Bernie van Niekerk, Author at Smart Procurement

What do ESG and sustainability mean for procurement?

Leave a Comment / Global Sourcing, Leadership and People, Procurement Strategy, Sourcing Strategy, Strategic Sourcing, Sustainable Procurement / Bernie van Niekerk

Sustainable procurement involves incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into procurement processes and policies, Matjale Matsaung, Global Sustainable Procurement Expert & Managing Director, Sechaba Bauen, told delegates at the Smart Procurement World Indaba 2022. The aim is to ensure that business with suppliers is conducted in a manner that aligns with corporate social responsibility […]

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Happy birthday to the Sustainable Procurement Pledge!

Leave a Comment / Global Sourcing, Sourcing Strategy, Supplier Management, Supply Chain Management SCM, Sustainable Procurement / Bernie van Niekerk

SmartProcurementWorld congratulates the Sustainable Procurement Pledge (SPP) on its third birthday this month, and on the substantial impact it has made on the industry in its short existence. SPP is an international bottom-up and non-profit organisation for procurement practitioners, academics and professionals, creating and growing knowledge on responsible sourcing practices and empowering people in procurement.

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Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) October 2022

Leave a Comment / Leadership and People, PMI / Bernie van Niekerk

The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose from 48.2 index points in September to 50 in October. This is slightly better than the average recorded during the previous quarter (49.6). However, the Transnet strike and faltering global demand likely hurt exports, while persistent load-shedding capped the recovery in activity and demand. However, as

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Getting Value out of B2B Marketplaces

Leave a Comment / e-Procurement, SRM Supplier Relationship Management, Supplier Management, Technology / Bernie van Niekerk

One of the most common assumptions made by large enterprises is that having a digital purchasing system means they have unlocked all the potential value in their procurement process and they do not need access to a B2B marketplace. You have a digital procurement process, but you’re not seeing the value you expected. What now?

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How to take control of your energy procurement

Leave a Comment / Sourcing Strategy, Sustainable Procurement / Bernie van Niekerk

SmartProcurement News speaks to Australia-based Head of Procurement & Shared Services at SA (South Australia) Power Networks and President of the Energy Procurement Supply Association (EPSA), Charlie Hollis, about a range of current energy procurement challenges – from rising costs to net zero targets and changing legislation. With South Africa’s government having committed to a

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Report Back: Smart Procurement World Indaba 2022

Leave a Comment / Leadership and People, Procurement Leaders, Supplier Management, Supply Chain Management SCM / Bernie van Niekerk

THINK GLOBAL AND ACT LOCAL, SA PROCURERS ADVISED Procurement myopia can be a death sentence for an organisation, was the warning issued to procurement professionals attending Smart Procurement World’s 2022 Indaba at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand last month. This has never been more true than in today’s fragile, post-pandemic and disruption-fraught business environment, where

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Learn from failures to improve negotiations

Leave a Comment / Leadership and People, Legal / Contract, Negotiation, Professional Development / Bernie van Niekerk

Failure is critical to learning, but no one wants to talk about it, says Mark Raffan, who heads up training and sales at Negotiations Ninja, a Canadian training company leading the way in negotiation, conflict resolution, persuasion and influence, and communication. He also hosts the Negotiations Ninja Podcast, the top negotiation podcast in the world.

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Why data is vital for travel procurement

Leave a Comment / Big Data, Technology / Bernie van Niekerk

Travel and Procurement professionals rely on accurate, timely and reliable data to make good business decisions and to run a successfully managed travel programme, but achieving this is easier said than done. Here SmartProcurement News publishes an article by MD and Senior Vice President of Wings Travel Management in South Africa, Kevin Lomax, in which

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Leader in Procurement: Melita Ntsane

Leave a Comment / Leadership and People, Procurement Leaders / Bernie van Niekerk

This month SmartProcurement profiles Melita Ntsane from CBRE Excellerate Full name Melita Ntsane Position Head of Procurement, CBRE Excellerate (CBRE Excellerate merges CBRE’s operations in Africa and the Middle East with several of Excellerate’s businesses – including advisory & transaction services, facilities management, valuation and project & development management services as well

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A ‘must read’ for procurement professionals everywhere

Leave a Comment / Leadership and People, Procurement Strategy, Sourcing Strategy, Sustainable Procurement / Bernie van Niekerk

Procurement specialists are talking about a new book in their industry, written by author and thought leader on procurement, sustainability and governance, Sanjay Kumar, which many say was a long time in coming. It will most certainly be of interest to South African procurement professionals who are particularly challenged by the increasing focus on sustainable

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Author name: Bernie van Niekerk