International organisational standards often define three levels of approach: strategic, tactical, and operational. While the strategy is often clear and correctly set, the tactical approach is often subject to numerous gaps or approximations. As for the operational level…
Let us focus on the tactic that represents “the sinews of war” for many companies. Indeed, when the contractual approach, standards and key processes are not clearly described and tested, the company may be confronted with excessive financial burdens, poorly estimated risks, or inadequate quality of service. Let us face it, that is a lot for one and the same field.
Let us ask ourselves some questions in relation to these aspects that are often wrongly considered “secondary”:
- Are our processes always adapted to the needs of the company, the partners, and the staff?
- Are our support services in line with our needs and financial means?
- Have we entrusted “logistics” activities to the right internal or external bodies and are we paying the right price?
- Have we properly assessed our risks and are we able to guarantee a minimum service in the event of a problem or crisis?
- Have we defined a tactic, a medium-term model by grouping or separating activities that need to be grouped together or by delegating them to external experts?
Experiences and expertise show that too few small and medium-sized enterprises really care about these aspects, managing them a little bit “piecemeal” and according to the past “we’ve always done it this way”). This is a pity because the potential for optimisation is often considerable (according to the divided opinions, between 10 and 20% potential).
The pandemic represents an enormous challenge for many companies, but it also offers opportunities to “rethink” their logistics and support services. Why not do it now?
Fortune favours the bold, it is said. Let us hope that most SMEs in Switzerland will seize this opportunity by asking themselves the right questions. After all, this country has enormous know-how, excellent resilience and many specialists are on hand to help them.
Good thinking and good reading.