Supplier-buyer relationship dynamics in supply chain management

The supply chain is rapidly becoming complex in the new era of procurement. The effects of recent disruptions such as climate change, COVID-19, and the ongoing crisis in Europe have led many businesses to re-think their business operations. Manufacturers are now working with many suppliers in the effort to reduce the price to maintain healthy margins, keep up with ever-changing customer demands and reduce risk. Working with multiple suppliers comes with its hurdles as it requires the building of supplier-buyer relationships. It is therefore important for procurement professionals to deploy a systematic approach in their sourcing strategy. The supplier relationship management (SRM) concept is an approach that allows the establishment of a mutually valuable relationship with an organisation and its key suppliers. Successful implementation of SRM in an organisation can enable an organisation to achieve reduced long-term costs, improve availability issues, improve quality, and reduce delays in supply. However, SRM is not easy to implement as it requires an extensive and mutual understanding of buyer and supplier processes, and human and technical resources. The purpose of this study is to determine factors that influence supplier-buyer relationship dynamics in supplier relationship management across the supply chain function of a business