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To build an outside-in model, and use new forms of analytics, we must start the discussion with the question of, “what drives value?” ” Traditional planning models optimize functional processes to improve cost and customer service. You are right. Never start with the process definition.
If your systems are disjointed and you lack the ability to analyze masses of data in real time, you will struggle to deliver on-time, in-full and your reputation and revenue will be negatively impacted. A good fulfillment strategy can help businesses boost customer satisfaction (CSAT), reduce inefficiencies, and increase sales.
From sourcing and bid evaluation to warehouse slotting and dynamic routing, AI tools support faster and more consistent outcomes by processing large volumes of operational data and identifying patterns that human decision-makers may overlook. These capabilities are now being integrated into mainstream TMS, WMS, and ERP platforms.
As supply chains become more interconnected and risks more dynamic, traditional procurement tools fall short. AI agents offer a smarter, faster way to manage sourcing, risk, and spend across the entire procurement lifecycle. They can learn and improve over time, as they collect new data and feedback.
As supply chains become more interconnected and risks more dynamic, traditional procurement tools fall short. AI agents offer a smarter, faster way to manage sourcing, risk, and spend across the entire procurement lifecycle. They can learn and improve over time, as they collect new data and feedback.
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.
In this type of environment, traditional procurement software and manual processes are insufficient – and many procurement teams are looking to artificial intelligence (AI) for answers. Key Takeaways Understand the potential impact of AI – including Generative AI & AI Agents – in procurement.
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.
Traditionally, procurement has been a process weighed down by manual tasks, fragmented systems, and endless paperwork. Today, procurement is undergoing a transformation. While procurement teams have long worked to add strategic value, Artificial Intelligence (AI) amplifies their impact.
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?
Enterprise procurement teams face growing pressure to deliver strategic value – managing supplier risk, ensuring compliance, and supporting sustainability – all without sacrificing speed or control. This blog explores the most common challenges in digital procurement and the capabilities that matter most.
This year’s conference brought together industry leaders, tech pioneers, and retail professionals to address challenges and opportunities, to explore technologies and strategies that promise to revolutionize the industry. Here are the key insights we gathered firsthand at this year’s event.
How often do you think about your retail reverse logistics strategy? Instead of being relegated to the margins, executives must rethink their strategy and consider how a data-driven reverse supply chain can add more value and improve profit margins. The Benefits of a Data-Driven Retail Reverse Logistics Strategy.
Strategic sourcing and innovative solutions are often viewed as two distinct procurement tools, but they should not be seen in isolation. Think of them as apples and gearseach essential and effective on its own, yet when combined; they create a formidable mechanism for achieving procurement excellence.
Key strategies include: Electrification of Transport: The use of electric vehicles (EVs) for freight and last-mile delivery reduces emissions and operational costs. Predictiveanalytics helps logistics companies anticipate disruptions and adapt proactively. Renewable energy adoption reduces operational costs over time.
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.
Procurement and Supply Chain Management are essential functions that can help companies navigate these challenges, but they are often siloed and operate in separate departments. Their metrics are often misaligned as well – supply chain focuses on service and procurement focuses on the cost of acquiring materials and services.
However, this approach ignores real purchasing behavior, such as customers buying complete sets of four tires. Probabilistic demand forecasting, in contrast, provides a full probability distribution, revealing actual purchasing patterns and enabling inventory planners to align stock levels with demand realities. The result?
Enhanced Promotions and Events Analysis Promotions, advertising campaigns, and trade events are vital components of marketing strategy, but accurately measuring their impact on demand remains challenging. Five Ways Advanced Machine Learning in Demand Planning Is Improving Forecasting 1.
However, this approach ignores real purchasing behavior, such as customers buying complete sets of four tires. Probabilistic demand forecasting, in contrast, provides a full probability distribution, revealing actual purchasing patterns and enabling inventory planners to align stock levels with demand realities. The result?
In a previous post , I made a case for how the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) and Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) are smarter together. Accordingly Supply Chain and Procurement will need continuous collaboration. By aligning supply chain and procurement, spend can be considered more holistically.
The systems–based on shipment and order data–were out of step with the market. With fixed models and hard-wired data feeds, teams could not adjust the planning systems to use consumption data or market indicators. Resist the temptation to place deeper analytics on top of existing datamodels.
