Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 29, 2023

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.

Manufacturing Procurement 272

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Material Savings Inventory Reduction 272

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 1, 2021

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.

Optimal Sourcing 284

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 284

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

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 A Case Study.

Procurement Analytics 369

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 369

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Next Steps: Start to model demand based on market data to align the organization on baseline demand. Resist the temptation to place deeper analytics on top of existing data models. Instead, rethink the model and the approach. Out of desperation, they turned to the use of descriptive analytics. Next Steps.

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics 355

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 15, 2022

If you answer the survey, I will gladly give you a custom analysis of your organization against the peer group. The financial teams, and the Information Technology (IT) groups, did not see alignment gaps, but the supply chain teams felt them and viewed them as a critical performance issue. Functional Metrics.

Manufacturing Procurement 398

Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics 398

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 25, 2024

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. By charting the performance against peer groups, I could see the story. We purchase data from Y charts. (A

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 385

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Gartner Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Strategy 385

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 15, 2022

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.

Supply Chain Network Software 312

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 312

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 6, 2023

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.

Optimal Sourcing 246

Optimal Sourcing Sourcing Strategies Manufacturing Procurement Material Savings 246

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

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. They are unconscious that they are underperforming their peer group and have not driven industry improvement.

Supply Chain Planning Software 388

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 388

Precoro

JULY 1, 2024

Small companies may also lack the resources to create a dedicated procurement team for proper sourcing and supplier vetting. Group purchasing organizations can be the perfect way for these companies to increase cost savings. Keep reading to learn: What is a group purchasing organization?

Purchasing Skills 105

Purchasing Skills Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics Negotiate Pricing 105

Logistics Viewpoints

JUNE 3, 2025

The formula for OTIF is: Measuring a supply chain against OTIF metrics is a key strategy that helps decision makers attach a tangible value to the success of their fulfillment and allows them to determine key strategies. Organizations are ready to implement AI and ML-driven prediction and productivity gains.

Optimal Sourcing 153

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Sourcing Strategies Price Mitigation Strategies 153

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

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.,

Resource Reduction 220

Resource Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Vendor Strategies 220

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 15, 2022

The idea is that data points within a group share similar properties, and each group is different (statistically speaking) from another. There is so much data, and to make use of it, we need to use data mining and analytics to drive meaningful insights that can be put to some good use. The retail industry is rich with data.

Optimal Sourcing 263

Optimal Sourcing Analysis Procurement Analytics Purchasing Skills 263

Precoro

MAY 19, 2025

Companies often push aside procurement compliance to focus on more pressing issues. No wonder—procurement often gets tedious and burdened with time-consuming processes. However, ignoring procurement compliance is like ignoring a ticking time bomb. Scroll down to find out: What is procurement compliance?

Procurement Analytics 45

Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Examples 45

Precoro

JUNE 3, 2025

Definition: Category management is a systematic way to organize and supervise groups of products or services within a company. Businesses often use it in retail and purchasing. In category management, you sort items with similar characteristics and treat each group as a separate unit.

Manufacturing Procurement 45

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Material Savings 45

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 11, 2020

One of my favorite supply chain leaders has a stack of Palantir reports in black binders on his desk. Kinaxis Purchase of Rubikloud. The purchase of Rubikloud by Kinaxis shows just how little the Kinaxis team knows about demand management. Kinaxis Purchase of Rubikloud. The Rubikloud acquisition was a $60M cash purchase.

Supply Chain Design Software 362

Supply Chain Design Software Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software 362

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2014

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which there is a desire for harmony within the group, but the result is an irrational or dysfunctional outcome. I feel that the industry is engaged in ‘Group Think’ No one in this meetings is going to ask tough questions.

Supply Chain Planning Software 379

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning Software Optimization Software 379

Jaggaer

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

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? Our latest e-book, “ Is Manufacturing Missing Out On Procurement’s Value Add? Here are some key insights from the e-book.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics 52

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 19, 2022

Analytical techniques like linear programming can create the mathematically “optimal” plan, but these methods must be implemented well to avoid creating other challenges. Fusing analytical approaches improves the math behind optimization, but to avoid highly-efficient silos it should be paired with concurrent planning.

Optimal Sourcing 306

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Optimization Optimization Software 306

Kinaxis

MAY 16, 2025

Shoppers coping with inflation have shifted buying habits , purchasing fewer goods and cutting back on big name brands in favor of cheaper alternatives. Behind the scenes, CPG brands are strategically balancing cost cutting measures with supply chain investments to ensure preparedness for continuing market shifts.

Beverage 130

Beverage Price Reduction Canada Cost Reduction Strategies 130

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

I know that your primary focus is procurement. Or planned orders to purchase orders?) Similarly, groups still believe that the world is flat even though Pythagoras in the 6th century BC and Parmenides in the 5th century BC determined that the earth was a sphere. ” Anna, this blog post is for you. I don’t know.

Supply and Demand 433

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 433

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 5, 2021

PwC reports that almost half of assets under management are held by investment firms committed to decarbonization. Similarly, UPS has strong commitments to sustainability and invests in many options, such as alternative fuel vehicles, e-cycles in dense cities, and carbon offsets for purchase with shipping.

