What Powers Artificial Intelligence (AI)? A Guide to Procurement!

Unchaining Change Leadership

Artificial Intelligence is an increasing part of our everyday lives, powering our smart phones and the internet of things.  But few people really understand what it is, how it works and more importantly, why it is so important to Procurement.  

This paper seeks to answer those questions and specifically address its benefits to the Procurement process by addressing the following checklist: 

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7 Essential Attributes of Strategic Supplier Partnerships!

Though the phrase partnership is often used, what really constitutes a strategic supplier partnership?

In a previous article about supplier management, I suggested that the more a supplier tells you that they are strategic, the less they really are. Strategic is a term that is often overused. Whether the phrase refers to sourcing, procurement, relationships, or other matters, its use is prevalent.

The notion of partnerships is equally ubiquitous and similarly both mis- and over-used. This article will identify a taxonomy for a strategic partnership between two parties.

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7 Signs of Excellent Procurement Teams!

Unchaining Change Leadership

Excellence, or superiority, is often the goal in corporate organizations. Each and every function, within its own right, including Procurement teams, strives for excellence and achievement in order for a company to collectively grow, evolve, and thrive.

Achieving excellence seldom comes easy. Hardships and roadblocks are to be expected taking the road less traveled towards change and transformation, but without daring to create something contemporary, one often settles for commonality.

There is no one answer to success and achievement, but there are parallels that can be drawn between organizations that simply exist, and those that prosper.

Procurement is a function that has long been at cross-roads; dare to transform within people, process & technology, or keep doing what has always worked just fine.

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How to Make Your Business Punchout Ready!

Punchout catalogs can change many aspects of your business. If you’re selling B2B, then you should consider implementing a punchout catalog to establish more efficiency throughout your supply chain.

 Using modern tools and a bit of planning, you can make your business punchout ready, so your clients can begin ordering right away. 

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The Future of the Chief Procurement Officer … Is Already Here!

Kodiak Rating’s CTO was recently in attendance at a Chief Procurement Officer and Procurement Leaders event held in London, titled DITx — Data Intelligence and Tech Forum.

As written by Procurement Leaders, “DITx is Europe’s ONLY event specifically designed for procurement professionals wanting to capitalize on a whole new set of opportunities that disrupt yet provide new transformative, value adding capabilities” (Procurement Leaders 2017).

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Make Freight Sourcing More Efficient!

The Freight sourcing team and procurement are critical components of the whole supply chain and is crucial to the success of the business. Whether you are a BCO (Beneficial Cargo Owner), Freight Forwarder or NVOCC it is essential that you get this critical component right.

In order to achieve maximum efficiency in freight sourcing and procurement, you need a strong team to handle the requirements.

These are the must-haves for any effective freight sourcing team.

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Getting the Education and Experience to Land a Job in Supply Chain!

The supply chain and logistics fields are among the fastest growing career fields. There are hundreds of different positions and career paths open to qualified candidates. It can be thrilling to work towards becoming a part of a fast-paced industry that is experiencing rapid growth, but you also need to be prepared with education and experience

It’s important to know how to prepare yourself for entering this specific sector. If you don’t prepare well and thoroughly, it will be nearly impossible to gain a worthwhile position. Not to mention preparation can provide you with invaluable learning education and experience that can help you maintain your footing once you are a working professional. 

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7 KPIs Your Procurement Team May Be Ignoring!

Procurement bridges the gap between product, internal stakeholders and customers. Elements of that bridge include KPIs.

In order to support the weight of internal and external expectations, Procurement teams must be prepared to perform as a key value adder within an organization.

Meeting expectations at the door isn’t always the easiest task, especially when those expectations can be wide sweeping (example: minimize cost).

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Procurement (and Purchasing) Job Interview Questions & Answers

Procurement, or Purchasing, is an area of Supply Chain that involves and requires very specific skills and expertise.  This is particularly apparent if you are conducing a job interview and hiring a Procurement professional, you are looking for a  Procurement job,  you are looking to outsource anything, or you are dealing with Procurement people in the course of conducting business.  

Regardless of your position or situation it is highly valuable to understand  the type of interview questions, and answers, appropriate for Procurement and Purchasing professionals.    

Check out this list of 25 Procurement and Purchasing and Supply Chain interview questions and answers.

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Our 2021 Top 10 List! (Part 2)

As we come to the end of our 5th year here at Supply Chain Game Changer it’s time to reflect on the tremendous events of the year.

The effects of the Coronavirus pandemic have continued to stretch far and wide, unabated, touching many aspects of all of our lives. Even the supply of Christmas Trees will be impacted in some fashion by the pandemic due to logistics delays, trucker shortages, and environmental forces.

We would like to thank our incredible followers and readers for the ongoing support. Supply Chain Game Changer is recognized as a Top 10 site globally in Supply Chain, Logistics, and Procurement. We’ve been recognized for global Though Leadership and Influence in Change Management, Supply Chain, Management and Education Technology.

And as we ended the year we published our 1000th article! An amazing milestone representing our extensive library with something for everyone.

So let’s review our Top 10 list articles for the second half of 2021!

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Hey Procurement! It’s Time to SELL!

The Procurement, or Purchasing, function is considered by many to be a necessary but non-strategic part of any organization. But there is a profoundly significant Procurement value chain.

Study after study shows that this is a common view held amongst Executives and peer functions alike.

This is not to say that they believe Procurement doesn’t play a role, but rather that they don’t view Procurement as playing a critical role beyond cutting costs and finding suppliers.

Well here’s some news. Procurement is strategic!

Instead of waiting for others to realize that now is the time for Procurement professionals to make their value and contribution known.

Now is the time for Procurement to SELL!

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Overcoming Vendor Management Challenges!

Executives and managers already understand how vital it is to manage employees. However, for those who work in the supply chain industry, there is the added difficulty of vendor management challenges.

Creating efficient and healthy relationships with your third-party partners is essential to this sector, and it could mean the difference between failure and success.

In order to generate sustainable growth, effective vendor management is key — but it requires attention and care. 

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How to Negotiate with Chinese Suppliers!

Knowing how to negotiate with Chinese suppliers is a critical skill for British businesses aiming to import goods. The process requires a clear understanding of both cultural nuances and the mechanics of a good deal and it isn’t just about getting a lower price, but about building a relationship that benefits both your UK business and the supplier in China.

It’s about finding a balance where quality, price, and timing meet your business needs without compromising the supplier’s ability to deliver. 

With the right strategy, British companies can secure a competitive edge, ensuring their ventures into international trade are both profitable and sustainable.

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Procurement Outsourcing – Keep your Integrity!

Like so many professionals Procurement people are very proud.  They are proud of the job that they do and the contributions that they make.  And they are most always proud of their ability to negotiate and get the best deal!

But at some point in their careers, especially in the age of Outsourcing, they are likely to have to deal with potential suppliers who provide Procurement services.  Procurement typically negotiates deals for other functions like I/T, HR, Manufacturing and every other area in the company.

Now they are faced with dealing with companies who basically state that they can do a better job at negotiating and Procurement than they do.

In the face of such a perceived, direct challenge to your abilities how do you and your Procurement team deal with this professionally and with integrity?

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Seasoned Leadership in Action™ – An Interview with Jill Button, CEO of ProcurePro!

At Supply Chain Game Changer we believe in sharing experiences and expertise from people in every industry and from across the globe.  As such we have introduced our “Seasoned Leadership in Action” Interview series.  This interview is with Jill Button, President and CEO at ProcurePro.

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