What Is Supply Chain Distribution?

Supply chain distribution is used to balance supply and demand.

Supply chain distribution refers to your methodology for getting products to consumers. With a formal distribution plan that's implemented rigorously, you reduce cycle times for product deliveries.
There are four main distribution channels that a company can choose when looking for ways to best market their products. Options include direct sales, wholesale, brokerage, and dual distribution.
For best practices, carefully choose your supply chain distribution partners. There are also tools to help manage your distribution channels like supply chain management software programs.

What is a supply chain distribution?

Supply chain distribution refers to the way businesses get their products to customers. Distribution plans largely depend on the financial and company goals for the business. An organization may choose to sell products directly to their clients while others use third-parties for distribution purposes. Supply chain distribution should be formalized through an organized plan, recommends Supply Chain Management Review.

When creating the plan, the expectation is that companies will review the different distribution options open to them and choose the best option for their customer base and product line. Formal distribution plans reduce the cycle days between when a customer places an order to delivery. Supply Chain Management Review states that those who have an extensive distribution plan only take two days for order fulfillment. In comparison, those without a distribution plan take 10 days.

Supply chain distribution is used to balance supply and demand. Your distribution plan should be able to handle any type of market changes, including supply disruptions and demand increases. The distribution chain should aim to reduce the number of transactions needed to get a product from supplier to customer.

What are the four channels of distribution?

There are four main channels of distribution in the supply chain. Each distribution channel may work well for one type of business but falter for another.

Direct sales: Direct sales involve direct distribution from manufacturer to customer. Direct sales is best for products that have a mid-price point. The products should be affordable enough to have broad appeal. Direct sales also require that products sold have an extended shelf-life.
Brokerage: Brokers work as a go-between for manufacturers and retailers. For instance, food manufacturers may hire a broker to sell their products to grocery stores. Brokers don't ship the products directly but handle the sale contracts.
Wholesale: Wholesalers purchase products in bulk from the manufacturer to sell at a higher price point through resales. As a reseller, wholesale companies take on more of the risk if products don’t sell since buyers purchase directly from them.
Dual distribution: For dual distribution, a company may use several strategies to get their products to customers. For instance, the company may decide to offer both direct sales and wholesale. Franchises are one business model that frequently use more than one type of distribution channel.

Although there are four distribution channels, emerging technologies are changing the way products are getting to consumers.

The supply chain and distribution channel is not your daddy's supply chain and distribution channel anymore.

In fact, today's distribution chain is facing unprecedented changes that pose challenges and rewards to all participants in the supply and distribution trade.

Partners all along the "traditional" distribution and supply chain channel are being challenged by new entrants into supply and distribution markets across many industries. The waters have been muddied by the Internet and the introduction of consumers and end-users into supply chain distribution.

Successful distribution and supply chain management is characterized by a solid organization featuring a centralized hub supported by a satellite chain distributor. Picture it like the spokes of a wheel connected at the middle – the hub.

The "new" supply chain and distribution channel has several key components, which fall under the supply chain management "umbrella." These components include:

Distribution: The physical logistics of moving inventory along a chain of distribution.
Inventory management: The entities that control how much is moved and where it is stored.
Customers: identifying who the "real" customers are and keeping their loyalty despite all of the changes to the supply chain and distribution channel.