“The role of procurement within global companies has changed dramatically over the past 25 years from that of simply buying goods and services to overseeing an integrated set of management functions. Procurement has grown up,” said a report in Harvard Business Review. Elaine Porteous, procurement consultant and freelance writer, spoke at a recent Dow Jones […]
Six skills for future success in procurement Read More »
Transferring pressure onto your suppliers’ margins is not sustainable in the long-term. In fact, it is the shortest route to supply disruption as you will risk supplier failure, Duncan Jones, Principal Analyst for Forrester Research, told supply chain leaders at SAP and SmartProcurement’s CPO Forum early in March. He noted that successfully implementing a new
Procurement transformation: more than squeezing suppliers’ margins Read More »
A corporate travel manager has to understand a travel market place that involves travel suppliers, agencies and technology providers. This all the while managing a controllable expenditure that ranks the 2nd largest for organisations globally. In a bid to assist travel managers, whether new to the commodity or with experience under their belts, Dr. Roderick
The fundamentals of the corporate travel commodity Read More »
Most organisations agree that there are savings to be had in domestic travel. The big questions are: how significant are these savings? and how do we realise these prospects? Does a saving of up to 40% on air ticket prices or a 100% additional discount on your ticket price versus your corporate fare discount sound
Procuring domestic air travel: strategies offer savings Read More »
Similar to the latest communications technologies, massive strides are being made on the e-Procurement front to facilitate procurement processes and transactions faster, better and more cost effectively, Elmo Erasmus, Chief Technology Officer at WebPortunities told SmartProcurement. Furthermore, the improved technologies are strengthening online procurement systems, making them highly adaptable to the particular circumstances of the
Reducing processing time: online procurement systems Read More »
The seasonally adjusted Kagiso PMI put in a strong performance during March, rising to a 13-month high of 57.2 index points, the Kagiso website reports. The most positive feature of the March numbers is that after rising to just above the key 50 point level in the first two months of 2011, the seasonally adjusted
March PMI rises to 13-month high Read More »
Dr. Douglas Boateng, SmartProcurement editorial board member and CEO of PanAvest International has been appointed Chairman of the CIPS Pan African Best Practice Procurement and Supply Chain Management Adjudication Panel of experts. This team of independent, experienced academics and leading practitioners will meet during the year to discuss and adjudicate on best practice procurement and
SmartProcurement Editorial board member chairman of CIPS adjudication panel Read More »
China’s business relationship with Africa and South Africa is strengthening with every passing day. But while South African business enjoys the prospects of investment from the east, it may have overlooked some reciprocal investments that can be made in the world’s newly second largest economy. This month’s SmartProcurement considers the benefits of China’s warehousing options,
Why warehouse in China? Exploring the benefits Read More »
As of April 1, 2011 suppliers in South Africa must comply with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Braam Botha of management training and consulting firm Arbinger Institute of South Africa tells SmartProcurement about some practical and legal implications of compliance. This article in made available only for information purposes, and is not legal opinion or
Consumer Protection Act: implications for suppliers Read More »
Cabinet announced in March that it will approve the alignment of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) and the Broad-Based Black Economic empowerment Act (BEE Act). Public entities follow the regulations of PPPFA to procure goods and services. Alignment of these two Acts will ensure that government departments and municipalities include BEE when awarding
Cabinet to align treasury procurement regulations with BEE Act. Read More »
