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 287

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 287

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 397

Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Analytics 397

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 313

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 313

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 387

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 387

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

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 221

Resource Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Vendor Strategies 221

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

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

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

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 431

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 431

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

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 346

Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Modeling 346

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

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 282

Manufacturing Procurement Sourcing Strategies Pharmaceutical Procurement Solutions 282

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 395

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 395

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 188

Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Supply Chain Planning Software 188

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

RFgen

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Key components of mobile inventory management include: Smartphone app: Allows field agents to log information, analyze metrics, and manage tasks even in remote areas with limited connectivity. Cloud software: Stores and distributes real-time data, producing reports accessible to all team members.

Inventory Management Software 96

Inventory Management Software Real-time Visibility Inventory Reduction Inventory Management 96

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 4, 2021

Furthermore, COVID-19 exacerbated the existing shift from retail store purchases to e-commerce transactions, with a 32 percent increase in 2020 US e-commerce sales, according to the US Census Bureau. The Conference Board published a report in May titled “ Labor Shortages are Making a Comeback ”. percent for 12 months ending in June.

Supply Chain Software 279

Supply Chain Software Warehousing Real Estate Supply Chain 279

Synovos

NOVEMBER 10, 2023

The platinum medal puts RS Group in the top 1% of the 100,000-plus rated companies assessed by EcoVadis with each company rated on the material sustainability risks and issues for size, location, and industry. ESG Report: FY24 www.rsgroup.com/media/bsocsl4m/rs-group-esg-h1-highlights-pack_-november-23.pdf

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 105

Eliminating Excel in Purchasing Groups Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement 105

Precoro

AUGUST 14, 2023

More and more companies are acknowledging the importance of centralizing and optimizing their procurement operations. One of the ways to accomplish this is to establish a procurement team to streamline ordering by centralizing purchases and improving supplier relations. What are the duties of a procurement manager?

Negotiating Skills 98

Negotiating Skills Purchasing Skills Buyer Training Procurement Solutions 98

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 2, 2023

ARC Advisory Group did a study on the supply chain collaboration network (SCCN) a couple of years ago. The company’s customers report that the ETAs provided by these FourKites are more accurate, timely and easier to access than those provided by carriers. That is fast growth.

Real-time Visibility 314

Real-time Visibility Supply Chain Visibility Inventory Reduction Agile and Lean Supply Chain 314

The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

As part of the CMA CGM Group, CEVA Logistics has a global reach, which means that we can make a global difference. Photo Credit: Changi Airport Group. We are honored to partner with Changi Airport Group in this humanitarian effort for our friends in Indonesia.’’. The CMA CGM Group aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Supply Chain Planning Software 242

Supply Chain Planning Software Resource Reduction Global Supply Chain Software 242

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 27, 2020

How do we harness the power of data with new forms of analytics? Today, technology providers are selling analytics. This week, I received this email from a financial institution questioning why business leaders are not harnessing more insights and redesigning processes based on analytics. S&OP Challenges. Reflection.

Analytics Software 270

Analytics Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing 270

Jaggaer

MARCH 20, 2025

Uncertainty around federal and state policy changes poses a significant challenge for procurement leaders across all types of higher education institutions. Additionally, institutions must remain adaptable to changes in compliance requirements related to federal grant-funded purchases, sustainability mandates, or supplier diversity policies.

Education 52

Education Procurement Analytics Pricing Training Purchasing Training 52