Considering the Sales Method and Logistics Service Strategy, Which Operating Mode Is the Best under Different Power Structures?

When merchants enter hybrid e-commerce platforms (such as JD.com and Amazon), they will face issues such as which sales methods to choose and whether to use platform logistics under different power structures. Different sales methods and logistics service strategies have resulted in three operating modes: (a) resale mode, marked as A, (b) agency + no-platform logistics, marked as B, and (c) agency + platform logistics, marked as C. This paper constructs an analysis framework composed of an e-commerce platform and a merchant to explore the optimal operating mode. The game models of the three modes are first constructed, and then, the equilibrium results are compared and analysed. Based on the results of comparative analysis and considering the dynamic game between the e-commerce platform and the merchant regarding sales methods and logistics service strategies, the optimal operating mode is determined. The results show that when the platform has absolute power, mode C is optimal for it. When the logistics service sensitivity coefficient and market size are both large, the best for the merchant with absolute power is mode B. In addition, if neither of them has absolute power, only when the merchant first decides the logistics service strategy, then the platform decides the sales method; the best for both parties is mode B; otherwise, the best is mode A. This research has generated new insights and has practical management significance, which can provide guidance for merchant and platform decision-making.

Why do SMEs switch suppliers?

Purpose Combining a conceptual framework with empirical evidence, this study aims to offer insights into why small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the business-to-business beauty sector switch suppliers, due to pricing considerations. Design/methodology/approach Data gathered from 475 telephone surveys of Spanish hairdressers provide the input for discrete choice models for testing the proposed hypotheses. Findings The SMEs that change suppliers tend to be sensitive to promotions, express less satisfaction with a current supplier’s offerings and serve fewer customers who buy professional products for their in-home use. If SMEs are satisfied with the supplier’s services though, they are less likely to change and more prone to negotiate with that supplier. Research limitations/implications This study does not address why dissatisfied SMEs might remain with their current suppliers. Further research might replicate this study using additional pricing data from suppliers. Practical implications Suppliers in business-to-business (B2B) sectors can leverage these findings to allocate their marketing budgets optimally and establish service strategies that will enable them to retain buyers and reduce their switching risk. Originality/value As an extension of extant literature, this study specifies switching drivers for SMEs in the B2B beauty sector. The findings should apply throughout this worldwide service sector, as well as to similar markets such as health, beauty and personal care and well-being services.

Layanan Referensi Virtual Sebagai Strategi Pelayanan di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

Pademi covid-19 datang secara tiba-tiba dan telah merubah semua sisi kehidupan, kebijakan dan pembatasan yang diterapkan diberbagai negara menjadikan manusia mengurangi interaksinya dengan manusia lain, hal tersebut dilakukan untuk memutus rantai penularan virus covid-19. Kebijakan pemerintah Indonesia meniadakan pembelajaran tatap muka baik tingkat universitas maupun sekolah-sekolah dan menggantinya dengan pembelajaran online/daring membuat penurunan kunjungan dan pemanfaatan perpustakaan oleh pemustaka. Dengan kenyataan tersebut diperlukan sebuah strategi agar perpustakaan khususnya perpustakaan perguruan tinggi tetap bisa berperan sebagai jantung perguruan tinggi. Salah satu strategi layanan yang bisa dilakukan perpustakaan dimasa pandemi ini adalah dengan cara menyediakan layanan referensi vitual. Layanan referensi virtual merupakan salah satu strategi perpustakaan peguruan tinggi dengan menyediakan layanan referensi secara online sehingga layanan tersebut tetap bisa diakses dimanapun berada tanpa harus datang langsung ke perpustakaan. Layanan ini juga sebagai wujud nyata peran serta perpustakaan perguruan tinggi dalam menerapkan social distancing dan mencegah perpustakaan sebagi klaster penularan baru. Pandemic covid-19 came suddenly, has changed all sides of life, policies and restrictions applied in various countries make humans reduce their interaction with other humans, it is done to break the chain of transmission of the covid-19 virus. The wisdom of the Indonesian government to eliminate face-to-face learning at both the university and school levels and replace it with online learning makes a decrease in visits and utilization of libraries by the library. With this fact, a strategy is needed so that libraries, especially college libraries, can still act as the heart of the college. One of the service strategies that libraries can do in this pandemic period is to provide virtual reference services. Virtual reference services are one of the strategies of high learning libraries by providing online reference services so that they can still be accessed anywhere in the world.

