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Fragmented systems, rising cost pressures, and shifting risk profiles are making it harder than ever to manage procurement effectively. Strategies that worked just a few years ago are now too rigid, manual, or disconnected to keep up. How do you begin developing a procurementstrategy?
The logistics and supply chain industry is a critical component of global trade, responsible for moving goods and materials efficiently to meet consumer and business demands. Addressing Energy Challenges in Logistics The logistics sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Fragmented systems, rising cost pressures, and shifting risk profiles are making it harder than ever to manage procurement effectively. Strategies that worked just a few years ago are now too rigid, manual, or disconnected to keep up. How do you begin developing a procurementstrategy?
However, as carbon taxes and emissions reporting requirements continue increasing, supply chain professionals face mounting pressures from inside and outside their organizations to measure and improve performance against new, nebulous sustainability metrics. Sustainability is high on the list of favorite corporate buzzwords.
The adoption of AI in supply chain automation is enabling companies to make more accurate decisions, reduce cycle times, and better manage complexity. AI in supply chain automation is gradually reshaping how core functions operate, particularly in procurement, warehousing, and logistics.
If you’re evaluating procurement technology or exploring ways to drive more value from existing systems, chances are you’re looking beyond tactical fixes – you want a smarter, scalable strategy. Misaligned priorities across finance, legal, and procurement create friction that delays decision-making and reduces impact.
An organization with tens of thousands of different products may have to move them across many modes of transportation, IT systems, and third-party logistics partners, all adding to complexity, as well as loss of visibility and control. The question then becomes what is a good OTIF score to shoot for?
The most common form of trading partner collaboration is purchase order collaboration. With PO collaboration, buyers send digital purchase orders over the network to suppliers or other trading partners. We needed assurance of supply, Mr. The buyers dont report to Mr. Gainsford. He needed to influence them. Training is critical.
Enterprise procurement leaders are under more pressure than ever—juggling cost control, compliance, supplier risk, and internal complexity, all while trying to modernize outdated systems. AI, automation, and generative tools are redefining efficiency, allowing procurement teams to move from reactive to proactive decision-making.
For most CPOs and CFOs, deciding on the right purchasing setup — centralized or decentralized — is no small task. Each model has its perks, and choosing the best fit can feel like walking a tightrope. Keep reading to learn: What is centralized purchasing? What is centralized purchasing?
Procurement and supply chain management are often used interchangeably—but in practice, the lines between them can blur in ways that create real friction. Misaligned priorities, siloed systems, and unclear ownership can directly impact key performance indicators like cost savings percentage and procurement cycle time.
Given the many aspects of retail operations outside a business’ control—from supply chain disruptions and labor shortages to inflation and interest rates impacting both operational costs and customer behavior—the fulfillment challenge this peak holiday season is acute.
Supply chain efficiency is the cornerstone of success and involves the effective management of processes, resources, and technologies from procurement to production, transportation to warehousing. In the automotive sector, manufacturers are simultaneously reducing inventory costs and delivery times.
Three months into 2025, we have seen a barrage of on-again, off-again tariffs that have supply chain and logistics teams reeling, as they must rethink everything from next weeks shipping route to their foundational network models. With the global e-commerce market predicted to reach $8.1
Rising costs, supply chain chaos, and economic swings put businesses under enormous pressure to protect their margins. According to McKinsey & Company, procurement accounts for 50% to 80% of a company’s cost base. That’s why organizations zero in on strategies to achieve procurementcostreduction.
First Insight, which works with major retailers like Gap, Under Armour and Marks & Spencer , to optimize their pricing, merchandising and inventory strategies, has turned its attention to making sure retailers can take control of their pricing and inventory strategies using real-time customer insights and predictive scenario modeling.
As a result, the degree plays a growing role in boosting cost efficiency and visibility across supply chains. Procurement teams may use one platform, while logistics depends on another, and finance runs an entirely separate system. That works to a point, but without layered analytics, the models lack precision.
Skip to content The Network Effect Beyond Supply Chains Menu Home Business Networks Supply Chain Management Logistics Resilience AI About Submit a Post Rethinking Defense Supply Chains with Network-Based Command Centers July 11, 2025 Michael Bruens Defense , Supply Chain Management This post has already been read 125 times!
Decoding the Procurement Department: A Comprehensive Guide to Roles and Responsibilities This supply chain article provides a comprehensive overview of the procurement department within an organization. Read In Detail About Procurement Department Here 2.
But between rising costs, complex logistics, and the constant struggle to optimize space and labor, staying ahead can feel like an uphill battle. By maximizing space utilization, improving inventory control , and boosting workflow efficiency, you can unlock significant cost savings and elevate your customer service game.
They never leveraged their point-of-sale data to detect market shifts, and the supply chain organization prioritized costreduction. This week, the organization reported that net sales decreased 2 percent to $19.5 The use of the supply chain as a functional organization within the organization to reducecosts.
Rising costs, geopolitical tensions, and tariffs demand a strategic and holistic approach to maintain profitability and competitive advantage. There are many ways an organization can cut supply chain costs. Mastering Direct Spend Management Procurement teams generally do not report to the chief supply chain officer.
