Efficient management of material flows in retail chains

In the modern economy, retail chains play a key role in the delivery of goods from the manufacturer to the end consumer. Efficient management of material flows in these networks is becoming a decisive factor in business success, affecting the speed of turnover of goods, reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to develop recommendations for improving the efficiency of material flow management in retail chains based on the analysis of existing methods and approaches, as well as determining the optimal ways of their implementation in the conditions of a specific retail chain. The efficiency of logistics activities is a system of complex indicators reflecting the quality of the functioning of the logistics system at a given level of total logistics costs. The article considers various approaches to defining and assessing the efficiency of logistics, including traditional and modern methods of analyzing logistics costs. The main attention is paid to key performance indicators (KPI), such as total logistics costs, quality of logistics service, duration of logistics cycles, productivity and return on investment in logistics infrastructure. The article also discusses methods for optimizing logistics costs, including benchmarking, cost analysis, and functional cost analysis. It provides an analysis of foreign and domestic practices, such as the SCOR system, which includes 13 indicators for five optimized functions. The article emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to managing the logistics system, which includes the proper allocation of resources and the establishment of an economic balance between the quality of service and the level of costs, which allows logistics managers to make informed decisions to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of logistics activities.