In May 2025, one in seven home-purchase agreements fell through resulting in the cancellation of 56,000 purchase contracts. Employees Cannot Get to the Right Data at the Speed of Business A war is raging between Oracle, Salesforce and SAP to automate supply chains. The key is to use channel data and decrease demand latency.
GEP and the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Supply Chain Resource Cooperative surveyed supply chain, procurement and IT professionals across a range of industries to gain insight into their priorities and strategies regarding supply chain resilience and optimization. Alex Zhong, Director Product Marketing at GEP.
When reviewing strategy decks for supply chain teams, I often see statements like “move from a functional-silo’d focus to a drive a more holistic response.” ” Or “push a shift from a focus on cost to drive value?” To entice you to participate let’s look at the data more closely.
Introduction Gardner, (1954) and Huntzinger, (2007) define Purchase price variance (PPV) as a metric used to measure the effectiveness of cost-saving efforts by calculating the difference between the planned cost (standard pricing) allocated for purchasing activities and the actual cost incurred.
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.
At each company, there is a relationship between the metrics of growth, margin, inventory, customer service, and asset strategy. For the purpose of this article, I will use Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) as the proxy metric to discuss asset utilization.) Understanding this relationship requires modeling. (A
Pattern recognition is the ability to discern patterns in data and use the insights for further analysis. Wikipedia In 2014, I was exploring methods to publish what is now the Supply Chains To Admire report. The use of orbit charts allowed me to see the patterns of performance at the intersection of metrics over time.
Looking to improve operations and achieve cost savings within your procurement processes? Perhaps you already have a process audit report, or are interested in discovering how it could benefit you and streamline your operations. What is the Purpose of a Process Audit Report?
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.
Infor’s CEO, Kevin Samuelson Infor’s strategy for differentiating their business from competitors like SAP and Oracle rests on a truly differentiated approach to ensuring that their customers get ongoing value from the business applications they purchase. Infor, with anticipated revenues of $3.4 We just want them solved.”
On September 30, the big data company Palantir went public in an initial 22B$ market valuation. I am frequently asked, “Can a big datadata science company help to alleviate the current market pain in the supply chain?” Data science is only useful when companies are clear on the question to ask. Palantir IPO.
When shoppers were asked what would put them off making more ecommerce purchases in the future, 21% indicated they’d had negative delivery experiences, 20% said deliveries were not reliable, and 17% were dissatisfied with the delivery process. Similarly, maintaining a strong chain of custody (e.g.,
The Dual Platform Strategy takes into account your current operational and technology environment, and streamlines it with a business network layer that connects all trading partners and key IT systems to a single version of the truth. Eliminate the huge costs associated with maintaining and upgrading legacy systems.
Procurement fraud is often overlooked, but it can tear away at your company’s integrity and reputation from the inside if left unchecked for too long. Proactively identifying and managing procurement fraud is incredibly important when safeguarding your organization’s future. Lets take a look.
This shift has pushed supply chain leadership to pivot from reactive management to proactive strategy built on data. In this environment, business leaders need clear, data-based insights to make real-time decisions. Analytics allows organizations to move beyond intuition.
However, two decades later, there is still no technology solution to enable demand visibility or help companies use channel data to translate demand into an inventory, replenishment, or manufacturing strategy. Why have we not improved our use of channel data in supply chain processes?” My question is, “Why?”
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.
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.
As an old gal, with over forty-years of supply chain experience, writing this report for ten years taught me many lessons. I find in the orbit chart analysis that 45% of companies in the report are unconsciously incompetent. The group’s response is, “Are these supply chain metrics?” I admit it. The reason?
from last year, with over two-thirds of purchases happening online. Stockouts and Overstock Hurt Retailers The inventory imbalance was glaring this year: 33% of shoppers ** reported being unable to find the items they wanted due to stockouts. Success came from data-driven discount strategies , not blanket offers.
Top 3 Procurement Technologies to Embrace in 2025 Staying ahead of key procurement technology and advancements is essential for CPOs who want to improve spend cost reduction, drive strategic value, and navigate the increasingly complex procurement landscape.
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