This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
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.
Companies leaning heavily on global sourcing? Theyre feeling the heat most, as sudden trade policy curveballs throw procurement plans into chaos. manufacturer I know saw their import costs jump overnight, forcing a rethink of a decade-old sourcing strategy. What Is Agile Procurement? Agile procurement is your lifeline.
Access to Unique Process and Asset Capabilities: Some suppliers offer unique skills, technologies, or processes that are not available in-house or through other sources. Long term forecast collaboration becomes a critical requirement for manufacturers and their direct suppliers to focus on to de-risk their supply chains.
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.
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.
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.
Procurement and purchasing are often used interchangeably, but they serve distinct roles within any successful organization.While both involve acquiring goods and services, their workflows, objectives, and impact on enterprise risk management differ significantly. Procurement vs. Purchasing: What’s the Difference? What is Procurement?
They integrate AI into demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and logistics operations to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. Organizations examine past sales trends, apply seasonal adjustments, and make forecasts based on historical models. Amazon is a leader in AI-driven supply chain management.
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.
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.
Jack Fiedler : We’re unique in the technology industry. We’ve taken the same hybrid approach from a supply chain technology perspective. I’m responsible for the overall digital transformation, including technology. But then it very quickly evolved into a full intelligence platform.
A data-driven, technology-enabled approach is required to build resilience and efficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical shifts demonstrated the risks of relying on single-source suppliers and minimal inventory buffers. AI and Automation in Supply Chain Management Technology is redefining supply chain operations.
When one thinks of supply chain software vendors, the name InterSystems may not spring to mind. They offer softwaresystems and technology for complex integration, rapid application development, and advanced analytics and sell those solutions to companies that need to accelerate optimized business outcomes.
In a world of ever-growing economic uncertainty, procurement is at the heart of organizations’ aim to drive efficiency and cost savings. As more and more companies invest in S2P technology, Ivalua has commissioned a survey and report on “The State of Source-to-Pay Digitization 2025” from trusted research and advisory firm Ardent Partners.
Industry-specific content is available for processes like Source to Settle, Procure to Pay, Order to Cash, and more. Automate: utilizes technologies such as RPA, IDP, and IPaaS. Automate: utilizes technologies such as RPA, IDP, and IPaaS. iPaaS provides a comprehensive set of tools for connecting applications.
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.
The global supply chain landscape is undergoing significant transformations, influenced by rapid technological advancements, shifting consumer expectations, and the intricacies of international commerce. Conversely, a student who quickly grasps procurement strategies can be challenged with advanced case studies and leadership projects.
Business leaders see the open sharing of feedback on software as too risky. How can I improve the process of software selection? How can I improve the process of software selection? Buying supply chain planning software is hard. Many technologies (I count six) are missing, and most of the ratings are just wrong.
Reducing cost was the primary objective, and most operational decisionsfrom sourcing to fulfillmentreflected that mindset. Sudden tariff increases can quickly make a cost-optimized procurement strategy untenable, leaving companies scrambling to adjust. For years, supply chains were engineered to be lean.
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.
When my fiance heard about the price, he advised that I find a local hairdresser and set up a frequent-shopper account with them for a few months until the tool is back in stock. And pretty much everyone realized that the old technologies used in planning are not going to cut it anymore when there are so many moving parts in the game.
Over the past few years, supply chain and procurement pros have faced the challenge of navigating their enterprises through one disruption after another. Despite their best efforts, current events and market dynamics caught up with them, leading to issues managing their suppliers and sourcing the materials needed for their products.
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.
The waste included: Negative Forecast Value Added (FVA) in demand planning. In 85% of organizations that I work with, conventional demand planning processes increase forecast error. When we measure the bullwhip impact (in my class on outside-in process thinking), the bullwhip between manufacturing and procurement is 2-3X.
Technology can change or even improve work. Supply chain was defined in 1982 as interoperability between source, make and deliver. We still plan like it is 1999–when we were bracing for Y2k–versus using new forms of technology to improve planning. Most companies forecast a single stream with a focus on error.
They need visibility across multiple internal systemslike ERP, CRM, and financial platformsand even external sources shared with suppliers, partners, and customers. Thats why modern BI systems are quickly becoming the go-to solution for data-driven enterprises. But lets be clear: not all BI platforms are created equal.
Before digital tools entered the scene, thats almost exactly what procurement used to feel like. Come along while we take a look at emerging tech tools and dig deeper into how cost estimation is being transformed into something faster, smarter, and surprisingly budget-friendly. This is exactly what digital tools are delivering.
Procurement People should learn the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Process. Procurement professionals can contribute significantly to the S&OP process by providing valuable insights into supply chain dynamics, identifying potential risks, and optimizing sourcing strategies.
The lack of interoperability between decision support platforms is a problem for companies attempting to improve decisions from the channel to supplier bi-directionally through technology. The essence of the question is resilience and the ability to forecast in a variable market reliably. For most, this is a market opportunity.
Manufacturing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software integrates all your core business processes into one powerful platform. 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.
That’s why I believe that during this decade we’re heading for a new era in which open, multi-enterprise, cloud platforms will provide the required End-to-End supply chain integration–planned, optimized and collaborated to serve customer demand. . We have all witnessed a parallel transformation with phone systems. Not at all!
In this article, we’ll explain what centralized purchasing is, the challenges it tackles, the benefits of centralized procurement, and the types of companies that can benefit most from it. On top of that, we’ll break down how to approach selecting the right centralized purchasing system for your business needs.
has demonstrated how lawsuits could reshape trade dispute resolution, creating a new paradigm where the legal system, rather than the legislature, has a deciding role in dictating trade flows. Automakers must model dual-path sourcing strategies and reintroduce buffer inventory—not just for parts, but for regulatory flexibility.
Do Invest in Distributor Capability Building : Provide training, digital tools, and performance incentives. Do Embrace Technology and Data : Use real-time data for demand forecasting, inventory management, and route optimization. A well-equipped distributor is an extension of your brand and a key to market penetration.
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.
The supply chain space is heavily laden with acronyms, gobbledygook, false narratives, and over-hyped, fast-talking technology sales teams. I have built five such systems for companies. Traditionally, the definition of end-to-end supply chain planning meant: Forecasting based on order or shipment patterns. Is there value?
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?
Supply chain optimization is no longer about individual tools that solve individual problems. The technology is ready to go; now is the time to use it.”[1] They write, “This includes tackling bigger issues such as compliance, supplier relationship management, risk and disruption, responsible sourcing, and transparency.
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.
When tariffs hit, crucial components that were once affordable can become prohibitively expensive, forcing companies to rethink their sourcing and production strategies. Key takeaway Top challenge: Sourcing volatility driven by EV component shortages and fluctuating global tariffs.
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.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 102,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content