ivalua

JUNE 9, 2025

In this type of environment, traditional procurement software 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.

Optimal Sourcing 130

Optimal Sourcing Procurement Solutions Purchasing Skills Procurement Analytics 130

Precoro

DECEMBER 24, 2024

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.

Price Reduction 105

Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Sourcing Strategies Expense Reduction 105

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Initially, the output was published to procurement to design strategic buying strategies. Procurement became an island–isolated from the demand signal except for MRP. Watermelon Metrics Don’t Drive The Right Results. I love the metaphor of watermelon metrics. What are functional metrics?

Supply Chain Planning Software 355

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

ivalua

JUNE 14, 2023

We recommend leveraging these workstreams, based on Gartner’s 4 Workstreams for Successful Implementation of Any Procurement Application to maximize the impact of your next large-scale procurement implementation: 1. Ivalua Spend Management Insights [ivory-search] Get Ready for Success!

Optimal Sourcing 239

Optimal Sourcing Procurement Sourcing Strategies Resource Reduction 239

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 2, 2025

The issue is that when companies optimize functional metrics, they throw the supply chain out of balance and sub-optimize value. There is no unifying data model to align procurement and manufacturing, transportation and distribution, revenue management and demand planning, or sales account teams with supply chain planning.

Optimal Sourcing 195

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Design Software 195

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 15, 2022

Companies became less clear on the definition of supply chain excellence and how to implement decision support technologies. In the supply chain team analysis, note the 21% gap between procurement and manufacturing teams, the 35% gap between sales and operations and the 21% gap between finance and operations. Functional Metrics.

Manufacturing Procurement 397

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

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 29, 2020

Cash-to-Cash Metrics. Cash-to-cash is a compound metric: (Days of Receivables+Days of Inventory)-Days of Payables=Cash Conversion Cycle. While touted as a digital procurement provider, it took the Company nine days to onboard me as a vendor, and two weeks to process a Purchase Order. We do not know how to walk the talk.

Optimal Sourcing 299

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Design Software Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction 299

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 7, 2015

While Joe is trying to balance the feedback from Filipe and Frank, he is often asked to change his metric targets by his CFO named Lou. The book outlines how to drive a guiding coalition. It is for this reason, that I believe that the traditional SCOR Model metrics are problematic. Achieving Balance in Metrics.

Metrics 150

Metrics Agile and Lean Supply Chain Manufacturing Procurement Modeling 150

ivalua

SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Data is beyond critical to Procurement Operations. It’s everything, and the burden falls on procurement leaders to capture pertinent data to build good teams, track performance and show value. Now with Digital Transformation as a mandate, Procurement officers must also find ways to measure their digital progress.

Metrics 140

Metrics Negotiate Pricing Supply Chain Software Benchmarking 140

Unleashed

MARCH 9, 2021

What is procurement? In simple terms business procurement is the process of locating and acquiring goods and services from external sources for the business to use. Procurement activities include planning, sourcing, and negotiation, along with risk management, legal and value analysis. Procurement in 2021 and beyond.

Procurement Analytics 104

Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Optimal Sourcing Material Savings 104

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 18, 2023

For organizations layered in functional metrics and driving a cost agenda, this is a tough nut to crack. In the face of variability, this is two-to-six weeks too long to make allocation or procurement decisions. The traditional leader values cost reduction but is blind on how to value time. Tougher than most understand.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Software 417

SCMDOJO

MARCH 24, 2025

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.

Purchasing Skills 69

Purchasing Skills Negotiating Skills Negotiate Pricing Procurement Analytics 69

SCMDOJO

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Why Your Procurement Strategy is More Critical Now Than Ever Before In an era of global supply chain disruptions, a robust procurement strategy is no longer optionalits essential. The right procurement strategy ensures that organizations: Mitigate risks before they escalate. Want to future-proof your procurement function?

Optimal Sourcing 59

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Disruption Vendor Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies 59

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

We consistently see that companies focused on functional excellence–a focus within a functional silo like manufacturing, transportation or distribution– or singular metrics– like inventory or costs– underperform against their peer groups. The question was on “how to improve performance.”

Supply Chain Planning Software 377

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Software 377

Supply Chain Opz

OCTOBER 10, 2014

An accomplishment-based resume provides metrics and quantifiable info about a candidate’s accomplishments. If you’re an inventory planner, how many SKUs did you manage? If you’re a Procurement professional, what was your spend? Procurement? Functional resumes tend to list prior experience in terms of “duties.”

Supply Chain Planning Software 271

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software Supply Chain 271

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 8, 2014

Interview for Metrics That Matter. My kitchen table is piled high with interviews for the upcoming book, Metrics That Matter. He is responsible for manufacturing, procurement, supply chain planning, logistics, quality, social responsibility and final product engineering. ” Supply Chain Leader. I am behind. The heat is on.

Procurement Analytics 279

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Metrics Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 279

Precoro

MARCH 27, 2025

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.    The key thing to remember is that cost reduction in procurement isn’t just about slashing expenses.

Cost Reduction Strategies 45

Cost Reduction Strategies Expense Reduction Price Reduction Vendor Strategies 45

ivalua

JUNE 11, 2021

Companies are being pressured on all sides to commit to Net Zero and CPOs should build their Net Zero goals by evaluating sustainability metrics into all aspects of their procurement decisions and processes. Now is the time to act, and to engage your supply chain on this important global issue. Sounds interesting? Sign up HERE.

Supplier Management 130

Supplier Management Sustainability Procurement How To 130

SCMDOJO

APRIL 11, 2025

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.

