What is the primary role of marketing in supporting supply chain management?

What is the primary role of marketing in supporting supply chain management?
A . Selecting favored supplier partners
B . Developing efficient customer channels
C . Focusing on short-term forecasting accuracy
D . Working with research and development on slow-moving products

View Answer

Answer: B

Explanation:

Marketing plays a pivotal role in supporting supply chain management by developing efficient customer channels.

Here’s how:

Channel Strategy: Marketing helps in designing and optimizing distribution channels to ensure products reach customers efficiently.

Customer Relationships: Building and maintaining strong customer relationships through targeted marketing efforts, ensuring customer loyalty and repeat business.

Demand Generation: Creating demand through advertising, promotions, and product positioning, which in turn drives production and inventory decisions.

Market Insights: Providing valuable market insights and customer feedback that can be used to refine supply chain strategies and improve responsiveness.

By focusing on developing efficient customer channels, marketing ensures that products are effectively distributed and customer needs are met, supporting overall supply chain efficiency.

Reference: Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2016). Marketing Management. Pearson.

Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Pearson.