By Gordon Reid, Lead – Transparent Procurement Advisory Programme One of the first things that I learned when I started my unplanned career in Procurement is that you cannot do it alone. Besides the team that you work with, you also need support and buy-in from people across all departments of the organisation for Procurement […]
Procurement: You can’t do it alone! Read More »
By Stephen Bauld The COVID-19 pandemic looks like it is entering the next phase. We could be looking at a long time before we get back to the new normal and leadership in procurement will help to shape the wellbeing of organisations moving forward. The argument that organisations need to begin now to train their
Procurement perspectives: leadership in procurement is vital to organisations Read More »
By Gregory Romney A robust category plan and strategy will guarantee significant impact for organisations. Here are six key elements that make up a robust category strategy:
6 elements of a robust category strategy Read More »
Selecting the perfect contractor is essential to ensure that your department is able to achieve its goals to reach its full potential. One bad choice can spoil an entire operation and disproportionately set back fiscal and business goals. Follow these helpful supplier selection tips to ensure that you/your department do not fall victim to avoidable
Supplier selection tips: do this, don’t do that Read More »
By Lucy Patchett A negotiation model has been developed encompassing steps to ensure that procurement professionals think “more broadly and deeply” about the process. Colin Linton, Director at business training and consultancy firm Gidea Solutions, spoke to CIPS in the podcast SPEED Negotiation Process about the model that he has developed through his research into
What can SPEED do to improve your negotiations? Read More »
When companies think about security, it is usually about securing their networks, software and digital assets against cyber-attacks and/or data breaches. But, in supply chain – whether it is a vendor used for facilities management or for cloud hosting – almost every organisation depends on a growing supply chain of services, creating an eco-system of
Managing Supply chain cyber risks Read More »
Have your say to help suppliers improve. Recent international research shows that: • Buyers are increasingly frustrated by the quality of proposals that they receive• Early engagement between buyers and potential suppliers is becoming increasingly important• The proposal document is becoming more crucial in the evaluation process Do you agree with these statements?
Opinion survey: are you tired of receiving sub-standard proposals and tender responses? Read More »
How do you take your information technology (IT) procurement beyond price negotiation and vendor management? In this month’s SmartProcurement, Ronald Flockhart, Group Head: Sourcing and Category Management at First National Bank, takes a look at creating a meaningful and relevant IT sourcing strategy that considers long-term, holistic perspectives to maximise enterprise value, while minimising costs
Ingredients for a successful IT sourcing strategy Read More »
While it is true that you often have to spend money to make money, optimising every cent by tapping into the power of spend analysis creates significant savings opportunities compared with flying blind and having no visibility on your spend. To get an optimal return on your investment, it pays to understand and implement effective
How procurement spend analysis can cut costs Read More »
Following a robust increase in August 2020, the Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) ticked up further to 58.3 index points in September. The shift to a lower lockdown level mid-month likely drove the further improvement in business conditions in the local manufacturing sector. However, the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) cautioned that the fact that
PMI climbing, but manufacturing levels still below pre-pandemic levels Read More »
