The Role of Supplier Relationship in improving Supply Chain Performance in Retail Pharmacies in Lusaka District, Zambia

Abstract

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) is pivotal in uplifting the supply chain performance for retail pharmacies in and around Lusaka, as it primarily is. The cornerstone of this advancement is the sturdy connection pharmacies maintain with their suppliers. This link is further developed by means of successful communication, collaboration, risk management, cost savings, and a generally rolling supply chain system. This study particularly deals with the importance of a refined SRM strategy through real-life instances, and meticulous research collaboration and industry reports have been made use of. To assess the extent of supplier relationship management's impact on the supply chain performance of Lusaka province's retail pharmacies in Zambia. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design to find out the role of supplier relationship management in enhancing the supply chain performance of retail pharmacies in the Lusaka district, Zambia. The sample consisted of 50 retail pharmacies located in Lusaka, which were all officially registered in Zambia. The researchers gathered data, with quantitative data being processed through descriptive statistics, which included percentage distributions, means, and frequency counts. Moreover, the relationship between dependent and independent variables was depicted through Multiple Regression Analysis. The results showed that the major factor was resilient shipping in promoting the collaboration and performance of retail pharmacies and their suppliers across Lusaka. Furthermore, the research also confirmed that the honest strengthening of supplier collaboration significantly brings about retail pharmacies' quantitative change in the Lusaka district. Key Words: supplier, relationship, supply chain, performance, retail, pharmacy