he Usage of E-Procurement in Sri Lanka Apparel Supply Chain and its Impact; Case Study

Abstract

Advances in the supply chain can improve the quality and efficiency of physical, informa- tional, and financial flows. Technical innovation brings significant changes to the structure of connections between vendors, manufacturers, distributors, intermediaries, consumers, and organizations, as well as productivity benefits. Organizations must maintain an effective procurement process to reduce overheads, stay updated on market conditions, and purchase products and services at the best prices. E-Procurement, a technology enabling corporate purchasing over the Internet, provides organizations with a range of advantages and performance enhancements. However, Organizations must overcome obstacles to successfully use E-procurement functions. Even though there has been a lot of research done on e-procurement, the Sri Lankan context was not common. The apparel sector was chosen as it has been regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s most vital industries. This paper focused on the usage of E-procurement and its impact on the development of the industry. Data gathered from industry professionals to inspire Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the apparel manufacturing sector to improve their productivity via E-procurement and to enter the market as well. The article further elaborates on the factors affecting implementation, challenges in usage, and the impact of E-Procurement strategies on the performance of the apparel supply chain. The findings of this research will elaborate the how leading apparel manufacturers have implemented E-procurement and the benefits and challenges they have identified throughout the usage. Also, this article will discuss how to overcome the challenges of E-procurement and how SMEs can inspire to increase their productivity and efficiency