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Supply

The meaning of the word supply depends on the context in which it is used. Broadly speaking, it means to provide something. In business, the thing supplied is a good or service with the recipient being a customer, business, or market.

Supply, in economic terms, describes the total amount of a specific good or service that is available to all its consumers in a market. It is closely related to and gains meaning from the term Demand, the need or want for a product or service. Supply assumes there is demand i.e. without the desire for a product there is no economic justification for its supply.

The interaction between supply and demand can determine the price of a product or service in a market. When there is adequate supply i.e. equal to or more than demand then the price may remain stable. However, if there is inadequate supply i.e. less than demand then the price may rise. Please note that pricing is a very complex mechanism, used by businesses, that depends on many factors that may have little or nothing to do with the demand-supply gap for a product/service.

Supply also has meaning in strategic planning for information technology. IT Organization supplies IT Products and Services to the other functions in the business. In a way, the goal of IT Strategy is to balance the supply and demand for IT products and services in an organization, and the objective of IT Governance is to ensure this happens.


What is the definition of supply in business?

In simple words, supply refers to the amount of a product or service that is available for purchase. Supply can be defined in terms of quantity, quality, and location.

The following are examples of how supply affects businesses:

  1. Quantity: When the quantity of a product or service decreases, prices will increase to make up for the lost revenue. This is often referred to as price gouging.
  2. Quality: If too much low-quality product is available on the market at once, the quality of the product will suffer. This leads to unhappy customers, lost sales, and possible lawsuits.
  3. Location: Changes in supply can cause businesses to relocate or expand their operations. This is often referred to as market saturation or overcapacity.

Supply in business refers to the act of providing goods or services to customers.

Supply can be provided in various ways, such as through direct sales, indirect sales, or a distribution channel.

Supply chains are important in business because they help ensure the timely and accurate delivery of goods to customers.

Businesses must ensure that they have a well-functioning system in place to ensure that all elements of the supply chain are operating properly.

What is the list of factors that affect supply in business?

1. Geography

Geography and location affect supply because they can impact the cost of production and transportation. For example, if a company wants to source its products from overseas, it will need to factor in the cost of shipping. The availability of raw materials can also affect supply. For example, if a company needs a specific type of metal to manufacture its products and that metal is only found in one location, then the company's supply may be limited by the availability of that metal. Factors that affect supply in business include geographic location, which can affect the availability and cost of goods and services.

2. Industry

Factors that affect the supply of goods in business include the structure of the industry, raw material availability, machines and equipment availability, and labor. For example, in the clothing industry, raw materials such as fabric and buttons are often unavailable in large quantities. If this is the case, then it can lead to a shortage of supplies of clothing which in turn can affect prices and demand for products. Additionally, if there are a limited number of sewing machines available for use in an industry, then production costs will be higher as workers must pay more for equipment. Finally, labor availability is also crucial to production; if there are not enough workers available to meet the demand for products then prices will rise as businesses have to pay more for employees.

3. Competition

Competition affects supply because it determines how much of a product or service is available and at what price. The law of supply and demand is a basic economic principle that explains the relationship between supply and demand for goods and services, and how this affects prices.

When competition is strong it affects supply because companies have to offer more to get customers' attention. This is what happened with the airline industry after 9/11 when many people stopped flying. The airlines had to offer deals and discounts to get people back on planes.

However, with a decrease in competition supply is affected because companies can get away with charging more. This is what happened with gasoline prices after Hurricane Katrina.

When competition increases, businesses may experience a decrease in revenue. However, by understanding market supply curves and making informed decisions about pricing and production, businesses can overcome this obstacle.

4. Technology

Information technology affects supply because it provides a means for businesses to communicate with suppliers and customers more efficiently. This can lead to lower prices for goods and services, as well as faster delivery times. Additionally, IT can help businesses track inventory levels and trends, which can help them anticipate customer demand and adjust their production accordingly.

