Procurement

Training and Developing Procurement Professionals

Posted: 06/17/2021 - 09:00
Author: Samantha Hoy
Invest in a training program that suits the unique needs of procurement.

Training a company’s team members is a foundational step in running a company, but it is often forgotten when busy times hit. This is a big mistake. Putting the time and effort into designing a training program that suits the unique needs of procurement will drive more effective results in less time. Employees will be better equipped to manage the various situations and surprises that sourcing across numerous categories brings about.

Meta-skills: What Are They and How Are They Relevant to the Procurement Function of the Future?

Posted: 06/04/2021 - 09:00
Author: Mark Holyoake
Meta-skills are crucial within procurement.

What Is a Meta-skill?

It’s long been acknowledged that both hard and soft skills are needed in most jobs. They are no less crucial within procurement.

While hard skills include the teachable, quantifiable abilities you need to do the job and will be reflected in your qualifications, soft skills are, of course, slightly more difficult to measure. These can include teamwork, communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities.

The Top 10 Actions CPOs Must Take in 2021

Posted: 03/09/2021 - 19:15
Author: Laura Gibbons
The 10 most critical actions and accomplishments for chief procurement officers.

According to The Hackett Group’s 2021 Procurement Key Issues Study, the 2020 crisis continues to shape the 2021 procurement agenda. Unprecedented business disruption forced procurement organizations to refocus on supporting critical business operations and harnessing the value from supplier relationships, resulting in a pivot toward supply assurance and spend cost control.

In 2021, spend cost reduction remains the top priority for the procurement agenda and procurement must provide stability to the enterprise through spend cost control and supply assurance.

4 P2P Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them 

Posted: 03/03/2021 - 09:00
Author: John Sepcie
One of the most important aspects of an effective P2P platform is seamless ERP integration.

Searching and evaluating the right Procure-to-Pay (P2P) software can be a daunting and sometimes frustrating task. Whether you are an experienced procurement professional with years of category expertise and have spent long hours within your ERP and P2P platform, or you are scouting for the right platform for your company for the first time, knowing what you need is vital. 

Pursuing Data-driven Insights? Start With Your Supplier Data

Posted: 02/12/2021 - 05:32
Author: Ophelia Otto
Supplier Data

For years, experts have urged business leaders to prepare for the coming AI disruption. Realizing the amazing potential of these emerging technologies, they argued, would require businesses to overhaul how they manage data. Yet with the economy booming, many found it easier to push tricky data questions into the future.

Why Supply Chain Leaders Need to Bolster the Circular Economy

Posted: 01/29/2021 - 02:28
Author: Sydney Wess
Circular Economy

The concept behind a circular economy is simple: minimize waste by reusing, sharing and repairing goods that are already in use. That allows items to remain in the economic system, preventing the need for as many new products to be introduced.

This results in a closed loop. New resources aren’t being used, so energy is conserved.

COVID-19 Proves Why It’s Time to Put the Supply Chain on Autopilot

Posted: 01/12/2021 - 02:30
Author: Ali Hasan Raza
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of the global supply chain.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of the global supply chain. Precisely when the capabilities of international, interconnected trade mechanisms were supposed to kick into high gear, producers found themselves desperate for supplies while store shelves lacked essential goods. The global supply chain didn’t rise to the occasion. Now, it’s important to examine why.

Use eAuctions Instead of “3 Bids and a Buy” for Greater Savings

Posted: 01/08/2021 - 04:19
Author: Prabhav Pattapurati
Despite auctions being far more efficient than negotiating prices, to secure direct and indirect services and goods, they are entirely underused by multinationals.

In late 2020, Robert Wilson and Paul Milgrom were awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for breakthrough work on structuring auctions to deliver the best results for both the seller and buyer. Google, for instance, reinvented the advertising industry, which was based on face-to-face, closed-doors deal-making, with its programmatic, automated, real-time, largely auction-based digital platform. In doing so, Google grew exponentially by providing millions of small businesses with the ability to advertise cost-effectively.

Tips for Managing a Successful Competitive Bid

Posted: 12/31/2020 - 03:09
Author: Susan Mercer-Tumilty
Agile 4 Step Procurement Methodology

Agile 4 Step Procurement Methodology, developed through decades of experience, delivers practical and sustainable results. It is a method our clients find valuable and one we use internally for our projects, too. Practice what you preach!

Imagine you have a competitive bid to run. You have completed your planning and research, gathered your requirements, performed a marketplace assessment and determined your sourcing strategy. You are ready to move forward with the competitive bid. With so much to do, how do you stay organized and what are the next steps?

No, It’s Not Enough to Just Use GL Codes to Classify Your Spend Data—Here’s Why

Posted: 11/25/2020 - 02:46
Author: Susan Walsh
Finance departments use GL codes to track spend.

Finance departments use GL codes to track spend. We’re looking at items like office supplies, marketing or maybe a specific project within the business. However, what finance are looking for and what procurement are looking for can be two quite different things.

The Trouble With GL Codes

Firstly, if you're only using your general ledger codes, I can almost guarantee they are wrong! In my experience working with GL codes, I would say 90% of them are unreliable. You'll almost always find something classified under a GL that shouldn't be there.

Successful Digital Transformation Requires an Inspection of all Business Processes

Posted: 11/16/2020 - 23:30
Author: Baber Farooq
Procurement organizations are uniquely positioned to drive their companies' innovation agenda because no other function can “serve as the window to the outside world.

At the time of writing this piece, I am just one of five million people emerging from the world’s longest coronavirus-related lockdown, in Melbourne, Australia. For nearly two months, I was only allowed to leave the house once a day for essential items and required to stay within three miles of my home. From takeaway meals to IT support, to doctor’s appointments, most of the goods and services I've needed have been ordered virtually. Since COVID-19 hit, I’m amazed at how quickly the world went virtual.

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