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When tech companies began offloading their reverse logistics businesses, industry giants with physical capabilities were waiting, eager to see if they could deploy those capabilities in-house.
In an era where technological advancements are necessary for staying competitive, the digitization of supply chains represents a pivotal shift in operational excellence.
The concept of ‘energy transition’ fascinates me. It’s a simple phrase; one that rolls off the tongue and suggests a satisfyingly straightforward process – stop using one form of energy, start using another. Simple, clean, impactful. The reality, of course, is very different. Energy transition will be spectacularly difficult, messy and eye-wateringly expensive to achieve.
Beneath the surface of the forest floor lies a hidden marvel of nature—the mycelium network of mushrooms. This intricate web connects trees, plants, and other organisms, enabling them to exchange nutrients, information, and resources. Remarkably, this natural system operates with principles that can profoundly inform and improve human-engineered supply chains, particularly as we strive for.
Speaker: Jason Chester, Director, Product Management
In today’s manufacturing landscape, staying competitive means moving beyond reactive quality checks and toward real-time, data-driven process control. But what does true manufacturing process optimization look like—and why is it more urgent now than ever? Join Jason Chester in this new, thought-provoking session on how modern manufacturers are rethinking quality operations from the ground up.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve had to consider about procurement objectives. Here are some typical procurement objectives that every procurement professional should consider. Strategic Objectives Cost Savings: Achieve cost reduction targets through effective supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing. Savings can be cashable or non cashable i.e. cost avoidance.
On October 31 at 10:30 a.m. ET, the Spend Matters Analyst Team will celebrate Halloween by treating all to a webinar that shares the insights they have derived while compiling this year’s 50 to Watch, 50 to Know and Future 5 lists. These lists mark the 11 th year in which Spend Matters highlights the best in procurement technology development and innovation.
As a procurement professional, ensuring your suppliers are acknowledging the role of sustainability within their practices is highly important for, not only the obvious – improving the planet – but building effective relationships and meeting your company’s objectives. What information do you actually need from your suppliers to make a fair sustainability evaluation?
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Purchasing & Procurement Zone brings together the best content for professionals in the purchasing and procurement field from the widest variety of thought leaders.
As a procurement professional, ensuring your suppliers are acknowledging the role of sustainability within their practices is highly important for, not only the obvious – improving the planet – but building effective relationships and meeting your company’s objectives. What information do you actually need from your suppliers to make a fair sustainability evaluation?
EDITOR’S NOTE: I am under embargo regarding the advanced copy I received from ZIP with their Procurement Predictions for 2025. So, I thought I would make a little prognostication myself. for 2030. There is, however, a twist. I have gone through the Procurement Insights archive of 2,410 posts from 2007 to today to provide what I believe will be a unique context explaining the evolution of predictions over the past couple of decades.
As businesses become increasingly global, professionals in the supply chain field must keep up with new technologies, trends, and best practices. With numerous platforms offering online courses, including edX supply chain courses and SCMDOJO academy , it can be challenging to choose the one that best fits your needs, especially when it comes to specialized fields like supply chain management.
In today’s dynamic market, procurement is far more than just a buying and purchasing center. Forward-thinking organizations have transformed the department into an untapped gold mine that creates value for the entire end-to-end manufacturing process—from design and sourcing to production and delivery. Our latest e-book, “ Is Manufacturing Missing Out On Procurement’s Value Add?
Strong vendor relationships are essential for operational success in the fast-paced corporate world of today. Using a procurement management system is one practical strategy to strengthen these connections. This comprehensive guide explores what procurement management software is, its key features, its role in vendor relations, its integration with business processes, and the benefits it offers.
Product lead time is crucial in the life sciences industry and represents a key consideration for customers’ purchasing decisions. For this reason, BD Biosciences aimed to optimize its global supply and distribution network to reduce delivery lead time to customers and optimize its global inventory. How BD Biosciences was successful in reducing global distribution lead times between 30% and 60% in addition to: Increasing agility to prioritize urgent and ad-hoc customer requests Increasing global
In this episode of The Procurement Software Podcast, host James Meads interviews Dan Gianfreda, the new CEO of DeepStream, to explore how procurement teams can move from reactive to proactive tech adoption. Focusing on key procurement challenges and organisational maturity, Dan shares actionable insights to help procurement leaders make smarter, value-driven technology decisions aligned with their team's capabilities.
Resources / Blog / 5 Procurement Industry Trends to Watch in 2025 5 Procurement Industry Trends to Watch in 2025 In recent years, the procurement industry has undergone unprecedented transformations driven by the adoption of digital transformation, big data, and advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and automation.
Purchase control is one of those things that feels small until its not. Its the foundation for managing company spend, keeping cash flow in check, and making sure your team doesnt spend three days tracking down a single lost receipt. And yet, for a lot of small businesses, its a total mess. Purchasing is about getting the right stuff at the right time from the right suppliers for a fair price without blowing up your budget or your supplier relationships.
In the realm of modern business practices, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria have become integral to shaping the strategic framework of organisations aiming to operate sustainably and ethically. For companies committed to embracing these principles, monitoring and reporting ESG metrics within the supply chain is not just a regulatory requirement but a strategic imperative that enhances transparency, builds trust, and secures a competitive edge.
“What should we do about the tariffs?” There’s no straightforward answer — every leader has a different expectation. CFOs want numbers. COOs want action. CEOs want strategy. And supply chain and procurement leaders need to be ready with the right response — fast. That’s why GEP has created a simple three-part framework that will help CPOs and CSCOs brief the board and C-suite with clarity and confidence.