Key components of mobile inventory management include: Smartphone app: Allows field agents to log information, analyze metrics, and manage tasks even in remote areas with limited connectivity. Cloud software: Stores and distributes real-time data, producing reports accessible to all team members.
Shoppers coping with inflation have shifted buying habits , purchasing fewer goods and cutting back on big name brands in favor of cheaper alternatives. Short-term consumer product strategies for tariffs and regional demand shifts In the short-term, U.S.
This is a challenging and uncertain economic and trade environment for shippers, carriers and logistics services providers. We remain committed to growing our business with prudent investments and cost discipline to build the premier network and technology for logistics-intensive businesses." Ryan, Descartes' CEO.
That means consumers everywhere are making resolutions, joining gyms, journaling, cutting back on alcohol and calories, and engaging in other self-improvement activities. And, since the cost of processing a return averages about 30% of the products original price , this storm of product returns is every retailers nightmare.
E-commerce giants like Amazon, Alibaba, Temu, and Shein are expanding their global warehouse footprints, driving the adoption of WMS to manage inventory, reduce lead times, and optimize last-mile delivery. A majority of warehouses report labor shortages, and more than 50% cite this as a significant business challenge that is only worsening.
Supply chain leaders are feeling the squeeze on multiple fronts: costs and interest rates remain high, tariff rates are rising (then falling, then rising again), and consumer demand feels about as solid as consumer confidence which is to say, shaky at best. Labor costs: Forget clipboards, radios, and homegrown management systems.
Economic downturns can disrupt the flow of goods, increase operational costs, and reduce profit margins. These disruptions can occur due to decreased consumer demand, supplier instability, or logistical challenges. Recession-proofing a supply chain doesn’t mean eliminating all risks.
This would be a significant cost-saving and time-saving mechanism for both the shippers, carriers, and logistics providers. Natural Language Processing Like OCR, natural language processing (NLP) eliminates manual invoice data entry. On average, supply chain companies cut invoice handling by over 70% using AI tools.
Another wave of closures and layoffs has hit workers and companies tied to commercial transportation, manufacturing, lumber production, distribution and logistics across the U.S. CEO Bob Hendrickson cited increasing operational costs and “industry headwinds” as some of the reasons for the layoffs. 1,756), Canfor Corp.
on logistics rose in both absolute dollar terms and as a percentage of GDP, and it isn’t likely to go down anytime soon. That was one of the primary conclusions of the annual logisticsreport released last week by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) at a media briefing in New York. Not much has changed.”
Strong vendor relationships are critical for business success, especially when it comes to managing inventory and procurement. Vendor Relationship Management (VRM) helps businesses manage supplier interactions, track performance, and ensure smooth procurement processes.
This article will examine the causes of these phenomena, provide real-world examples from different industries, and offer strategies to mitigate their effects. This amplification can lead to significant inefficiencies, including excess inventory, production bottlenecks, and increased costs.
When you look behind the scenes of a global business operation, procurementstrategy and supply chain management are usually top priorities, though theyre not always working in sync. This blog explores procurement vs supply chain strategy and looks at how aligning the two leads to operational excellence.
How AI is Transforming Manufacturing: Strategies, Benefits, and Use Cases Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a huge topic and one that is constantly changing as research and development efforts push out the boundaries of whats possibleand whats already happening! Manufacturers now generate and own vast volumes of it.
increase, highlighting a broader slowdown in consumer confidence amid economic uncertainty and rising costs. Complicating matters, e-commerce retailers—particularly those heavily reliant on imports from China—are feeling the pressure from higher costs of goods sold (COGS). April saw a meager 0.1%
In the end-to-end source-to-pay (S2P) process , strategic sourcing is the link between spend analytics, category management and contracts management, and is supported by supplier intelligence. Which Suppliers Are Truly Strategic? Even the largest organizations have limited time and resources.
In today’s dynamic market, procurement is far more than just a buying and purchasing center. Our latest e-book, “ Is Manufacturing Missing Out On Procurement’s Value Add? “ , explores how direct procurement can substantially enhance the manufacturing process. Here are some key insights from the e-book.
Opportunities for Procurement Technology As we look toward 2025, European businesses are reshaping their supply chains to navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. A recent report by Maersk and Reuters Events highlights that 68% of companies are making supply chain visibility and monitoring solutions a top priority.
Businesses often use it in retail and purchasing. Category management isn’t just another procurement trend. It’s a way for companies to group similar goods or services (like IT infrastructure, facilities, or raw materials) and manage them holistically instead of handling every purchase in isolation.
The stakes have never been higher: unplanned downtime due to unavailable parts can cost organizations thousands of dollars per minute, erode customer trust, and disrupt critical operations. MRO Teams: MRO teams must coordinate with suppliers, manage global logistics, and ensure that spare parts are available across dispersed locations.
Conversely, just 8% of businesses with less capable supply chains report above-average growth. Again then, it’s not difficult to see how the financial health of a business depends on that of the supply chain, or how probable it is that supply chain costs feature strongly in the demise of many companies that become insolvent.
Understanding how your Procurement and Supply Chain KPIs are performing isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for survival and growth. Is inventory bloating your costs? Why You Need Visibility of Supply Chain and Procurement KPIs? Running procurement and supply chain without metrics is like driving blindfolded.
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