Dedicated to bringing readers the latest trends, insights, and best practices in procurement and supply chain management. As a collective of industry professionals and enthusiasts, we aim to empower organizations with actionable strategies, innovative tools, and thought leadership that drive value and efficiency. Stay tuned for up-to-date content designed to simplify procurement and keep you ahead of the curve.
Are You Working With Compliant Suppliers? Every company is obliged to comply with laws and regulations. The amount of compliance varies by country, industry and size of company, with some industries such as banking more highly regulated than others. An example of a law is the Data Protection Act 2018 that every company must comply with. To become […]
What are the Key Dates In Supplier Contracts? Too often supplier contracts are signed and then filed away in either a desk drawer or shared drive with little or no management of the contract, except when there is an issue. The supplier delivers the goods or service and the invoices are paid until eventually a new contract is negotiated […]
What are the Steps in eSourcing? One thing that we all do in our daily lives that we also do frequently in business is to make purchases. It’s something that we learn to do when we’re young and then generally follow the same simple process throughout our lives. The amount of time and effort we put […]
How To Avoid Missing A Contract Notice Period One mistake that many of us make is to not to give the correct notice on a supplier contract. This can often result in either a contract automatically rolling over or being put on expensive out-of-contract rates. The cost of forgetting to give notice varies depending on the […]
How To Track Procurement Savings Just as every company tracks the revenue generated by their sales and marketing departments so they can also track the procurement savings delivered by their finance and procurement departments. Although any cost savings delivered may look to be significantly less than the sales revenues generated over a similar period, they can have an equally powerful impact […]
Do You Measure Supplier Performance? Your company has spent a lot of time and effort to run a competitive tender process, negotiated a good deal, signed the contract and implemented the new supplier. For some this is where the idea of the procurement process stops and the supplier is just left to get on and deliver the goods […]
The Ultimate Guide To Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Supplier management is a process that drives the best value between a company and the suppliers they work with. Within strategic procurement, Supplier Management allows companies to plan, manage and improve interactions with third-parties that provide them with goods or services. Supplier relationship management (see below) is a key factor in a […]
A Proven RFI Process For Any Company The ultimate step-by-step guide to a successful request for Information What is a Request For Information (RFI)? A Request For Information or RFI, is usually the formal process (usually in the form of a document or questionnaire) of collecting information from a number of suppliers prior to carrying out […]
Do You Measure Procurement Savings? Every company prepares annual accounts that summarise its financial health and over time comparing them is a measure of how well its doing relative to previous years. These accounts are a top-level summary of the numbers, may be viewed externally and are limited in the amount of detail that they show. As the […]
How Do You Manage Supplier Relationships? It’s a simple fact that suppliers are an essential part of every business, with 70% of the average company’s revenue being spent with third parties. Despite this, for some companies the procurement process ends after signing a contract and starting to use a new supplier. Usually, the only time […]
Why use an eSourcing software? When we purchase goods and services, we follow a process that has either been taught or developed by ourselves from experience with the aim of always getting the best value. A best value process can work well on a day-to-day basis, however generally it does not consider the longer-term needs and commercial objectives when purchasing for […]
A Proven RFP Process For Any Company The ultimate step-by step guide to a successful request for proposal What is a Request For Proposal (RFP)? A request for proposal (sometimes referred to as a request for pricing), or RFP, is usually a document that describes a companies needs (usually goods and/or services). Typically it will […]
A Proven RFI Process For Any Company The ultimate step-by-step guide to a successful request for Information Table of Contents What is a Request For Information (RFI)? A request for information or RFI, is usually the formal process (usually in the form of a document or questionnaire) of collecting information from a number of suppliers […]
What Is Supplier Management? Supplier management is a process that drives the best value between a company and the suppliers they work with. Within strategic procurement, Supplier Management allows companies to plan, manage and improve interactions with third-parties that provide them with goods or services. Supplier relationship management (see below) is a key factor in a […]
How To Protect Your Company’s Bottom Line With eProcurement Software Over the last few years, an increasing number of large companies have begun to take advantage of eProcurement systems to deliver better visibility and control over third-party supplier spend and ultimately to protect and grow their profit margins. This increased investment in eProcurement systems has been driven by the […]
