TAP TAP GO
Map critical dependencies
Identify which suppliers or partners support essential customer actions. Record what happens if each becomes unavailable or changes terms. Some dependencies are replaceable with modest effort; others involve substantial integration, stock or customer communication work.
Assess alternatives realistically
Document possible alternatives and the work required to use them. A list of competitor names is not a contingency plan. Consider technical compatibility, commercial readiness and the time needed for appropriate review before assuming another provider can take over.
Strengthen operational visibility
Maintain current contacts, incident procedures and relevant documentation. Review dependency status as volume grows. The objective is not to duplicate every supplier immediately, but to understand where a concentrated relationship could constrain the customer promise and what choices would remain available. Identify which dependency assumptions should be reviewed before a major campaign. Promoting a workflow aggressively while a critical supplier has unresolved capacity or readiness questions can turn an acquisition success into a customer-service problem. Document the information needed for a transition before an emergency occurs. Missing specifications, account ownership or implementation knowledge can make a theoretically replaceable supplier difficult to replace in practice.
Illustrative operating example
A hypothetical product depends on one manufacturer with a long replenishment lead time. Even if another supplier exists, artwork approval, material testing and production scheduling may delay substitution. A documented alternative-readiness plan makes that exposure clearer.
Make it practical.
Use this checklist as you read. Checks are not stored.Published by Tap Tap Go. Product availability and eligibility vary by programme and market. About our stories.
