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

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 17, 2024

However, as carbon taxes and emissions reporting requirements continue increasing, supply chain professionals face mounting pressures from inside and outside their organizations to measure and improve performance against new, nebulous sustainability metrics. Freight transportation makes up over 10% of total global carbon emissions.

Supply Chain Planning Software 261

Supply Chain Planning Software Procurement Solutions Supply Chain Software Cost Reduction Strategies 261

ivalua

MAY 10, 2025

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than ever—juggling cost control, compliance, supplier risk, and internal complexity, all while trying to modernize outdated systems.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.

Procurement Solutions 130

Procurement Solutions Sourcing Strategies Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Planning Software 130

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 13, 2021

Yes, a time when well-meaning supply chain leaders share their strategy decks for the upcoming year and ask me for an opinion. How do we design work systems to align organizations and ensure that there is the right balance of reward systems with metrics? In the design of the digital program, spend time on metrics and reward systems.

Cost Reduction Strategies 413

Cost Reduction Strategies Price Mitigation Strategies Supply Chain Strategy Supply Chain Design Software 413

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 10, 2025

Resilience is the ability to respond to disruption while maintaining core operations, and more companies are shifting their strategies accordingly. Sudden tariff increases can quickly make a cost-optimized procurement strategy untenable, leaving companies scrambling to adjust. Procurement is another area seeing change.

Optimal Sourcing 218

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Optimization Cost Reduction Strategies 218

The Logistics of Logistics

MAY 1, 2024

Samuel Parker and Joe Lynch discuss DAT iQ: the metrics that matter. DAT iQ provides freight intelligence to inform your budget and procurement strategies so you can navigate market volatility with greater confidence and agility. Source capacity with precision using supply and demand metrics and forecasts.

Metrics 246

Metrics Logistics Network Optimization Software Analytics Software Optimal Sourcing 246

ivalua

MAY 21, 2025

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.

Optimal Sourcing 130

Optimal Sourcing Procurement Solutions Procurement Analytics Analytics Software 130

SCMDOJO

JANUARY 9, 2025

Strategic sourcing and innovative solutions are often viewed as two distinct procurement tools, but they should not be seen in isolation. Think of them as apples and gearseach essential and effective on its own, yet when combined; they create a formidable mechanism for achieving procurement excellence.

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Solutions Negotiating Skills 98

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

SCMDOJO

OCTOBER 28, 2024

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.

S&OP 97

S&OP Optimal Sourcing Supply and Demand Material Savings 97

Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy

JUNE 10, 2025

Now for the Do’s & Don’ts In the dynamic world of FMCG, your Route to Market (RTM) strategy and distributor partnerships can make or break your brand’s success. Do Set Clear KPIs and Governance Structures : Establish transparent metrics for sales, coverage, and service levels. Ensure margins are fair and sustainable.

Vendor Strategies 165

Vendor Strategies Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies 165

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 17, 2025

When we measure the bullwhip impact (in my class on outside-in process thinking), the bullwhip between manufacturing and procurement is 2-3X. Functional metrics align to bonus incentives, but progress in supply chains remains evasive. Align the process to the organization’s strategy and balanced scorecard. Signal Latency.

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Software Scenario Planning 195

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Production Capacity Analysis While traditional testing methods can be time-consuming and offer incomplete data, focusing on key production metrics within the manufacturing process provides more actionable insights. Consider these essential metrics: Asset Utilization: How efficiently are your machines being used?

Material Savings 92

Material Savings Resource Reduction Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction 92

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. That’s when a centralized procurement organization structure proves beneficial.

Pricing Training 105

Pricing Training Expense Reduction Price Reduction Purchasing Training 105

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

ivalua

JUNE 26, 2023

Blog » Procurement on the Thames: Ivalua’s London Summer Symposium June 26, 2023 | | Thought Leadership by Eloise Barnum As businesses navigate through supply chain disruptions, high inflation, and sustainability initiatives, procurement, and supplier management has taken center stage in driving change.

Optimal Sourcing 244

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Sourcing Strategies 244

RFgen

DECEMBER 4, 2024

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. Additionally, we’ll discuss best practices for optimization and strategies for balancing efficiency with resilience.

