The book “Supply Chain Finance Solutions” offers orientation in the new discipline of Supply Chain Finance (SCF) by investigating the need for and nature of SCF, along with its characteristics and enablers. Due to the novelty of the Supply Chain Finance approach, there are still many knowledge gaps. This lack of research leads to uncertainties about the successful implementation of SCF solutions within companies as there is little quantified evidence on the achievable cost savings and other potential benefits. The authors close this gap by providing the latest information on business concepts and the SCF market. Based on a sample SCF model, the worldwide market size for such solutions and potential cost savings to companies engaged in SCF are analyzed. The work underlines the generally agreed-upon attractiveness and future relevance of SCF solutions by creating win-win situations; for all actors in the end-to-end supply chain as well as for external service providers.

This book focuses on how supply chain finance serves and improves industrial supply chain and financial activities of SMEs in China from innovative perspective. How does supply chain finance empower SMEs? What is the basis for granting credit to SMEs? What kind of supply chain finance model can most effectively support SMEs? To address the above questions, this book adopts positivism, uses an inductive method and carries out case studies through qualitative analysis. At the end of book, the author concludes although many successful cases of supply chain finance could be found, it needs further testing and revision in practice for more enterprises due to its limits.

Globalization no longer means simply finding low-cost countries for sourcing, but has involved to include the opportunity for growth in Asia’s emerging domestic markets, specifically China. This development results in extended, truly global supply chains and thus places a higher pressure on working capital. Therefore, several definitions of Supply Chain Management already encompass financial aspects and demand a more integrated consideration of material, information, and financial flows within supply chains. However, more precise theory on “Supply Chain Financing” is understudied and initial implementation of related solutions in industry has only gained momentum during and after the economic and financial crises of 2008 and 2009. In contrast to traditional financial instruments for supply chains – for instance trade finance products which have been around for more than a century – Supply Chain Financing leverages larger and influential members of supply chains. These firms might, for instance, provide easier and cheaper access to financing for smaller supply chain members supporting their profitability through renegotiated and reduced purchasing prices. Echoing recent research results on supply chain risk management, other firms may prefer to take on a supply chain perspective and work on creating agile and resilient supply chains. In this context, Supply Chain Financing can be employed to ensure liquidity for crucial upstream and downstream supply chain partners thereby allowing a firm to effectively control risk while making the most of remaining growth opportunities in emerging markets like China!

This book investigates how the Blockchain Technology (BCT) for Supply Chain Finance (SCF) programs allows businesses to come together in partnerships and accelerate cash flows throughout the supply chain. BCT promises to change the way individuals and corporations exchange value and information over the Internet, and is perfectly positioned to enable new levels of collaboration among the supply chain actors. The book reveals new opportunities stemming from the application of BCT to SCF financing solutions, particularly reverse factoring – or approved payables financing. To do so, it first identifies the principal barriers and pain points in delivering financing solutions. Then, a possible blockchain-driven supply chain model is defined. Using this framework, the book subsequently discusses relevant use cases for the technology, which could open up new opportunities in the SCF space. It demonstrates that blockchain and distributed ledgers technologies could deliver substantial benefits for all parties involved in SCF transactions, promising to expedite the processes and lower the overall costs of financing programs. Industry giants such as IBM, Maersk, China-based Dianrong and FnConn (a Foxconn subsidiary) are currently working to digitize the global, cross-border supply chain using blockchain technology, and will likely soon create blockchain platforms for supply chain finance. These solutions aim to reduce complexity and make data sharing more secure, accurate and efficient. This book offers a highly topical resource for stakeholders across the entire supply chain, helping them prepare for the upcoming technological revolution.

This book focuses on the connotation and the basic structure of smart supply chain finance and on this basis, systematically explores the elements of smart supply chain finance innovation, and further proposes a five-dimensional model for the realization of smart supply chain finance-SMART. The book also explores the risk management issues of smart supply chain finance from the perspective of industrial risk management.

Financing the End-to-End Supply Chain provides readers with a real insight into the increasingly important area of supply chain finance. It demonstrates the importance of the strategic relationship between the physical supply of goods and services and the associated financial flows. The book provides a clear introduction, demonstrating the importance of the strategic relationship between supply chain and financial communities within an organization. It contains vital information on how supply chain finance is operationalised and put into place. It is written in a user-friendly style, starting with the purchasing function, and linking together treasury, banking, supply chain, systems, IT, and key stakeholders. Financing the End-to-End Supply Chain will help senior supply chain and procurement practitioners to build collaboration, improve relationships and enhance trust between supply chain partners. With its combination of theory and practice it tackles vital issues including physical, information and financial flows, and tailoring supply chain finance to individual organisations' circumstances. Recognising that supply chain finance means different things in different countries, the authors also consider various initiatives to harmonize and develop cross-border financing from the World Bank and other institutions, as well as including an agenda for national and international policy makers. Financing the End-to-End Supply Chain offers a mix of academic and industrial expertise and is written by three authors who are experts in the field. The book contains ground-breaking research and data from the Cranfield School of Management.

Supply Chain Finance is a contributed book looking at the two major perspectives of managing finance across the supply chain. The first is more short-term, focused on accounts payables and receivables. The second is a more overarching perspective, focused on working capital optimization in terms of inventory and asset management. It includes chapters from a variety of research perspectives, as well as from business and policymakers. The authors look at the benefits of the supply chain finance approach including reduction of working capital, access to more funding at lower costs, risk reduction, as well as an increase of trust, commitment, and profitability through the chain. Supply Chain Finance includes theory as well as practical case studies addressing advances in the area of supply chain finance. The editors and contributors look at how to design and implement supply chain finance in supply chains and examine what the future holds for this important area. Online supporting resources include self-test multiple-choice and essay questions for each chapter.

Finance and Risk Management for International Logistics and the Supply Chain presents a detailed overview of financial and risk management tools, activity-based costing, and multi-criteria decision-making, providing comprehensive guidance for those researching and working in logistics and supply chain management. The book breaks new ground, combining the expertise of leading authorities to analyze and navigate the funding components for these critical transportation functions. As the international logistics and supply chain transportation fields have recently received heavy investments, this research and the theory behind it provide a timely update on risk management, finance and legal and environmental impacts. Users will find sections that address the wide-ranging issues related to this emerging field that are presented from an international and holistic perspective. - Provides a valuable reference covering the full slate of financial issues of interest to global players in the international transport, logistics and supply chain industries - Covers a truly international perspective, addressing a diverse variety of worldwide transport, logistics and supply chain contexts - Features finance and risk-management strategies related to the banking industry, exchange rates, fuel prices, climate-related funding, freight derivatives and legal aspects

As globalization continues to rapidly evolve, economic borders between countries have practically disappeared. One effect is that nowadays companies can access new markets by investing in other countries. This offers an important advantage especially for international and large-scale companies. However, one result is the increased market competition. Small-scale local firms and SMEs have to compete with international firms and corporations that have significantly more resources. This competitive environment jeopardizes the sustainability of the smaller companies, which often are driven out of business by the more powerful global players. This book discusses financial strategies for small and middle size companies to increase their competitiveness in the global markets.