The rise of home grown e-tailers and international online platforms such as Amazon, eBay and even Gumtree, have not only given consumers the ability to access a broader range of products, they also enable them to purchase less expensively and more conveniently than through traditional bricks and mortar retailers. A consequence of this, is that these e-tailers and online platforms have also provided resellers with an alternative channel to access to product.
A survey of 7000 resellers across EMEA and ANZ by Supply chain research organisation ‘Context’, highlighted that resellers are procuring on average 10% of their products through these platforms, with the predominant drivers being availability and price. In this CRN article, Simon Sharwood examines the question, if a vendor can partner with an Amazon to reach resellers and consumers, what value does a distributor provide?