Sourcing Strategies 96

Sourcing Strategies Inventory Reduction Waste Reduction Expense Reduction 96

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Second, they adapt over time as market structures and strategies evolve. 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.

Supply Chain Planning Software 377

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

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 15, 2022

When reviewing strategy decks for supply chain teams, I often see statements like “move from a functional-silo’d focus to a drive a more holistic response.” Layering CRM and SRM on top of ERP made sales and procurement more efficient but less effective in working with trading partners and serving the organization.

Manufacturing Procurement 397

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

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 12, 2025

If you’re evaluating procurement technology or exploring ways to drive more value from existing systems, chances are you’re looking beyond tactical fixes – you want a smarter, scalable strategy. Misaligned priorities across finance, legal, and procurement create friction that delays decision-making and reduces impact.

Cost Reduction Strategies 130

Cost Reduction Strategies Material Savings Expense Reduction Negotiating Skills 130

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.

Optimal Sourcing 59

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Disruption Vendor Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies 59

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. After two years of research, I think that we throw the supply chain out of balance and limit its potential through the use of traditional and functional metrics. Achieving Balance in Metrics.

Metrics 150

Metrics Agile and Lean Supply Chain Manufacturing Procurement Modeling 150

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. Rationalize global strategies to focus on building markets based on in-market sourcing. Tougher than most understand.

Supply Chain Planning Software 417

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

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

Jaggaer

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Now well dive into best practices in these critical areas to ensure a more effective and resilient sourcing strategy. This allows the procurement team to quickly identify the lowest or most favorable bid based on cost factors. Then experienced procurement teams can assess all the data for more nuanced and context-specific judgments.

Sourcing Strategies 52

Sourcing Strategies Negotiating Skills Optimal Sourcing Price Reduction 52

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 28, 2020

George’s stated goal was an “end-to-end supply chain strategy,” but the verbage rambled in a non-sensical cycle of monosyllabic industry slang when asked to define it. In short, his vision of an end-to-end supply chain was transactional: better processing of order-to-cash and procure-to-pay. The So What?

Supply Chain Planning Software 418

Supply Chain Planning Software Forecasting Forecasting Software Modeling 418

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

RFgen

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Supply chain optimization software tracks items as they move through your supply chain and generate alerts at important points to improves decision-making and enhance visibility across the supply chain by integrating various capabilities like procurement, inventory, and customer relationship management.

Optimal Sourcing 98

Optimal Sourcing Supply Chain Optimization Modeling Inventory Reduction 98

ivalua

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

In recent years, the overall state of Procurement has been bolstered by increased proficiency, expanding engagement, and a growing direct impact on operations. And they’re not the only ones—other department heads are also increasingly budget-conscious, creating a new opportunity to partner with procurement for better budget management.

Procurement Analytics 130

Procurement Analytics Metrics Manufacturing Procurement Optimal Sourcing 130

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 310

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics Optimal Sourcing 310

SCMDOJO

APRIL 15, 2025

However, building such a supply chain requires smart strategies , the right partners, andmost importantlythe ability to adapt quickly when things go wrong. In this article, well explore proven strategies to safeguard your supply chain, minimize risks, and keep your business running smoothly, no matter what obstacles lie ahead.

Vendor Strategies 73

Vendor Strategies Sourcing Strategies Price Reduction Resource Reduction 73

Taulia

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

This blog highlights key strategies from these recent forums on sustainable procurement and practical tips to achieve impactful results. In addition, the EU Green Deal provides an overarching strategy for climate action, while the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) aims to address carbon leakage. How can technology help?

Supply Chain Planning Software 98

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimization Software Supply Chain Software Optimal Sourcing 98

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

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

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 Optimal Sourcing Purchasing Skills Negotiating Skills 72

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 13, 2021

Yes, a time when well-meaning supply chain leaders share their strategy decks for the upcoming year and ask me for an opinion. How do we design work systems to align organizations and ensure that there is the right balance of reward systems with metrics? In the design of the digital program, spend time on metrics and reward systems.

Sourcing Strategies 195

Sourcing Strategies Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software 195