Supply chain issues: can you bring things closer to home?

Are you facing supply chain challenges? One way to ease these pressures is to go local with your suppliers. There can be key benefits of de-globalising your supply chain.

Global supply chain challenges are changing the reality of doing business.

It’s increasingly tough to source raw materials, supplies and products in the right quantities. When your supply chain breaks down in this way, it can have serious consequences for your business.

So how do you combat the supply chain problems, while also tackling the additional issues of increasing costs, rising inflation, climate change and a forecasted global slowdown? One way is to de-globalise your supply chain, as we’ll explain.

What’s causing these supply chain problems?

It doesn’t take much to throw a spanner in the works of a smooth-running supply chain. A scarcity of a particular raw material or ingredient can quickly de-rail an efficient chain of supply, causing delays to deliveries, raising demand and pushing a rise in prices.

We are currently facing a perfect storm:

  • The Covid-19 pandemic – very few industries were prepared for the massive impact of the Covid pandemic. Many sectors and key industries were forced to shut down completely. Staffing levels dropped as employees fell ill. A large number of businesses were faced with falling revenues and poor cashflow. Some sectors are still not functioning at full capacity, which is holding back production and slowing down deliveries.
  • The problem of globalisation – cheaper air travel and improved freight conditions for shipping has turned the world into one giant global market. You can buy bananas from Costa Rica, lamb from New Zealand and gas from Russia. During normal conditions, this works fine. But faced with the growing threat of climate change, and the huge carbon footprint of a global supply chain, global exports are no longer a sustainable option. To combat this, many sectors are aiming to de-globalise their imports and exports – but the infrastructure that’s needed for a whole industry to de-globalise won’t appear overnight.
  • Geo-political issues in key territories – with so many global supply routes still in place, any unexpected geo-political changes can have a profound effect. The Ukraine/Russia conflict may have been brewing for years, but no-one was expecting out-and-out war. This terrible conflict is costing lives, but it’s also having a damaging effect on world trade. As a major supply of oil and gas, sanctions against Russia are pushing up energy prices. And with Ukraine being a key exporter of corn, Russian blockades in the port of Odessa are reducing grain supplies and pushing up prices.

In business, we crave stability. Uncertainty and surprise threats are the enemy.

A move to local supply chains and greener operations

De-globalising your supply chain and ‘going local’ with your providers is one key option.

By de-globalising your supply chain you can:

  • Switch to local suppliers – review your current supplier network and gauge how reliant you are on international and overseas providers. Where possible, build a local supply chain that removes some of the key problems of being reliant on an international supplier network.
  • Cut down on delivery times – If you can find suppliers who are based closer to you, you might be able to cut down on delivery times and speed up the efficiency of the whole supply chain.
  • Reduce the cost of logistics – shipping, air freight and logistics costs can all be slimmed down if you’re working with a local supplier. The additional logistics costs of being part of a globalised chain can be significant. Choosing a local supplier removes some of these costs entirely, and reduces your main delivery expenses.
  • Simplify your tax and customs costs – When you import and export across borders, you’ll almost certainly find yourself paying customs fees and some form of goods & services tax (GST) or value-added tax (VAT). If you can find a national supplier within your own territory, you simplify the whole customs and excise process and reduce your liability to cross-border taxes too.
  • Reduce your carbon footprint – one of the big drivers of going local is the business focus on becoming greener and more sustainable. By going local, you reduce the air miles that your supplies cover. This cuts back your logistics-driven carbon footprint and helps you meet your sustainability targets. Which is good for marketing too!

And just in case you wonder how we can assist, check out our list of services here.

The Ultimate Bookkeeping Impact Checklist: The Top 22 Ways To Know If It’s Time To Level-Up Your Bookkeeping Support Team So You Can Achieve More Of Your Purpose

Is your current bookkeeping and finance
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We’ve Helped These Clients Focus Less On Their Finances, And More On Their Purpose

Here’s what they had to say:

We have had an enduring
relationship because Clare goes
beyond being just a “service
provider”.

The team at Purposely are always
invested in my clients and my own
organisations success. They partner
with their customers, accountants
and auditors to deliver tailored
solutions and they are always
proactive in their approach. If you are
looking for dedication and a long-
term partnership, these are the guys
for you.

Varis K.

VLK Accounting

We engaged with Clare and the
team to bring our organisation
into the cloud and we haven’t
looked back since.

It’s now 4 years down the track and
the Purposely team continue to
provide such an invaluable service to
our business. They understand the
complexities of working with remote
organisations and they handle
everything we need with the greatest
sensitivity. From bookkeeping, to
payroll to assisting us with all our
audit queries. They have changed the
way we operate for the better.

Anna and Steve H.

Noonkanbah Aboriginal Corporation

Purposely has looked after my
business for a long time now and
I am very happy with the service.

They are very professional and I know
things are always up to date. Clare
and her staff are great to deal with
and I trust them, that’s important. I
would not be in business today if I did
not find them.

