**London**: UK SMEs are set to revise their product sourcing strategies for 2025, with a focus on cost-effective pricing, reliable suppliers, and sustainable products. A recent survey anticipates a significant shift towards digital procurement channels and greater supplier engagement in the upcoming year.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United Kingdom are poised to implement significant adjustments to their product sourcing strategies in the year ahead, according to insights from Alibaba.com, a prominent global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform. The platform’s recent findings highlight a trend of increasing prioritisation among UK SMEs for various sourcing strategies and product categories.
A survey conducted among 1,001 sourcing decision-makers at UK SMEs, each with fewer than 150 employees, revealed that nearly half (43 per cent) regard sourcing products at more cost-effective prices as a top priority for 2025. This is closely followed by a desire to find trustworthy suppliers (40 per cent), a focus on sourcing sustainable products (32 per cent), and the aspiration to acquire trendy products to attract new customers (31 per cent).
Further analysis indicates that approximately 57 per cent of responding SMEs plan to switch suppliers this year. This shift is reflective of a growing reliance on digital procurement channels, particularly online B2B marketplaces, which enable businesses to identify new suppliers and products while unlocking potential for growth. Indeed, the survey findings revealed that 59 per cent of SMEs now regard digital sourcing as more crucial than it was last year, underscoring a notable pivot toward direct sourcing methods—purchasing goods straight from suppliers rather than through intermediaries.
Kuo Zhang, president of Alibaba.com, commented on the findings, stating, “UK SMEs are becoming more strategic in their sourcing, focusing on affordability, trend responsiveness, and supplier reliability to stay competitive.” He added, “Our research shows that SMEs are looking beyond cost savings and actively seeking new suppliers to future-proof their businesses. This shift aligns with a broader trend across Europe, where the number of orders placed by European buyers on our platform in February increased by 75 per cent year-on-year.”
The study’s release coincides with the forthcoming March Expo 2025, a B2B sourcing event hosted by Alibaba.com, designed to facilitate connections between buyers and sellers. The event aims to assist businesses in discovering the latest product opportunities and establishing new supplier partnerships, further highlighting the transition within the SME sector towards enhanced digital sourcing practices.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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