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I laugh when business leaders tell me that they are going to replace their current supply chain planning technologies with “AI.” Each supply chain planning technology at the end of 2024, went through disruption–change in CEO, business model shift, layoffs, re-platforming and acquisitions. You are right.
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.
In this type of environment, traditional procurementsoftware 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.
SAP is embedding its generative Joule across the SAP Ariba source-to-pay solution portfolio to make it easier for their customers to manage routine inquiries, such as status updates, summarization, and frequently asked questions. It is a brilliant tool.” Those types of disagreements disappear in a SCCN platform.
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than ever—juggling cost control, compliance, supplier risk, and internal complexity, all while trying to modernize outdated systems.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.
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.
AI is reshaping the way organizations source, manage suppliers, and drive value today. As supply chains become more interconnected and risks more dynamic, traditional procurementtools fall short. AI agents offer a smarter, faster way to manage sourcing, risk, and spend across the entire procurement lifecycle.
AI is reshaping the way organizations source, manage suppliers, and drive value today. As supply chains become more interconnected and risks more dynamic, traditional procurementtools fall short. AI agents offer a smarter, faster way to manage sourcing, risk, and spend across the entire procurement lifecycle.
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.
Many large organizations have multiple systems for order, warehouse, or transportation management that are barely integrated frequently not at all. Optimizing fulfillment requires a series of steps to get a shipment from its source to the end customer.
Proactively adopting cleaner energy sources ensures alignment with these evolving regulations. The industry’s dependency on traditional energy sources necessitates an urgent shift toward cleaner alternatives. Retrofitting existing infrastructure with energy-efficient technologies further enhances sustainability efforts.
If you’re evaluating procurementtechnology or exploring ways to drive more value from existing systems, chances are you’re looking beyond tactical fixes – you want a smarter, scalable strategy. But when spend is scattered across systems, business units, and suppliers, finding those insights is easier said than done.
In follow-up qualitative interviews, one of the largest issues with organizational alignment was metric definition and a clear definition of supply chain excellence. In my post Mea Culpa, I reference my work with the Gartner Supply Chain Hierarchy of Metrics. Error is error, but is it the most important metric? My answer is no.
Analytics and business intelligence (BI) are no longer optionaltheyre essential. They need visibility across multiple internal systemslike ERP, CRM, and financial platformsand even external sources shared with suppliers, partners, and customers. But lets be clear: not all BI platforms are created equal. Why does that matter?
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.
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?
Technology can change or even improve work. 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. Most companies forecast a single stream with a focus on error.
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. Such sourcing events can be in the context of direct materials or logistics capacity.
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.
We need planning platforms to keep up with all the changes. This means we need more agile, flexible, and scalable planning platforms to process and consolidate new data sources, drive insights using advanced analytics such as AI/ML to drive autonomous decisions, and expand collaboration within and outside our organizations.
It is crucial for organizations to understand the importance of Purchase Order collaboration to effectively manage their direct spend, optimize operations, and mitigate risks. From natural disasters to geopolitical tensions and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains have been significantly impacted.
While the supply chain technology market lost its allure at the start of the last decade, it is now cool again. I forecast that this interest will grow and the market is going to become more confusing. The discipline, first defined in 1982, includes source, make, deliver, and planning functions. Evolution is messy. The reason?
End-to-end supply chain visibility, planning, and execution support software are critical in agile supply chain performance. CPG companies that utilize an autonomous supply chain technology see a reduction in their inventory and cost and an increase in revenue.
When it comes to running a company, when things break down executives have traditionally said “we need to improve our forecasting!” Would better forecasting accuracy be a good thing? Unfortunately, most companies cannot, and will never be able to, consistently rely on highly accurate forecasts. Absolutely!
Given your expertise, I’d love to hear what alternatives you recommend for better demand forecasting and real-time visibility beyond what’s commonly adopted today.” I know that your primary focus is procurement. The goal was to teach the impact of system dynamics in a non-linear system that we now call the supply chain.
