amazonFew companies can pay suppliers for goods that they have sold 3+ months after the sale, but it seems that is what Amazon is able to do.  In my opinion, few companies use technology to their advantage to the extent that Amazon does but I’ve only ever considered their use of it to sell things (primarily to me!).  This short article pointed out how Amazon leverages their data to know what to stock and how much will sell and they turn that to their advantage to maximize the time between the date of sale and when they pay their supplier.  It’s no secret how Amazon can charge low prices with little in the way of brick-and-mortar and great use of cash.

Amazon’s Astute Timing. Martin Peers. Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Oct 30, 2009. pg. C.10