A common thread among the conversations we’ve had recently with senior procurement practitioners tells of the extent to which attitudes towards risk have changed over the past decade. As little as 10 years ago, we heard stories of pretty much indifference to risk: “supply risk management was young,” we heard, and “we didn’t worry too much about risk; we spent a very small percentage of our time on it.
Procurement fraud is often overlooked, but it can tear away at your company’s integrity and reputation from the inside if left unchecked for too long. Activities such as bribery or inflated invoices can lead to severe legal repercussions, significant financial losses, and can damage your brand beyond repair. Proactively identifying and managing procurement fraud is incredibly important when safeguarding your organization’s future.
Choosing the best source for procurement and supply chain information and practical guidance depends on your organization’s needs, the type of advice you seek, and the stage of your procurement transformation. Each of the mentioned sources—McKinsey, Jason Busch, Jon Hansen, Kelly Barner, and Gartner—offers unique strengths and perspectives: 1.
Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) is an established industry process that aims at finding a balance between demand and supply and streamlining cross-functional collaboration. 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.
Essential Guide to Supplier Collaboration Supplier collaboration is redefining success across industries. It’s no longer just about maintaining good relationships; it’s about turning those connections into engines of innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Strong supplier partnerships drive new product development, unlock cost efficiencies, and ensure supply chains are adaptable to changing market conditions.
This introduction to supplier risk management outlines the importance of effectively identifying and managing risks that may arise from suppliers. Supplier risk management is crucial for businesses, as it helps them mitigate potential challenges that can disrupt operations. Risks may include financial instability, delivery delays, quality issues, or non-compliance with regulations.
Negotiations can often feel challenging, especially when external factors seem to diminish your leverage. However, with the right strategies, you can reclaim your negotiation power and achieve favourable terms. Here are 5 steps to help you navigate negotiations effectively and regain control. Negotiation dynamics can shift unexpectedly, making it difficult to secure desired outcomes.
AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.
Resources / Blog / 5 Ways Predictive Procurement Is Transforming High-Tech Manufacturing 5 Ways Predictive Procurement Is Transforming High-Tech Manufacturing Historically, technological advancements have powered the major evolutions in manufacturing, starting with the steam-powered industrial revolution of the late 18th century, followed in the early 20th century by electricity-powered mass production, and then the advent of computers in the 1970s.
External benchmarks are key for assessing the maturity of procurement organisations and for identifying improvement opportunities. Verifiable numbers are hard to come by, and turning them into meaningful actions is even harder. The key focus of our webinar, ‘From Benchmarks To Traction: How to Turn Category Management into a Value Driver,’ was Embedding Category Management across the Procurement Operating Model and sharing practical tips for building and continuously developing effective categor
It’s amazing how revitalising a few days in the company of a group of procurement leaders can be. Guaranteed to recharge the inspiration batteries, face-to-face time with members is what’s best about being in this role. And being in Singapore for the Asia Pacific Procurement Congress last week left me in no doubt that the region continues to be a powerhouse of energy, innovation, creativity and growth.
With Christmas and January sales approaching, procurement teams are well into peak season. Those working for FMCG businesses will be familiar with this period of high demand, its long hours and the pressures of ever-evolving expectations. Its a time when the stakes are high. On the one hand, supply chain weaknesses are open to risk, and even the smallest challenges are magnified.
This webinar will explore how companies can proactively address compliance risks–rather than reactively responding to–UFLPA enforcement actions. Ethan Woolley will provide insights into the latest CBP enforcement trends, entity list updates, and industries under increased scrutiny, with a look at potential shifts under the Trump administration. Ethan will also explore how predictive data and strategic due diligence can help organizations stay ahead of regulatory challenges and strengthen complia
Spend Matters is delighted to announce the 2024 roster for our ‘Future 5’ list. For the sixth year in a row, our analysts have highlighted five start-ups that excited them the most. This year, the five companies that have proven themselves as potential future trend setters are BlueBean , ivoflow, Covalyze, Halo Ai and True Value Hub. To warrant such attention, these vendors must have a product that is ideally 2 to 5 years old, is used by more than five customers and displays an innovative applic
Procurement software tends to fall into one of three categories. There are enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, which are complex systems designed to help companies manage all ends of the supply chain. Then, there is accounting software that people use to keep track of POs, sacrificing a comprehensive procurement suite for all-in-one convenience.
I recently received an invite to an upcoming 30-minute webinar titled “ These 3 Practices Will Boost Your Career: The power of data-driven negotiating.” In this live webinar, Rod Sherkin will describe three Procurement Practices that will drive down purchase costs; strengthen your supply chain; and advance your career by quantifying the value you create.
Supply chain management has grown tremendously in recent economic times. It has evolved dramatically and has significantly impacted various experts and their professional experiences. However, the question arises: Which platform can provide the best supply chain courses? There’s tough competition between the MIT MicroMasters Program in Supply Chain and SCMDOJO.
Speaker: Chris Townsend, VP of Product Marketing, Wellspring
Over the past decade, companies have embraced innovation with enthusiasm—Chief Innovation Officers have been hired, and in-house incubators, accelerators, and co-creation labs have been launched. CEOs have spoken with passion about “making everyone an innovator” and the need “to disrupt our own business.” But after years of experimentation, senior leaders are asking: Is this still just an experiment, or are we in it for the long haul?
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