel is the easiest and simple way to build effective communication for a better business organization in the international business market. The proper evaluation of the virtualized channels helps to build a better business organization in the international business market.

Prioritize digital journeys to engage the customer

Digital platforms have played a crucial role to promote business in the international business market. Tesco has to prioritise digital journeys to engage customers for future betterment. The proper evaluation of the digital promotion of products and services will help this organization to grow 8n the business market (Shin, and Kang, 2020). Digital platforms are the most popular platforms for people and business organizations. Digital platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and YouTube have huge users worldwide. If this organization promotes business on these platforms then it will increase its profitability in the international business market. The proper evaluation of the digital platforms will help Tesco to engage customers to build an effective business in the international business market. People can provide their feedback and problems to the business organization directly through digital platforms. Digital platforms are the most important factors to promote business among customers. The proper evaluation of the digital platforms will help to engage people to purchase products from online platforms.

Build solutions for home delivery

During a pandemic, several business organizations faced issues with the changed nature of customers to purchase products from online platforms. The organization has to develop home delivery services to enhance business and engage consumers for future betterment. During the pandemic, people could not go outside and purchase products by themselves. In this situation, the organization has to develop home delivery to reach customer needs. The proper evaluation of the home delivery system will help this business organization to grow in the international business market (Ostrom, et al. 2021). This solution will help this organization to increase business in the international business markets. People must engage to purchase products from this organization along with proper costing. The proper evaluation of the business strategies will bring effective business in the international business market. People have changed their purchasing styles during the pandemic. In that case, the organization has to start a home delivery plan for future betterment.

Health and safety measurements

People are more concerned about their health safety during a pandemic rather than before a pandemic situation. People have started to use masks, sanitisers, handwashes and also try to eat healthy foods to reduce the chances of getting infected. The business organization has to develop health and safety measurements for employees for future betterment. In this way employees can feel free to work in this organization without any chances of getting infected by coronavirus infections. If consumers show that the organization follows all the rules and regulations that might help this organization to build a business in the international business markets (Hardavella, et al. 2017). The proper evaluation of the health and safety measures can bring more customer engagement to achieve desired sales from the international business market. The organization also tries to bring more consumer effectiveness through health and safety measurements. The organization might disinfect the whole workplace for their betterment and reduce the chances of spreading infections of covid-19 viruses.

Technological advancements to serve customers through virtual services

Technical advancement might help Tesco to serve customers through virtual services and attract more people for the future betterment. The proper evaluation of the technical advancement can bring effective business strategies to develop the business in the international business market. Tesco has to develop online platforms for the future betterment of the international business market. The proper evaluation of technological advancement helps to develop proper business in the international business markets. Technological advancements such as software development help to enhance home deliveries and online purchasing will bring effective business in the international business market. The proper evaluation of the technological advancements will help to grow business in the international business markets. Software developments will help this organization to engage people in the international business markets. The organization also enhanced business through the proper uses of the technical process for future betterment. The manufacturing process must be developed through technical advancement.

Build effective feedback process

Tesco has to develop the proper feedback process that helps to enhance business among customers. In this feedback process, people can share their valuable opinion to change product qualities or other processes, and negative factors that help the business organization for the future betterment (Carless, 2019). The proper evaluation of the business feedback processes might enhance business in the international business markets. Tesco has to develop the feedback process for consumers to enhance business in the international business market. Software developments will help this organization to engage people in the international business markets. The organization also enhanced business through the proper uses of the technical process for future betterment. The manufacturing process must be developed through technical advancement. Technological advancements such as software development help to enhance home deliveries and online purchasing will bring effective business in the international business market (Makhlouf, and Mine, 2021). The feedback process will help this organization to bring effectiveness in their business strategies for future betterment.

Health and safety awareness among employees

People are more concerned about their health safety during a pandemic rather than before a pandemic situation. People have started to use masks, sanitisers, handwashes and also try to eat healthy foods to reduce the chances of getting infected. The business organization has to develop health and safety measurements for employees for future betterment. In this way, employees can feel free to work in this organization without any chances of getting infected by coronavirus infections. If consumers show that the organization follows all the rules and regulations that might help this organization to build a business in the international business markets. The proper evaluation of the health and safety measures can bring more customer engagement to achieve desired sales from the international business market. The organization also tries to bring more consumer effectiveness through health and safety measurements. The organization might disinfect the whole workplace for their betterment and reduce the chances of spreading infections of covid-19 viruses.(MARK 1189 Procurement and Supply Management Assignment Sample)

Placing orders during the situations

During pandemics, people have placed orders from online platforms. People are afraid to get infected by the coronavirus infection. In this tough situation, people do not go outside and purchase their essential products.

Relationship with suppliers and inventory management during a pandemic

Relationship with suppliers and inventory management during a pandemic situation is devastating that affects business. The business organization has to create transparency on the visualised supply chain that will help to increase business in the international business market.

Changes in procurement strategy during the pandemic situation

The business organization has to develop supplier insights as to the procurement strategy during a pandemic situation. The proper evaluation of coordination work of employees can enhance business during pandemic situations.

How to reduce the bullwhip effect.

Tesco has to communicate clearly with suppliers to manage their retail supply chain for better management. The organization has to manage inventory while maintaining safety measurements. In this way, the business organisation can avoid Bullwhip during pandemics.

Section 4

Conclusion

Here it is concluded that the covid-19 pandemic has created issues in the business sectors such as food retailing business. Tesco is the most popular business organization that provides groceries and food products to its consumers. The report also concludes about changing the nature of the consumers while purchasing products from this organization. The report also concludes about changing purchasing cultures before the pandemic situation. The proper evaluation of the business strategies will help to bring customer engagement in the international business after the covid-19 pandemic situation. The report includes a comparison between before and during covid-19 pandemics purchasing practices for the food retailer company Tesco. The demand of consumers also changed for the purchasing process and they can order from the eCommerce websites when they need products such as groceries, clothes, foods, and many other things. The report also discussed the proper evaluation of the business strategies that must be engaging to develop better business markets. The report also concludes with the purchasing culture of consumers and how it affects the business organization during pandemic situations. The report also concluded about the recommendation to grow the business in the international business markets and increase the effective strategies to increase the effective business in the international business market.

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