What is eSourcing? eSourcing, sometimes referred to as electronic sourcing is the process a company uses to procure goods and services from suppliers with the ability to compare them side by side based on quoted pricing or capabilities in order to choose a preferred supplier based on data. This process is typically carried out on […]
What Is Contract Management Software? Contract management software is a digital platform designed to be a repository for a company’s legal contracts as well as offering functions such as contract creation, contract negotiation, contract e-signature, contract renewal, contract notifications, and visual analysis. A contract management system has many benefits to an organisation, mainly with it being self-service, user-friendly so that anyone can […]
What is eProcurement? eProcurement, also known as electronic procurement is typically known as the process of purchasing goods and services from a supplier via a procurement software. eProcurement has evolved in recent years. Legacy eprocurement systems tend to focus on purely procuring goods and services from a supplier through a typical sourcing, eTender or eAuction […]
Where Do You Keep Your Supplier Contracts? It is estimated that companies lose around 4% of savings opportunities because of auto-renewing (so called ‘evergreen‘) contracts every year. The amount of turnover that this represents will vary by company, but it is not an insignificant amount of money to leave on the table, especially these days. […]
You Get The Quality You Pay For Once you’ve established that you want to purchase a good or service you’ll invariably look at the various features available that are offered and the price. As part of the price consideration you’ll also check the quality that you’ll receive in return. The rationale being that you pay for what […]
What is Procurement Software? Procurement software (sometimes known as eprocurement software) can be used to support businesses with tools to source goods and services, contract management, supplier management and savings management. Contemporary procurement software is usually hosted within the cloud and can be especially cost effective against older systems as there should be little need […]
How to select the right eProcurement software Procurement departments are the engines within a business that drive greater strategic value. Efficient procurement functions manage end-to-end activities to reveal critical insights not readily available to the wider company. Procurement departments however can struggle to produce these insights due to manual data processes or using legacy or […]
The Price Is Part Of The Cost The values that we are brought up with at home, school and in the work place help determine how we make decisions. These core values influence purchasing decisions and are especially important when evaluating suppliers to better understand how they can add extra value beyond just a price differential. Whenever you want […]
Do Your Suppliers Share Your Values? Whenever we purchase any good or service the first two things that we usually consider are the quality and the price. Our perception of both tells us whether what we are purchasing offers us value for money or not. The idea of what value for money looks like varies from person to […]
Key Considerations When Selecting An eProcurement Software Companies are turning increasingly to technology to deliver efficiencies and ultimately improve profitability. One area that technology is thriving in, especially in larger companies, is eProcurement. Finance and procurement teams have sought to use technology to deliver solutions to traditionally labour-intensive roles and leverage the processes to give them better control and […]
How To Make Better Decisions From High Quality eProcurement Data The explosion of data available to companies has increased exponentially over the last few years. This is due to the collection of data by digital systems in every aspect of both our daily work and personal lives. The collection of this data is being used to help continually […]
What Is e-Sourcing & How Does It Work? Traditionally, reviewing and comparing suppliers to find the best one was a lengthy and time-consuming process. However, these days, technology has made it much simpler and quicker. Because of e-Sourcing, gone are the days when you needed to go through an individual evaluation of suppliers to find which one […]
4 Easily Avoidable Procurement Mistakes Your organisation’s approach to procurement is one of the most important areas that can impact your business’ growth. It is what helps you to identify and deliver best value from suppliers, including reducing costs and streamlining your processes. Ultimately, it is what drive your bottom line. Ideally you should create a strategy […]
5 Benefits of Using a Cloud-Based eProcurement Software When it comes to the procurement of goods and services from suppliers for your business, a robust procurement strategy is important. This strategy is an established process to improve your company’s purchasing activities, from data collection and spend analysis to tendering, negotiation, contracting and supplier management. The goal is optimise the efficiencies of the process to deliver […]
eProcurement is More Than Just eSourcing eSourcing is only one part of the overall eProcurement process. eSourcing secures the best value and pricing which organisations can then lock into a contract. While eProcurement is the whole process from start to finish; sourcing to contract negotiation to ensure the smooth flow of goods and services. It allows you to […]
