Googol

When China officially joined the World Trade Organization, they paved the way for offshoring. Offshoring started in the 1980’s when investors realized the potential of using the Chinese disciplined labor pool to make things in China, at a much lower cost, and sell them abroad. Offshoring is when a company takes it factories that are based in the U.S. and moves the entire operation to another country, such as China, Mexico, or Japan, where the same products can be made exactly the same way with cheaper labor, lower taxes and lower health care costs. This differs entirely from outsourcing, which is where a company takes a specific function, or job duty that was being done in the U.S. and has another company perform these duties and integrate them back into your operation at a lower cost. Both of these methods greatly increase the chance of success of your business.

Wal-Mart is the king of supply chaining and has shaped the way the distribution of products is handled. Wal-Mart has conquered supply chaining which is the administration of how products and goods are distributed. As Yossi Sheffi states, “Making stuff – that’s easy. Supply chain, now that is really hard.” Wal-Mart has the advantage here, since their supply chain is so strong. They are able to distribute goods across the globe, which involves dozens of suppliers, distributors and carriers. Every company wants to mimic Wal-Mart and its business practices since they have this method down to a science. Once you take a product to the checkout stand, their headquarters are notified of this purchase, a message is then sent to the manufacturer where more products are ordered and shipped to the necessary stores. The faster you can notify your manufacturer of your needs, the quicker they can send products down the supply chain and you can meet your customers demands by stocking your shelves.

I truly cannot fathom the world without Google. I personally use Google at least 20-30 times a day, whether it is to check the traffic on my way to work, find the answer to a random question or look up recipes for dinner that night. Google has allowed everyone access to all of the information in the world with just a click of the mouse. Now a business can quickly do a Google search on you to find out if you are an eligible candidate for a job, or use it to find answers that can better their business. I feel Google was the most important flattener in the world. I essentially carry the world’s information in my pocket, thanks to Google.

I love reading Thomas L. Friedman, The World is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century (Further Updated and Expanded, 2007) especially since this was written almost a decade ago, and I have been able to see much of these advances he has discussed and so much more.