Within the sphere of West Central Africa, Bayer faces multiple challenges and bottlenecks in its supply chain. The import and export procedures for the seed & crop protection portfolios encounter difficulties such as regulation, service providers, internal procedures, communication and process adherence. This study aims to examine the processes, identify areas of concern and pinpoint where bottlenecks occur. The ultimate objective is to suggest improvements that will facilitate a smoother flow of goods across borders.

For the qualitative research the author's conducted several interviews as well as a workshop to receive individual perspectives of the processes and compared the statements to the official process flows and SOP`s. For the quantitative research the author's researched the analyzed provided excel sheets and powerpoint presentations containing lead-times as well as shipment intervals and quantities. They then processed this information and worked out an analysis with both research approaches combined to then finally consolidate the insights of both methods to reach an informed conclusion.

To gain a deeper understanding, the authors conducted extensive mapping of the current 'AS-IS' processes. It revealed the wide geographical reach of Bayer's operations in WCA and the diverse interactions with internal as well as external stakeholders. The core findings centered around an in-depth analysis of the information that was provided through interviews conducted as well as documents received. The investigation revealed key aspects of improvements in the supply chain's efficiency as well as the complex nature of communication and cooperation among stakeholders across borders. Bayer's crop protection business and row crop business faces similar challenges. The main problems include communication barriers due to the involvement of several departments in different countries, cultural differences and a general lack of awareness and insufficient use of available tools. In conclusion, the authors provide Bayer with a comprehensive strategy to streamline its import & export processes. By addressing the identified challenges and provide recommendations for optimizations, with which Bayer can improve its supply chain operations to ensure a more efficient cross-border trade.