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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 procurementexcellence.
Background Most of the clients that I am working with are working on two large supply chain initiatives: Implementation of SAP RISE and Compliance with the EU Digital Product Passport initiative. In current systems where Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) and Transportation Management (TMS) are different models, alignment is impossible.
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.
When a speaker wafts eloquently on one of these terms that I hate, I have to manage the inner Lora. I used to love the annual report published by the organization, which was then named the Council of Logistics Management (CLM). No system enables network transparency across source, make, and deliver. Sadly, it did not happen.
When you look behind the scenes of a global business operation, procurement strategy 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.
Ivalua NOW AMER 2025 in New Orleans was an event that exceeded all expectations, delivering an unforgettable experience for our thriving procurement community. This year’s theme focused on reshaping the procurement industry’s approach to innovation, tackling challenges, and uncovering fresh paths to success.
Definition: Procurementtransformation is the strategic overhaul of how a business buys goods and services. This approach focuses on changing procurement holistically beyond minor tweaks, starting from strategies to organizational structures. Procurementtransformation has several objectives.
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. Technology integration: Leveraging digital tools to enhance visibility and decision-making.
In May 2025, one in seven home-purchase agreements fell through resulting in the cancellation of 56,000 purchase contracts. Supply chain was defined in 1982 as interoperability between source, make and deliver. The concept was that managing trade-offs and optimizing the whole to drive business outcomes would improve value.
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.
You’re juggling production schedules, managing inventory, keeping an eye on finances, and making sure everything runs smoothly on the shop floor. Think of it as the central nervous system of your operation, connecting everything from production planning and inventory control to supply chain management and financial reporting.
Looking to improve operations and achieve cost savings within your procurement processes? A process audit report is designed to, ultimately, streamline processes, enhance decision-making and drive overall procurementexcellence. The outputs are then monitored and managed to ensure they are always fit for purpose.
Demand volatility, frequent promotional shifts, ingredient sourcing constraints, and tight production windows define the playing field. Yet many manufacturers still rely on disconnected tools and legacy ERP systems to manage what has become a fast-moving, data-driven, multi-site operation. Outdated platforms create real-world risk.
I am a big believer in procurement getting involved as early as possible in new product development based on all the market knowledge available. The worst-case scenario is product engineering developing a new product, selecting a supplier and then telling procurement to get on with negotiation. How often do your purchase orders change?
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.
On our second priority, we delivered another strong year of industry-leading productivity, with holistic margin management cost savings of 5% of the cost of goods sold. “ Definition Cambridge Press I firmly believe that unlearning must precede change management. ” My thought: ouch!
Definition: Procurement automation is the use of digital tools to make routine tasks throughout procurement more efficient. Advanced technologies like AI and cloud-based procurement software helps companies reduce the burden of manual work, lower costs, and gain insight into analytics. Why switch to automated procurement?
While flashy consumer-facing products like social apps garner much attention, innovation in less glamorous areas like supply chain management is equally responsible for propelling startups to unicorn status. Smart contracts – Blockchain-based smart contracts increase procurement efficiency and transparency.
The world of procurement is constantly evolving, demanding professionals with the right skills and knowledge. Moreover, two popular options often considered are the MCIPS qualification from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) and the Procurement Track offered by SCMDOJO.
In 2025, the landscape of spare parts management is undergoing a seismic shift. Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) professionals, heads of maintenance, and spare parts managers are navigating an environment shaped by supply chain volatility, legacy infrastructure, and an explosion of data.
Understanding how your Procurement and Supply Chain KPIs are performing isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for survival and growth. Why You Need Visibility of Supply Chain and Procurement KPIs? Running procurement and supply chain without metrics is like driving blindfolded. Are materials arriving when needed?
What is Source to Pay (S2P)? Yet in the case of source to pay, it is wholly justified. And if your organization is big enough to need a Chief Procurement Officer , that person is directly or indirectly responsible for every stage of that journey. Yet there are good reasons to do so. the public sector). the public sector).
The procure to pay focus may continue, but other types of COE activities are layered on top, building on progressively more sophisticated activities such as KPI development, category intelligence support, risk management, contract management, and predictive analytics.
Many of the managers I speak with are buying into the application of artificial intelligence in the workplace, but often struggle to identify specific processes that are best suited for AI.I This will be changing soon. Data literacy , on the other hand, refers to the ability to read, work with, analyze, and argue with data.
They integrate finance, HR, sales, and supply chain management into one complex platform. Within this setup, an ERP procurement module helps companies make purchases and manage suppliers. Numbers speak louder: According to Procurement Tactics’ top procurement trends in 2025 , 83% of CPOs prioritize digitization.