Pricing Training 72

Pricing Training Negotiating Skills Optimal Sourcing Purchasing Skills 72

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 5, 2013

The cost was 60% more in than average; but even more unfortunate, they never got a good understanding of how to use the planning system. Bias and error are selectively measured and the organization is unclear on how to improve demand processes. Integration of corporate social responsibility metrics in planning. Manufacturing.

Supply Chain Planning Software 255

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply and Demand Supply Chain Design Software 255

SCMDOJO

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

While CPI is normally used within project management and earned value analysis, it has significant application and importance within supply chain contexts, particularly in procurement, logistics and warehousing. What contexts can it be used in and how, as well as the benefits of using cost performance index in supply chain contexts.

Negotiating Skills 52

Negotiating Skills Optimal Sourcing Negotiate Pricing Cost Reduction Strategies 52

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 28, 2020

In short, his vision of an end-to-end supply chain was transactional: better processing of order-to-cash and procure-to-pay. Throughout the year, I struggled to help the team understand the baseline of how to measure the demand plan’s success. He was controlling but lacking the understanding of a planning project.

Supply Chain Planning Software 418

Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 418

ivalua

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

In August 2020 Gartner published this report “4 Tactics Procurement Can Use to Sustain Influence as Economic Conditions Improve” This blog summarizes the key points of the report which you can read in full, here. Procurement Teams Step-up. A Blueprint for Demonstrating the value of Strategic Procurement.

Optimal Sourcing 130

Optimal Sourcing Procurement Gartner Agile and Lean Supply Chain 130

SCMDOJO

MAY 26, 2025

Learn how to build a robust maintenance program with Effective Preventive Maintenance Planning , and keep your machinesand timelinesrunning smoothly. Workers should feel supported, not micromanaged, and know how to escalate problems when necessary. Coordinating with procurement and suppliers further supports timely deliveries.

Supply Chain Planning Software 59

Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction Material Savings Resource Reduction 59

Silvon Software

JUNE 23, 2020

As I mentioned in my previous post, Sales Dashboards – 16 Metrics for Manufacturers , a strategy for measuring business performance should also incorporate metrics that focus on the supply chain and other operational areas of the enterprise. Nevertheless, measuring supply chain performance is critical for a manufacturing concern.

Manufacturing Procurement 111

Manufacturing Procurement Metrics Gartner Supply Chain Planning Software 111

RFgen

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

You’ll learn how to leverage data to streamline operations, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and exceed customer expectations. Data analytics also offers actionable insights for: Inventory Management: See stock levels across multiple locations in real-time.

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Optimization Modeling Inventory Reduction 98

SCMDOJO

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Conversely, a student who quickly grasps procurement strategies can be challenged with advanced case studies and leadership projects. For example, a student might work on a project that involves analyzing sales data to predict future product demand, thereby learning how to adjust procurement strategies accordingly.

Supply Chain Planning Software 97

Supply Chain Planning Software Analytics Software Forecasting Software Predictive Analytics Software 97

Precoro

JUNE 3, 2025

Category management isn’t just another procurement trend. What procurement teams need is a clear view of their spend, tighter control, and a strategy that delivers lasting value—exactly what category management provides. The goal is to get the best results from every category. It’s tactical and short-term.

Manufacturing Procurement 45

Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions Material Savings 45

Silvon Software

APRIL 19, 2022

Procurement is one core process area being focused to better manage today’s fluctuating change, with key performance metrics leading the way to assessing and managing procurement performance. The Basics of Procurement KPIs. Every KPI needs a clearly defined goal. Supplier KPIs.

Optimal Sourcing 124

Optimal Sourcing Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Negotiate Pricing 124

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

GlobalTranz

NOVEMBER 30, 2021

Let’s take a closer look at how to turn these practices into action. When you track transportation metrics and KPIs like transit time, on-time pickups, and percent of truckload capacity utilized across your carrier partners, you can identify trends and opportunities for streamlined OTR transportation management.

Optimal Sourcing 296

Optimal Sourcing Transportation Rail Software Sourcing Strategies 296

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

At the time, many business leaders did not know how to type and had no idea how to use a computer. In my first classes, I taught the group how to speak the language of demand—forecastability, Forecast Value Added (FVA), backcasting, demand and market latency, and market drivers. Lack of aligned metrics.

Inventory Reduction 434

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Design Software 434

SCMDOJO

JULY 3, 2023

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, organizations across industries are realizing the immense value of effective procurement practices. Procurement professionals play a vital role in driving operational efficiency, cost savings, and strategic decision-making. But how do you get started? Do not worry!

Purchasing Training 98

Purchasing Training Negotiating Skills Buyer Training Manufacturing Procurement 98

Jaggaer

MAY 8, 2025

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.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Procurement Solutions 52

Supply Chain Shaman

OCTOBER 1, 2013

Complexity reigned in the business and they were unsure how to manage it. OI has been more focused on transactional efficiency, procurement and IT standardization. As I write my new book, Metrics That Matter, I am studying the patterns of corporate performance based on choices in supply chain program execution. Conscious Choice.

Illinois 253

Illinois S&OP Waste Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software 253

Precoro

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

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.

Pricing Training 105

Pricing Training Expense Reduction Price Reduction Purchasing Training 105

Jaggaer

APRIL 24, 2025

Supply chain management typically does not fit very well with procurement, which is a challenge at the best of times, and can be a disaster in difficult times. She suggested that we need to unlearn what we know before we can learn how to fix this situation. Procurement must adjust accordingly. Our thinking is still siloed.

Optimal Sourcing 52

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Demand Planning Software 52