Experts from North Carolina State University and GEP conducted a survey on supply chain, procurement and IT leaders to determine their challenges and priorities, focusing on examining gaps in the supply chain. The study found that these leaders considered the largest gap to be between supply chain and procurement, citing it as a major issue.
She knew the company was innovative; after all, Coupa created a new software enterprise category: business spend management. Coupa’s BSM platform is based on a public cloud that connects 3500 buyers to ~10 million suppliers. Coupa also has a supply chain collaboration solution that runs on the platform. Turner said.
Being listed on a last-mile-delivery service platform and reaching a much broader customer base beyond the neighbors became a must-have for survival. Digital commerce efficiently requires the digitalization of many customer-facing operations and sourcing and procurement. This includes internal and external data sources.
That’s why staying on top of the latest supply chain planning trends is so important – they can make all the difference when it comes to staying competitive, reducing costs, and meeting your customers’ needs. They are more likely to shop for discounts and sales and may delay purchases of some items.
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.
It’s a holistic approach that blends strategic planning, streamlined processes, and the right technology to transform your warehouse into a well-oiled, profit-generating machine. An in-depth look at the tangible benefits, from cost reduction to increased customer satisfaction.
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%
By embedding analytics across logistics, sourcing, and fulfillment, businesses gain the visibility and foresight needed to stay competitive.Analytics-driven leadership is no longer a luxury; it’s the foundation of operational survival in todays volatile business environment.
Procurement operations are no exception. In fact, 43% of GPOs that took part in the 2023 Global Chief Procurement Officer Survey cited overall procurement risk had increased significantly as compared to 20% in the 2021 study. Keep reading to learn: What is an online procurementsystem?
Top 3 ProcurementTechnologies to Embrace in 2025 Staying ahead of key procurementtechnology and advancements is essential for CPOs who want to improve spend cost reduction, drive strategic value, and navigate the increasingly complex procurement landscape.
What Is Strategic Sourcing? A Complete Guide Strategic sourcing is a data-driven approach to securing the best value for your organization from its strategic suppliers. It is called strategic because it replaces traditional ad hoc approaches to sourcing, which were almost entirely focused on cost savings, item by item.
What Contractors Need to Streamline Procurement in 2025 By Ian Summers (pictured) Content Writer 111 Views You’re on-site before dawn, the framing crew’s ready, but the steel shipment’s stuck in limbo, the invoice isn’t approved, and your project management app just pinged you for the fourth time.
As operations, maintenance, and supply chain leaders navigate a landscape shaped by rising asset complexity, volatile supply chains, and tight capital budgets, the pressure to optimize every part, every process, and every purchase has never been greater. This is where software steps in.
It is just not enough to do a software upgrade or slowly push continuous improvement projects. He did this first by implementing demand sensing from Terra Technology (now E2Open) eight years ago. Completed in 2012, the ERP project forced the company to standardize organizational design, roles, and metrics. Nick does this well.
Those include trust issues, the operating model, and technology. The remainder of this article will focus on the technology issues. Supply Chain Collaboration Networks are a Key Technology. A Supply chain collaboration networks (SCCN) is a key technology for improved collaboration across an extended supply chain.
The key areas to consider when upgrading to the cloud include: The Value of Cloud TechnologyCost Competitiveness Performance Expectations Upgrades Responsiveness Support Expertise & Response The Value of Cloud Technology Which business drivers and advantages are motivating companies to shift to the cloud?
ERP systems form the backbone of efficient operations for many organizations. 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. Keep reading to learn: What Is ERP in Procurement?
In this blog, let’s dive deeper into the challenges of spare parts management, the solution that ThroughPut AI provides, the features of spare parts management software and how it works. Some of them are: Planning A common challenge is the need for coordination between demand forecasting and inventory planning across the entire organization.
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