During the procurement process, the following situations often occur: the supplier notifies the supplier of delayed delivery at short notice and gives a variety of reasons, including problems with the production line, the inability of raw materials to arrive in time, and the need for time to deal with emergencies. In the face of delayed delivery by suppliers, e-commerce companies can determine their response strategies according to the situation. For example, if the procurement task is not very urgent, the supplier is delayed in delivery, and the e-commerce company can postpone payment.
The e-commerce company is the buyer, the supplier is the seller, and the consumer is the third party. If the e-commerce company is unable to supply goods to consumers in time due to the supplier’s delayed delivery, the supplier must bear the liability for breach of contract in accordance with relevant regulations. At the same time, the e-commerce company should communicate with the supplier in a timely manner, determine accurate information, explain the situation to the consumer, and compensate the consumer for the losses caused by the delayed delivery. Once the problem of supplier delayed delivery occurs, if the e-commerce company wants to protect its legitimate rights and interests, it should start from the following three aspects.
(1) Communicate with the supplier in a timely manner and determine accurate information
The e-commerce company should require the supplier to give a specific delivery date. If the goods are not very urgent, the supplier can delay delivery, but must bear the liability for breach of contract in accordance with regulations. If the supplier is one that the e-commerce company has not cooperated with before, the e-commerce company should consider whether to terminate the cooperation with the supplier after this cooperation.
(2) Timely reporting of information to consumers
If the e-commerce company is unable to deliver goods to consumers on time due to overdue delivery, the e-commerce company should explain the reason to the consumer. In addition, the e-commerce company should also show the consumer that it cherishes the cooperative relationship between the two parties and will do its utmost to avoid similar incidents in the future
(3) Grasp the attitude and principles of handling problems
E-commerce companies should not avoid problems, actively communicate with suppliers, and jointly develop appropriate remedial plans. At the same time, e-commerce companies should always strictly control quality
Suppliers’ overdue delivery will indeed affect the e-commerce company’s production plan. From the perspective of the contract, e-commerce companies should safeguard their legitimate rights and interests and take measures against suppliers in accordance with the terms previously agreed. In addition, e-commerce companies should think about potential risks before problems arise and develop emergency warning plans
E-commerce companies should start with daily supply chain management and strengthen cooperation with suppliers. Before signing a contract, e-commerce companies should review suppliers to ensure that their goods meet procurement standards. After signing the contract, e-commerce companies must promptly connect with suppliers in procurement, order tracking, quality inspection, logistics and other links, and try their best to control the quality and delivery time of the goods. In terms of delivery, e-commerce companies are advised to reserve sufficient time in the contract to avoid overdue delivery as much as possible.
Tips
Procurement can ensure the normal operation of the supply chain, and also put forward requirements for suppliers to deliver on time. Therefore, e-commerce companies should take precautions in contracts and order tracking to fully safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. If the supplier really wants to deliver overdue, the e-commerce company must communicate with it and strive to solve the problem as quickly as possible.