Why Competition Beats Procurement Intelligence Every Time
The Strategic Power of RFPs: Why Competition Beats Procurement Intelligence Every Time Every seasoned procurement professional knows that navigating supplier relationships can be treacherous without the right approach. While procurement intelligence platforms are flooding the market with promises of “knowing what things should cost,” the reality is more complex. It’ll give you a starting point […]
The Reality of AI in Procurement
AI in Procurement: A Realistic Assessment What I’ve learned about harnessing artificial intelligence in procurement whilst avoiding the hype trap After spending the past few years watching AI evolve in procurement and now being more involved in panels, webinars, events, demos with suppliers and even playing around with the Claude API, I can tell you […]
The DIY Procurement Approach & Outsmarting the Enterprise Suites
You can also listen to this compelling case on the Season 6 of The Procurement Software Podcast from James Meads. Links on your favourite podcast player: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Youtube | Captivate.fm How a ride-hailer transformed €XXXM in procurement spend by maximising existing tools instead of chasing expensive enterprise solutions Too many companies […]
Performance Measurement and Continuous Improvement – Navigating Toward Operational Excellence
Part 3: From Implementation to Optimisation With strategic foundations established in Part 1 and implementation tactics deployed from Part 2, sustainable cost management success requires systematic measurement and continuous improvement. However, reaching this maturity level involves significant organisational complexities that many manufacturers underestimate. Organisations successfully navigating to this advanced stage typically sustain 6 – 8% […]
Procurement Implementation Tactics – Navigating the Depths of Cost Optimisation
Procurement Tactics: From Strategy to Execution Having charted your strategic course in Part 1, successful cost management now demands precision in execution. Like experienced navigators who understand that surface conditions reveal little about underwater currents, effective cost managers must probe beneath obvious expenses to uncover hidden cost drivers that can sink profitability. This deep-dive exploration […]
Strategic Procurement Cost Management for Manufacturing Excellence
From my experience leading cost optimisation initiatives across European manufacturing companies, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of cost engineering when applied strategically. In one particularly successful implementation, cost engineering enabled our procurement team to achieve 28% savings in a critical component negotiation by presenting suppliers with detailed should-cost breakdowns they couldn’t dispute. However, I’ve equally […]
Procurement Tactics to Effectively Negotiate with Corporate Giants
In the world of procurement, negotiating with large, established vendors can feel like setting sail in a small vessel alongside towering corporate ships. These corporate leviathans, armed with brand dominance, well-oiled sales machinery, and seasoned negotiation admirals, often command the trading lanes, making even experienced procurement officers feel like a sloop facing a naval squadron. […]