Hospital Food Service Strategies to Improve Food Intakes among Inpatients: A Systematic Review

This review aims to identify hospital food service strategies to improve food consumption among hospitalized patients. A systematic search that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria was manually conducted through Web of Science and Scopus by an author, and the ambiguities were clarified by two senior authors. The quality assessment was separately conducted by two authors, and the ambiguities were clarified with all the involved authors. Qualitative synthesis was used to analyze and summarized the findings. A total of 2432 articles were identified by searching the databases, and 36 studies were included. The majority of the studies applied menu modifications and meal composition interventions (n = 12, 33.3%), or included the implementation of the new food service system (n = 8, 22.2%), protected mealtimes, mealtime assistance and environmental intervention (n = 7, 19.4%), and attractive meal presentation (n = 3, 8.3%). Previous studies that used multidisciplinary approaches reported a significant improvement in food intake, nutritional status, patient satisfaction and quality of life (n = 6, 16.7%). In conclusion, it is suggested that healthcare institutions consider applying one or more of the listed intervention strategies to enhance their foodservice operation in the future.

Covid-19 e os desafios dos pequenos negócios: um estudo sobre as estratégias de atendimento utilizadas pelo Sebrae-MA / Covid-19 and the challenges of small businesses: a study on the service strategies used by Sebrae-MA

A pandemia da doença Covid-19 colocou a prova todas as empresas no mundo, tornando as estratégias em situações de crise, um fator de sobrevivência em vários sentidos. Foi nesse contexto, que o presente trabalho buscou abordar conceitos que envolvem o Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas no Estado do Maranhão (Sebrae-MA) e os pequenos negócios, propriamente ditos, por meio de referências de Gestão de Crise na elaboração de estratégias de Relacionamento com o Cliente e a relação desses elementos com o trabalho desenvolvido pela Instituição, buscando identificar as medidas elaboradas pela mesma, para o enfrentamento da pandemia; fazendo a caracterização do processo de digitalização para assim, compreender como isso contribuiu na continuidade dos serviços prestados; além de avaliar a eficácia das ações realizadas a partir dos resultados obtidos durante o período em que o estudo foi aplicado. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa de natureza descritiva, tendo sido feito o um amplo referencial bibliográfico e também investigativo, por meio da pesquisa in loco realizada na Sede do Sebrae-MA, a fim de analisar se as ações empregadas pelo referido órgão, para minimizar os efeitos ocasionados pelo coronavírus nos pequenos negócios, foram relevantes e, dessa forma, proporcionar uma reflexão sobre a capacidade de superação tanto do Sebrae, quanto das Micro e Pequenas Empresas. E dessa forma, observar quando as medidas adotadas são assertivas e bem empregadas, proporcionando bons resultados e garantindo a continuidade do empreendimento.

Pengaruh Store Atmosphere, Harga Produk Terhadap Kepuasan Pelanggan Di Minimarket Alfamidi Taman Pondok Jati Sidoarjo

Background - Retail development in the digital era occurs in business competitors, namely minimarkets and department stores. Before the existence of minimarkets, people were more interested in shopping at traditional markets, but now there is technological development, so many people or consumers move to modern markets. Purpose - This study discusses the Store Atmosphere, product prices on customer satisfaction Alfamidi Minimarket Taman Pondok Jati Taman Sidoarjo. Design / Methodology / Approach - The research sample is 84 respondents, where the respondents here are visitors who do shopping at the Alfamidi Taman Pondok Jati minimarket, Sidoarjo. The research analysis uses the Multiple Linear Regression approach. The reliability and validity test of the questionnaire was carried out to enforce the accuracy of the questionnaire given to the respondents. Results and Discussion - The results of this study for partial hypothesis testing of store atmosphere variables, product prices affect customer satisfaction. A comfortable, safe atmosphere, affordable prices, and satisfying service will influence customers to return to the Minimarket. Conclusion - Product diversity is the completeness of the goods sold and the availability of the goods. So the Alfamidi Taman Pondok Jati Taman Sidoarjo Minimarket, the more diverse its products are complete and the satisfying service, the more sales will increase. Research Implications - Research can be used as a reference for franchise companies in enforcing problems in the retail sector, namely evaluation materials for (a) Companies that establish franchises (b) Alfamidi Minimarket Services as a retail sales place to meet community needs (c) Determine service strategies, product prices and marketing for the company.