Improve Your Supply Chain Performance With These 5 Tips When it comes to successful procurement, having a steady supply chain is a crucial element. Supply chain managers are tasked with optimising efficiency strategies as the business climate evolves and as the company grows. Every stage of the supply chain must be thoroughly evaluated and monitored to deliver […]
How to Build Meaningful Relationships With Your Suppliers Working with the suppliers who provide goods and services to your company is essential for the smooth and successful running of your business. This is why supplier relationship management (SRM) is so important. While choosing cost-effective suppliers and maximizing the value of your relationship with them sounds […]
4 Ways To Improve Your RFP Process To Strengthen Your Business Improving how you manage Request for Proposals (RFPs) enables you to work more effectively with suppliers because you are better able to provide all the necessary details about a project for them to respond to. RFPs are more commonly used amongst larger organisations and public body institutions. However, this […]
What Managers Should Look for in an e-Procurement System Manual procurement processes, although reliable, are a costly, document-laden process. The time you spend on email or paper exchanges could be allocated to marketing and finding ways to become more competitive in a digital, tech-first business landscape. Among managers surveyed in Deloitte’s 2018 Global CPO Survey, 83 per cent […]
4 Reasons To Utilise E-Tendering In Your Business Businesses at present are gradually learning the benefits of using on an online procurement platform to speed up transactions and make business procedures more efficient. But before you rush into looking to integrate one with your own company, it would helpful to first determine if your business requires […]
How Supplier Management Solutions Can Help Your Business The growth and sustainability of any business is directly linked to the success of its supply chain. Building and managing one can be incredibly complex, mainly for procurement teams. This is especially true if you don’t know where to start expanding. It’s also possible that any spend reports generated don’t […]
How To Develop An Effective E-Procurement Approach If you’re running a business that handles multiple transactions a day concerning suppliers and clients, it’s essential to establish a practical procurement strategy. It will involve how you manage your products or services, carry out negotiations and store business documents. One convenient way to improve the flow of […]
The Basics of Direct And Indirect Procurement Procurement is an integral part of every business’s operations. It is the process of sourcing and negotiating terms in which goods and services are exchanged between a business and a third party. It usually involves a competitive bidding procedure known as tendering, in which potential suppliers make offers […]
Two Signs You Should Switch Over To A Cloud Based Procurement Software The prominence of cloud computing today has exceeded consumer expectations because more industries seek to leverage the technology to advance their operations. From the world of finance to the comfort of our own homes, the influence of “the cloud” is now ubiquitous because of its application […]
3 Reasons Supply Chain Visibility Is Essential Supply chain management has become more complex over the years as it expands to more locations all over the world. Delivering to locations across the globe has made products much more accessible, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. With these logistical difficulties, it is easy […]
How Does E-Procurement Help Upgrade Your Business The development of software to support B2B companies continually drives different industries to greater success. The better businesses work together with each other, the more effective they become are as individual businesses. Implementing an e-procurement platform for your company is an excellent way to increase productivity whilst streamlining your various […]
How E-Sourcing Software Helps Streamline Your Procurement Process E-sourcing software is becoming an increasingly important part of the operations of many businesses. It centralises key information and ensures consistency across products and services delivered. Software like this also provides instant feedback, which significantly reduces operating costs. The e-sourcing software industry is projected to be worth about $9.7 […]
What to Look for in Vendor Management Software In this fast-paced society, having vendor management software to support your business can bring the convenience and efficiency you need to grow. With numerous online procurement management systems available in the market today, finding the best solution for your business needs is not always easy. Getting another software is […]
Four Reasons Why An eSourcing Platform Is A Good Investment Four Reasons Why An eSourcing Platform Is A Good Investment In the world of e-commerce, it’s important to have full control and visibility of your suppliers. An effective way to achieve that is by eSourcing, which is also known as electronic sourcing. This involves using a […]
Top 3 Benefits Procurement Teams Get From SaaS Solutions Businesses that heavily rely on purchasing goods or services from a third-party may get involved in a long complex procurement process. It can take many weeks for the procurement team to evaluate the RFPs, showcase the findings to executives, negotiate terms and review all the responses to reach a successful […]
