Daily Archives: December 20, 2008

On the Eighth Day of X-Mas … (Supply Chain Trends in 2009)

On the eighth day of X-Mas

my blogger gave to me
thoughts for a shilling,
strategies for winning,

tactics for saving,

five golden rings,

four little words,

tri-focal lens,

two boxing gloves

and a lesson in strategy.

Hot Technologies in 2009 Will Be Spend Analysis and Decision Optimization

Given the current economic climate, organizations will start to adopt these technologies despite their concerns that they are too complicated (which has not been true for years) or too expensive (which is also not true). The emerging leaders in low-cost self-service optimization, like Iasta and Trade Extensions, will take off, as will services companies, such as Lexington Analytics and Opera Solutions, that use leading spend analysis software like BIQ.

Emerging Technologies in 2009 Will Be Specialized Marketplaces and Focussed e-Sourcing Offerings

You’ll not only see an emergence of vertical specific marketplaces like MFG and Co-exprise Energy, but commodity specific marketplaces like cBoxBid.

Sustainability Will Be a Component of Every Sourcing Event

Thanks to Walmart, customers are demanding sustainability, and thanks to the EU, many nations around the globe are in the process of defining and implementing environmental regulations like RoHS and WEEE.

Your Favorite Vendor Will Not Be Around in a Year

This year has seen a couple of big vendors, with credit lines cut off due to bank failures, lost lawsuits, and VC belt-tightening, go through a number of layoff rounds. Two of the largest vendors in the space, despite claims of “regrouping”, are in serious trouble and could soon be on the block … along with a dozen small companies that took too much VC money, and sold too little product, in the last few years. Some have great products, and will be sorely missed if they don’t get sold and close their doors, but it’s a harsh reality when you don’t manage for frugal growth, don’t continually focus on innovation not just in products but internal operations as well, and don’t bring in outside expert help when you need it. (It’s too bad that some of these companies don’t understand that consultants are cheap. Unfortunately, many of these same companies are being run by first-time entrepreneurs — who don’t really understand the difference between a start-up, a small company, and the mid-size or large company they came from.)

You Get More Thoughts for a Pound Than You Do for a Shilling

Twenty times more, to be precise.