Virtual buying cooperative: A procurement model for improving the sustainability of very small retailers in emerging economies

We hereby present a technology model for improving the traditional supply chain process on which small enterprises in developing countries rely-upon for stock replenishment. Current procurement processes for small enterprises in emergmg economies are fostered by the lack of direct access to market and social factors influencing these enterprises. Social factors such as lack of access to technology and supply risks lead these enterprises to profit loss from stock-outs when there aren't enough products to meet consumers' demands. The model we present aims to reduce the negative impact of these social factors on the growth potential as well as sustainability of these enterprises. We base the motivation of the development of our model on the social factors that influence the business activities of very small enterprises in emerging economies. We demonstrate that the proposed model can leverage on traditional procurement processes which currently limit the performance of very small enterprises in emerging economies.