USA
Undoubtedly, ZTE USA has experienced exponential growth. However, despite the pressing challenges of a growing supply chain and brand name, ZTE USA has remarkably achieved this success without extra manpower. “ZTE volumes in the US have grown over 70% in terms of units delivered from 2016 to 2017, but we’ve done it with the same amount of people,” notes Finerty. “If you’re managing your business in the right away and you have the systems in place to do that, you don’t necessarily need more people to ship more pallets. You just need better preparation, better communication and better planning.” Global Footprint The company’s burgeoning size has not only been advantageous for its bottom line, it has also helped ZTE USA develop strategic partnerships thanks to its growing brand. “I think we have great opportunities to leverage just the sheer size of ZTE,” reflects Finerty. “We have a lot of established supply relationships so when we go to the table to meet
with companies - whether it’s somebody stateside or a global brand - that relationship is already established and I’d say that’s really one of the big positives.” Whilst the company’s immense size can be valuable, it also poses its challenges. “We can have some communication challenges, in terms of finding out if there are supply issues,” says Finerty. “For instance, the overall cultural differences between China and the US can also present some complications. It’s really incumbent upon the US team to learn how the Chinese teams operate and how it’s best to communicate with our counterparts in Asia. I think for those of us, like myself, who have been here several years, we’re still learning, but we are progressing well. I think that’s valuable from a talent perspective for ZTE USA.” By utilizing its digital tools and data, ZTE USA has taken an intuitive approach to its supply chain, delivering purchase orders early if possible and supplying surplus stock during promotion periods. “If you’re always presenting how you
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