Supply Chain Planning Software 325

Supply Chain Planning Software Sustainability Material Savings Supply Chain Planning 325

Descartes

JUNE 4, 2025

Descartes Announces Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Financial Results WATERLOO, Ontario and ATLANTA, Georgia, June 4, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – The Descartes Systems Group Inc. Issuances of common shares, net of issuance costs 3.6 The purchase price for the acquisition was approximately $112.7 Additions to property and equipment (1.9)

Expense Reduction 195

Expense Reduction Material Savings Cost Reduction Strategies Price Reduction 195

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 14, 2014

I think about this discussion with Keith often as I work on the Supply Chain Index and edit the chapters of Metrics That Matter. This is a group of leaders. E2open last week announced the purchase of Serus. If you respond to one of our surveys, we keep all of the responses confidential and only report the findings in aggregate.

Manufacturing Procurement 345

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Modeling 345

Logistics Viewpoints

MAY 13, 2024

Scale drives profitability,” Turner told a group of industry analysts on April 22 nd , the day before the Coupa Inspire user conference began. This technology allows businesses to unify their procurement, expense management, invoicing, payments, sourcing, contract management, and spend analysis processes and reporting.

Procurement Solutions 298

Procurement Solutions Forecasting Software Modeling Software Procurement Analytics 298

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 5, 2018

The award, based on beating the industry peer group on rate of improvement on the key metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) while outperforming their peer group, is tough to achieve. The orbit chart below illustrates L’Oréal’s performance at the intersection of two metrics.

Case Study 329

Case Study Inventory Reduction Study Agile and Lean Supply Chain 329

Precoro

MARCH 27, 2025

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 procurement cost reduction. 

Cost Reduction Strategies 45

Cost Reduction Strategies Price Reduction Expense Reduction Vendor Strategies 45

Precoro

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

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.   Keep reading to learn: What Is ERP in Procurement?

Procurement Solutions 45

Procurement Solutions Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 45

GlobalTranz

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

According to PLS Logistics , global companies will install procurement managers in China for entire organizations by 2025. There was a time when buying a computer was considered a once-in-a-decade purchase, if not once-in-a-lifetime. Globalization Will Become More Important in Everyday Decisions.

Resource Reduction 280

Resource Reduction Inventory Reduction Trends Logistics Network Optimization Software 280

GlobalTranz

JUNE 30, 2017

In other words, manufacturers need analytics from point-of-sale systems, transportation metrics and more. Essentially, this creates a stronger level of customer service, and it can turn into additional purchases. For example, a customer is a shoe store may purchase shoes, but if offered a new brand of socks, he or she refuses.

Manufacturing Procurement 275

Manufacturing Procurement Manufacturing Procurement Analytics Price Reduction 275

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

” Lora’s Advice If the President’s group called me and asked for my advice, these are the steps to take: Ask all “experts” to leave their egos at the door. Consider actions to take Drive execution My fear is that the group is focused on tactics without this alignment. Define the mission.

Supply Chain Design Software 397

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 397

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 11, 2021

At the same time, the Chief Purchasing Officer (CPO) has taken on a pivotal role by securing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect the workforce and direct materials when primary sources fail. Sourcing and supply chains working in a siloed manner can cause significant delays, resulting in lost revenue upside while escalating costs.

Manufacturing Procurement 278

Manufacturing Procurement Sourcing Strategies Pharmaceutical Procurement Solutions 278

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 3, 2025

According to a survey by ARC Advisory Group, only 10% of industrial companies are ready to apply artificial intelligence/machine learning. They prepare equipment for maintenance, do isolation (disconnect a piece of equipment from the flow of chemicals by closing valves), look at quality or reliability metrics, and do rounds.

Negotiating Skills 187

Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Supply Chain Planning Software 187

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 12, 2019

The IT taxonomy for visibility is supply chain analytics. As you implement supply chain analytics and use control theory with well-defined reference data with clear bands for control, process improvement ensues. The team was seeking analytics to monitor process compliance. Visibility Maturity Model.

Prescriptive Analytics Software 221

Prescriptive Analytics Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Analytics Software 221

Logistics Viewpoints

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Concurrent means to “happen at the same time,” so applying this principle to the supply chain, any change, to any input across the supply chain can be considered and evaluated by demand, supply, distribution, capacity, and purchasing; in real-time. A change to one link (e.g. on-time delivery). A change to one link (e.g. on-time delivery).

Inventory Reduction 331

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning 331

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 23, 2023

I never republished the report, because not enough has changed to warrant it.) The report centers on the concept of moving from inside-out to outside-in technologies. The order latency is the time from purchase by the end consumer to the visibility of the order. This is a natural fit for narrow AI and new forms of analytics.

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Scenario Planning Modeling 369

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

I wrote my first report on Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) while sitting on the floor in the Atlanta airport in 2005 when I was an AMR Research analyst. I wrote many reports on airport floors in those days–electrical plugs were just too scarce.) Sales and Operations Maturity Model from 2005-2008. Mistake #3.

S&OP 195

S&OP Supply and Demand Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement 195