Companies across various industry sectors are having to reconsider their business strategies to increase and sustain their competitive edge in the global market by utilising new and alternative sourcing, procurement and contract manufacturing practices.

Businesses can typically expect to yield 10-35% cost savings through global sourcing and procurement and gain access to latest technology and manufacturing capabilities without personal investment.

Vivek has provided his insight and guidance to many companies across various industry sectors to strategically plan and implement their global sourcing, procurement and contract manufacturing requirements.

1. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the sourcing, procurement and contract manufacturing (CM) processes from Request For Information (RFI) through to Request For Proposal (RFP) to enable you to create an executable strategy.
2. Understand the pre-deal and post-deal challenges involved in global sourcing, such as Geographical complexities, Lead time, Culture and Language, Rules and Regulations, additional Transactional costs, Transportation and Logistics, Payment Methods
3. Safeguard your Patents, Trademark and Intellectual Property Ownership
4. Always perform detailed on-site supplier and factory assessment and due diligence checks which includes the supplier’s technical brief on your product, supplier’s most accurate pricing proposals along with the capabilities, facilities, certifications, management team structure, equipment and sustainability to manufacture your product
5. Formalise the manufacturing services agreement (MSA) with your chosen supplier/CM and establish and on-going supplier/CM performance management plan

International business negotiations are fundamentally different from domestic negotiations as culture profoundly influences how people think, behave and communicate. It also affects how business deals are made and negotiated and regional business traditions, customs and local government bureaucracies further increases the complexities.

Over the years, Vivek has negotiated many business deals on behalf of companies and clients from various parts of the Globe and industry sectors. Vivek’s unique practical style of negotiation has successfully crossed borders and cultures; transitioning business deals from the negotiation table to execution, resulting in favourable win-win terms for both parties.

1. Know your objectives and establish a full understanding of your requirements to develop an executable strategy before you start negotiating
2. Understand that the real purpose of any negotiation is more than just signing a deal
3. Negotiate and resolve the hard issues instead of repressing or minimising them to safeguard against future challenges and difficulties
4. Proceed step by step in a series of increments to ensure negotiations move successfully from the negotiating table to execution
5. Always remain professional and balanced so that business relations proceed smoothly and remain sustainable when negotiations are complete

Taking a new product concept from drawing board to reality is a time consuming process with a high degree of risk, cost and complexity involved. New product ideas often come faster than solutions that will bring them to market and there is usually little room in a fixed budget for errors.

Generally, 80% of new product concept costs are determined by key decisions made in the initial product design and manufacturing planning processes.

Vivek has assisted clients from various parts of the Globe to bring their new product concept from the drawing board to reality. Over the years, Vivek’s expertise has covered the intricacies and complexities of bringing product concepts to life; spanning products from various industries, market sectors and continents.

1. Establish a full understanding of your product concept, budget and requirements and create an executable strategy and marketing plan
2. Keep control of the processes involved and understand the financial and technical impact that pre-implementation and post-implementation development process challenges may have on bringing your concept to market
3. Safeguard your Confidentiality, Patent and Intellectual Property Ownership and establish relevant legal contractual agreements
4. Gain insight of the geographical locations that offer an advantage in manufacturing, technology and engineering to bring your concept to life and visit the target area
5. Perform due diligence on-site checks on potential manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and any associated parties without compromising your Patent or Intellectual Property Ownership

Global expansion is equally attractive to both B2B and B2C firms and is increasingly important to many growing businesses in a saturated domestic market. Every country and market has its own nuances due to economic, cultural, governmental, bureaucratic and market conditions.

New and fast growing emerging markets have become more attractive to companies that are looking to scale their operations and gain efficiencies by combining their joint expertise, skills and capabilities. Joint Ventures and Alliances are a way to access new emerging markets for a specific project or aspect of business.

Vivek has assisted companies from various industry sectors, that are already engaged in business outside their own domestic market; looking to further expand their operations and export their products and services in India, China and Europe.

1. Make sure you develop a clear strategic business plan that integrates localised objectives with your overall corporate strategy
2. Identify whether there are any domestic and foreign business expansion and export incentives, grants and subsidies available
3. Visit the target market to gain insight of the nuances and complexities of the area to maximise your understanding of any cultural and cross borders diversities, bureaucratic and linguistic challenges
4. Always perform due diligence and on-site checks on potential local partners/alliances and safeguard your Patent and Intellectual Property Ownership
5. Cultivate productive dialogue and build sustainable alliances

Doing business in the domestic market is different to doing business overseas. The challenges faced are multiplied by the geographical and cultural complexities of the region. Professional and effective representation overseas is key to achieving the right results.

Companies make significant financial investments in time and resources to promote their products and build a presence in new markets and often fail to maximise on the benefits of being fully conversant with local culture and cross border diversities to connect with lucrative market opportunities and maximise on trade ROI.

Over the years, Vivek’s experience in international business has given him many insights on companies doing business outside their domestic markets and Vivek has provided his international expertise to represent companies and businesses in various industry sectors.

1. Preparation is key to executing a clear representation mission strategy - always keep the objectives of the event in mind and create a strategy in advance
2. Keep a balance and never get too comfortable. Always focus on the stages of business; bringing in new business, retaining the business, and growing that business
3. Never discuss anything inappropriate. It’s good to get to know your prospect, but never ask overly personal questions or discuss location sensitive topics that may offend, or make them feel uncomfortable and jeopardise business
4. Remember you are an Ambassador for the business you’re representing and for yourself - be professional, look smart and know what you’re talking about
5. Make them want more - be effective and get results

Offering your product and services to an overseas market is different from doing business in a domestic market. There are many aspects and factors to consider that can involve a high degree of risk and cost to a new market entrant.

Clients new to International business find dealing with overseas bureaucracy, cultural diversities in business practice, language and the geographical complexities of the region particularly challenging.

Vivek has assisted companies from various industry sectors that are new to international business, by helping them to develop strategies that identified and targeted new opportunities to build a market presence in India, China and Europe.

1. Develop an executable strategy to help you to enter the international market successfully and keep control of the many processes, costs and factors involved
2. Identify whether there are any domestic and foreign business grants, incentives and subsidies available for your market entry plans
3. Safeguard your Intellectual Property Rights and Trademarks
4. Make initial overseas trade show and trade mission visits to your target market to meet potential trade partners, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers
5. Build alliances wherever possible in your target market with local businesses, bureaucratic and government officials