Les R.

Quic Dig (WA) Pty Ltd

Nothing is too much trouble!

I have never felt so supported in
business… Since joining forces with
Purposely, I have become more
financially aware, have a much better
understanding of my own business
and my cash flow has improved
tenfold. [They] really have my
business’s best interests at heart.

Kellie G.

A* Star Cleanings

Purposely have been 
(and remain) invaluable to us in
making sure that this part of our
business is handled efficiently 
and with careful attention
to detail.

Paying our casual workers on time is
critical to the success of our business.
Mistakes and delays are not easy to
absorb in a small business and it’s a
great comfort to us that Purposely 
feel the same way. Timely, accurate
advice to help our business run
smoothly!

Dirima C.

Dortch & Cuthbert Trading Trust

The integrity of the Purposely
team is beyond question and we
know we can always rely on them
to prioritise the best interests of
our organisation.

Marrugeku engaged with Purposely in
2017 to handle all our bookkeeping
and payroll requirements. They
consistently show up, week in week
out with efficiency and good humour.
Even during the challenging times
faced by the entertainment industry
due to COVID-19, Purposely supported
us all the way. The Purposely team
work hard to manage the complexities 
of payroll for staff in Live
Performance. And each year they
strive to achieve a smooth audit, 
showing their dedication.

Guy B.

Marrugeku Inc.

The team at Purposely has been
a crucial resource to our
business. When we first started
working with them our books
needed dedicated attention.

Purposely did an amazing job at
bringing them up to date, making
things tidy and accurate. The team is
always reliable and consistently get
the work done. While their persistent
reminders may sometimes feel like
hounding, we recognise that it is
precisely what our business needs.
We highly recommend them for their
professionalism and commitment to
delivering results.

Holly G.

Cameron Herbert Constructions Pty Ltd

I have been working with
Purposely for a couple of years
now and in this time the team
has shown significant support to
me and my business.

Their technical expertise has helped me get my business in order leaving me to focus on what I do best. They communicate on a weekly basis so I know where things are at and what is yet to be done. Everything is completed and lodged on time and in full. I trust that they handle my data confidentially and would recommend them to anyone who is seeking the “next level” in terms of a bookkeeper.

Luke D.V.

Swat Suspension Wheel & Tyre Pty Ltd

I’m an exercise physiologist,
extremely busy and very
successful and wouldn’t be
where I am today without the
help of Purposely.

They have saved me a lot of time and
money helping my business to become
more streamlined and efficient, which
has saved me a lot of stress. I would
highly recommend Purposely as they
are very professional and very easy to
deal with.

Chris A.

Chris Anastasios Exercise Physiology

We have been working with Clare
and her team for the last 6 years.

Our initial contact with them came
from the difficulties we faced in
integrating our point of sale system
with our accounting software. We
required someone with technical
expertise to fix this issue, and Clare
immediately got on with the job. Since
then, Clare and her team have shown
commitment to adapt to our evolving
needs and implement effective
systems and processes, all of which
have contributed to enhancing our
overall operations.

Vanessa A.

Think Water Broome

We had no second thoughts on choosing Purposely.

My biggest pain point was not having clarity on the business financials from the previous bookkeepers. It was frustrating to try to communicate with them regarding anything. That’s when we found Purposely (Clare), our first impression was she was very professional and knowledgeable on what she does. We now have clarity, trust and good communication whether it comes to processing the payroll or bookkeeping or even sorting out the invoices. Clare and her team are always there to support and help and simplify things for us.

Bikram P.

Dragonfly Cafe

We have been dealing with Clare and Purposely for over 4 years because they handle the bookkeeping for one of our clients.

We can thoroughly recommend them to anyone that needs an efficient, accurate and easy to work with bookkeeper. We have always found their work to be of the highest quality.

Peter W.

Accounting on Tap Pty Ltd

I have nothing but praise for Clare & the team, they have always bent over backwards to help.

Myself & my business have been involved with Purposely for many years now after our internal Book-keeper decided to retire & suggested I look into what was/is Purposely. Purposely are Kimberley locals & understand how difficult it can be working remotely to run a business in this part of Australia. The team adapted to my requests & business style very quickly and I have to admit I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with due to the remote nature of our work & my lack of computer skills. GND will continue to use Purposely for the foreseeable future of our business.

Sam C.

Great Northern Demolition Pty Ltd

Since we started working with Purposely in 2018, we’ve witnessed their unique approach to bookkeeping which sets them apart.

Their commitment to due diligence and technical expertise exceeds the standards of traditional bookkeeping models. Their thoroughness extends beyond skilful application and experience, encompassing excellent communication with both clients and their accountants/auditors. With an experienced staff member always at hand, they provide a reliable asset to any organization fortunate enough to collaborate with them. Purposely offers an outstanding solution for organizations seeking outsourced financial management, whether it be for partial or comprehensive support.

Desiree M.

Male & Co

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