The most important technology that affects supply is the internet, which has made it easier for businesses to connect with suppliers and customers all over the world. The internet has also made it possible for businesses to sell their products and services online, which can help them reach a larger audience.

Technology affects the supply of goods by helping to automate processes and standardize operations. Resilient businesses "bounce forward, not back" due to their technology-enabled supply chains. Digital infrastructure is key to rebuilding outdated supply chains.

5. Regulations

Regulations affect supply because they can limit the amount of a product that a company can produce. For example, if there are environmental regulations that limit the amount of pollution a factory can create, the factory will have to limit its output. This will in turn limit the amount of product the factory can produce, and thus affect the supply.

Regulations restricting the types of materials businesses can source, how they can be sourced, and the conditions under which those materials must be delivered

Regulations requiring businesses to take specific actions when sourcing or importing goods, such as verifying the identity of suppliers or certifying that materials will not cause environmental harm

6. Transportation Infrastructure

Transportation infrastructure affects supply because it can determine how quickly and easily goods can be moved to market. A lack of good roads, for example, can make it difficult for farmers to get their crops to market in a timely manner, which can reduce the supply of fresh produce.

7. State of the Economy

The state of the economy also affects supply. When the economy is doing well, businesses are more likely to invest in new equipment and hire more workers, which can increase the supply of goods and services. However, when the economy is struggling, businesses may cut back on production and lay off workers, which

Six factors that affect supply in business include production capacity, material availability, transportation infrastructure, labor resources, consumer demand, and economic conditions. To manage these factors successfully in a supply chain, businesses must identify and assess their current situation and then develop strategic plans to address any obstacles or disruptions.

7. Production Capacity

Production capacity affects supply because it's the number of products a company can produce. The law of supply and demand affects prices, and production capacity affects how much product a company can make.

With an increase in production capacity supply increases while with a decrease in production capacity, supply decreases.

8. Material Availability

Supply is affected by the availability of raw materials because it is the availability of these materials that limits production. If there are no raw materials, then production cannot take place. The cost of these raw materials also affects supply because if the cost of these materials rises, then the cost of production will also rise and this will lead to a decrease in supply. The technology available also affects supply because if there is a new technology that makes production more efficient, then this will lead to an increase in supply.

9. Consumer Demand

Consumer demand affects supply because it tells producers how much to make. If there is more demand for a product than what is available, the price of the product goes up. The law of supply and demand is one of the most basic principles of economics and it is the backbone of a market economy. An increase in consumer demand results in an increase in production, which leads to a decrease in prices. A decrease in demand results in less production and an increase in prices. The law of supply and demand is one of the most basic principles of economics and it is the backbone of a market economy.




See Also

  1. Demand: This is the natural counterpart to supply, highlighting the relationship between the quantity of a product that producers wish to sell and the quantity that consumers wish to buy.
  2. Supply Chain: This refers to the entire network of entities, directly or indirectly interlinked and interdependent in serving the same consumer or customer.
  3. Supply Chain Management (SCM): The management of the flow of goods and services, encompassing all processes that transform raw materials into final products.
  4. Elasticity of Supply: measures the responsiveness of the quantity supplied to a change in the price of a good.
  5. Equilibrium: The point where supply and demand meet and prices stabilize.
  6. Surplus: A situation where the quantity supplied exceeds the quantity demanded at a specified price.
  7. Shortage: Opposite of surplus, it's when the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied.
  8. Law of Supply: The principle that, all else being equal, an increase in the price of a good will increase the quantity supplied, and a decrease in price will decrease the quantity supplied.
  9. Production Function: A function that specifies the output of a firm, industry, or entire economy for all combinations of inputs.
  10. Factors of Production: Resources used in the production of goods and services, such as labor, capital, and raw materials.
  11. Inventory Management: The supervision of non-capitalized assets (inventory) and stock items.
  12. Just-in-time (JIT): An inventory management system that aims to have materials or products arrive or be produced exactly when needed, reducing stock holding costs.
  13. Opportunity Cost: The value of the best alternative forgone when a choice is made.



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