Interestingly, despite its critical importance, MRO is frequently treated as a procurement function rather than a strategic lever. The consequences are familiar: excess inventory, chronic stockouts, urgent purchases, high logistics costs, and little visibility into whether supply is aligned with maintenance demand.
In the age of relentless disruption, razor-thin margins, and digitally empowered customers, the retail industry must rapidly evolve to stay relevant. By infusing intelligence into every supply chain touchpoint—from sourcing to shelf—AI is driving operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and exponential growth.
CAGR , the global supply chain management software market is expected to touch USD 50 billion by 2032. This one figure speaks volumes about how organizations worldwide want access to the best supply chain management tools to boost efficiency and value in their distribution and logistics network. Growing at an overwhelming rate of 11.1%
In the age of relentless disruption, razor-thin margins, and digitally empowered customers, the retail industry must rapidly evolve to stay relevant. By infusing intelligence into every supply chain touchpoint—from sourcing to shelf—AI is driving operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and exponential growth.
Managing spare parts inventory has always been a delicate balancing actexcess inventory ties up capital, while shortages risk costly downtime and production delays. In addition, poor visibility, unpredictable demand, and disjointed systems worsen the situation further and lead to inefficient procurement, misplaced stock, and emergency orders.
In 2025, the landscape of spare parts management is undergoing a seismic shift. Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) professionals, heads of maintenance, and spare parts managers are navigating an environment shaped by supply chain volatility, legacy infrastructure, and an explosion of data.
Managing spare parts inventory has always been a delicate balancing act—excess inventory ties up capital, while shortages risk costly downtime and production delays. That’s why a growing number of organizations are turning to AI software for spare parts inventory management. What is Spare Parts Inventory Management?
Double-Edged Sword of Inventory Management: Declining demand presents a significant dilemma for inventory management. As a result, it remained profitable, gained market share, and became a leading example of recession-resilient supply chain management (Saxena & Sharma, 2011).
2) According to a 2012 report into corporate insolvencies by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 44% of businesses in Australia failed because of poor strategic management. Remember, poor strategic management is a factor in 44% of Australian business failures.
Although we’re years removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, sourcing electronic components remains a struggle. Nathan: I’ve been with Arena for over six years and currently lead the supply chain intelligence initiative as the principal product manager. Shortages, long lead times, and volatile pricing haven’t gone away.
For AFFLINK's partners and affiliates navigating complex procurement environments, ESG integration reshapes how supply chains are built, evaluated, and optimized. Why ESG Matters to Supply Chain Management Modern supply chain strategies extend beyond efficiency and cost containment.
Transcription Services Some documentation originates in non-digital formats, like handwritten notes, field logs, or voice recordings. Thus, transcription services convert this content into structured digital documents. Ken from Ditto Transcripts says, “Formatted digital text is easy to archive and share.”
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Global Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) survey , 41% of CPOs are actively renegotiating with existing vendors to deal with volume volatility and price hikes. What are the key stages of the vendor relationship management lifecycle? Find out more about: What is vendor relations?
Among the various data sources at their disposal, point-of-sale (POS) data stands out as a crucial one. For some companies, it may be necessary to hire data scientists or invest in specialized software to manage this process effectively.
Financial forecasting has gone from a 'nice-to-have' to a must-have for procurement and financial planning teams. Although some executives are skeptical about forecasting, citing its unreliability and inaccuracy, a systematic approach to forecasting with realistic expectations can completely transform the fiscal year strategy.
They need visibility across multiple internal systemslike ERP, CRM, and financial platformsand even external sources shared with suppliers, partners, and customers. Modern platforms pull data from a wide array of sources: ERPs, relational databases, Excel files, cloud apps, third-party providers, and beyond.
In this era of port delays and TikTok-viral demand spikes, inventory management has never been more challenging. The cost of inefficient inventory management extends beyond storage fees—it impacts cash flow, slows growth, and can damage hard-won customer relationships. 5-Step Implementation of Just-in-Time Inventory Management 1.
Click here to send us your comments Over the next five years, those leaders have top priorities around enhancing the customer experience with more service options, increasing automation and further digitalizing processes and offerings What is a supply executive to do? Limited value is a top barrier to securing future technology investments.
They’re also managing disappointment from those partners when supply doesn’t line up, often due to causes outside the company’s four walls. This approach can work,” Aronow says, “but only after the CFO and business leaders agree to invest in additional and flexible sources of supply. Planner skill sets can also be an issue.
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