4 Steps For Selecting The Right Software For Your Business 4 Steps For Selecting The Right Software For Your Business Choosing software for your business can be exciting, but it can be extremely stressful if you don’t really know what you need. There are a lot of options to choose from and selecting the right one that fits […]
How E-Tendering Is Helping the Public Sector As Well As Business How E-Tendering Is Helping the Public Sector As Well As Business A growing number of businesses and public sector departments are moving online, and e-tendering is one of them for them doing so. E-tendering is the process of procurement transferred to an online space. In some […]
How to Improve Your Organisation’s Spend Analysis & Procurement How to Improve Your Organisation’s Spend Analysis & Procurement The most important business strategy today, according to a report on a survey conducted by Deloitte, is reducing costs. Organisations need to do a thorough analysis of exactly where they are spending money and on what. They must […]
3 Benefits of Adopting Supplier Management for Your Business 3 Benefits of Adopting Supplier Management for Your Business SME’s and enterprises usually require many suppliers in order to operate efficiently and grow. This means you are more likely required to conduct supplier onboarding and vetting, which is the process of gathering data and documents needed so you can contract vendors, buy […]
4 Reasons to Upgrade Your Procurement Process 4 Reasons to Upgrade Your Procurement Process There are always a series of processes to follow in any organisation. Whether it is in the general decision-making or specific to procurement, there are specific steps that should be followed. These processes are governed by rules that encourage everyone in the […]
Why use a cloud-based procurement software? Why use a cloud-based procurement software? With the modern business landscape becoming ever more technologically-dependent, it’s clear that there is no reason for companies to not take advantage of the opportunities at hand. Thanks to the paradigm shifts affecting digitally-driven tools, the processes that each organisation follows are more efficient, […]
4 Reasons to Use a Contract Management Software in 2023 4 Reasons to Utilise Contract Management Software in 2020 When handling a business, one of the more important things to track are your contracts that you create and handle. Be it for your vendors / suppliers, your employees, or your clients, managing your contracts is essential to […]
What To Look For In A Contract Or Supplier Management Software Contract management software used to be for record-keeping or legal auditing purposes only. Today, though, management software have become enterprise-level solutions. Since organisations are always looking for ways to minimise costs and risks while maximising revenue, streamlining processes has become a need rather than a want. […]
What Is a Procurement Platform? What Are The Latest Trends In Procurement Software’s? The business world can be incredibly fickle, so ensuring that every aspect of your business is working as it should is important as it helps insulate it from any external factors that may affect it. One of the most important parts of their business […]
What Is a Procurement Platform? What Is a Procurement Platform? When it comes to profitability, the procurement section of any private organisation serves as its strategic arm. Procurement is the division that helps make the process of outsourcing and supplying goods more efficient. For it to be effective, it needs to be optimised while still following the […]
The benefits of Software as a Service (SaaS) The benefits of Software as a Service (SaaS) Software as a Service (SaaS) services are widely used by many businesses today. In fact, cloud-based software is the default deployment method of many companies these days. According to the Computer Economics report, about 60% of companies have integrated SaaS solutions […]
7 Ways Supplier Management Improves Business Efficiency As a business owner, you’ll want to ensure that the money you spend with a supplier provides you with great value in return. To do so, you need to start by recognising the two main pillars of supplier management, which are: To evaluate whether your suppliers are performing according […]
Benefits Of Contract Risk Management In our everyday lives, we are always entering into some type of basic contract, whether we choose to recognise it or not. Something as simple as buying a coffee from the local barista demonstrates the most basic workings of a contract. I.e. The basic exchange between two parties both sharing something in common, […]
Why is there so much change occurring specifically in the contract management space? Contracts are important. Money may be the blood of a business, but contracts are the bones. If you think about a company, underlying almost every asset or every important relationship is a contract. Every business, every non-profit organisation, and every government entity has […]
How Can You Use E-Sourcing to Improve Your Company’s Procurement Strategy? What is E-sourcing? E-sourcing takes the method of sourcing up a notch by undertaking all the steps involved in a single centralized online location. E-sourcing employs the use of a virtual platform for screening suppliers and connecting different companies, regardless of location constraints. E-sourcing […]
Shortcuts taken in UK supplier vetting – 31% of third parties considered “high-risk” A third of all new supplier onboarding tackled in the UK over the last 12 months wasn’t executed by the book, according to a new Dow Jones report. Half of procurement professionals surveyed by the company believe that corners are being cut […]