How to become a system integrator streamlining vegetable supply chains: The case of Songxiaocai Company

Abstract

The traditional vegetable supply chain in China has many weaknesses, both in the upstream and downstream parts. To change this situation, Songxiaocai Company, a B2B trading platform for vegetables, innovatively solved the problems in the traditional vegetable supply chain by designing an ICT-enabled, demand-driven supply chain underpinned by an advanced ICT architecture design. However, with the expansion of business, Songxiaocai is also facing some difficult challenges. This teaching case shows the supply chain and business model innovations of Songxiaocai, provides a vivid example of how a platform company provides end-to-end supply chain service and can be used to teach graduate/postgraduate students specializing in agricultural economics, agricultural e-commerce and vegetable supply chain management.