On the Ninth day of X-Mas (2016)


On the ninth day of X-Mas
my blogger gave to me:
Direct Sourcing Posts
Risk Management Posts
Sustainable Posts
e-Procurement Posts
some SRM Posts
some CLM Posts
some Best Practice Posts
some Trend Bashing Posts
and some ranting on stupidity …

While it should just be sourcing, as direct sourcing for one organization is indirect sourcing for another, the reality is, it’s not. Most sourcing platforms were designed for indirect sourcing only and can’t handle the complexity that often goes hand in hand with direct sourcing.

If you’re not convinced, take the Direct Procurement Challenge. Chances are your platform will fall flat on its user interface.

Remember, as Aberdeen pointed out in one of their better pieces, back in the time when they had strong supply analyst talent, we’re Living in a Materials World and you better be prepared to do something about it.

That is because Procurement is Complex [and] Your Platform [better be] Capable of Handling It!

The reality is that, for the average organization, Your Procurement Platform is Cost Centric Perfect for Indirect Only. And that’s just not enough.

If you don’t get it, then you need to get a grip on The Nature of Supply Dynamics
Part I: Unknown when Unmanaged
Part II: Commodity Based Cost Models Alone Aren’t Enough.

You need more, much more.

You need a direct procurement platform capable of Sourcing Lifecycle Management: [it is] The Direct Sourcing Cure.

Come back tomorrow for the tenth day of X-Mas.

On the Eighth day of X-Mas (2016)


On the eighth day of X-Mas
my blogger gave to me:
Risk Management Posts
Sustainable Posts
e-Procurement Posts
some SRM Posts
some CLM Posts
some Best Practice Posts
some Trend Bashing Posts
and some ranting on stupidity …

Risk is everywhere. Embedded in everything.

The categories of risk are truly The Dirty Dozen.

Every organization is Playing With Fire: [with all of the] Hidden Risks Lurking in The Supply Chain!

These risks stay hidden thanks to the common practice of Siloed Supply Risk Management [which] Just Wastes Time, Money, and Resources.

It doesn’t have to this way. For instance, here are 3 Best Practices in Supply Risk Management That You Are Likely Overlooking.

These will help you understand that Supplier Risk: [is just] The Tip of the Iceberg.

Because, and it is worth repeating, Hidden Risks are Everywhere!!

And when one rears its ugly head, that’s when you find out that Turbulence [is] Not Just for Airplanes Anymore!

But while the enormity of the situation may drown you, despite what your ERP vendor will tell you, your ERP is a big risk. Here are A Few Reasons Why Your ERP is a Disaster Waiting to Happen.

When it comes to risk, could you be managing it right? Yes, and you could start with some Risk Monitoring.

After all, when you consider what a realized risk costs, It Shouldn’t Be Hard to Justify Investments in Risk Avoidance.

Come back tomorrow for the ninth day of X-Mas.

On the Seventh day of X-Mas (2016)


On the seventh day of X-Mas
my blogger gave to me:
Sustainable Posts
e-Procurement Posts
some SRM Posts
some CLM Posts
some Best Practice Posts
some Trend Bashing Posts
and some ranting on stupidity …

Sustainability. Corporate Social Responsibility. They are more than just buzzwords. They are essential to not only productive Procurement but corporate survival. If you’re not careful, and a critical resource required for production gets exhausted, then what? If you’re not cautious, and banned materials get into your products and you get hit with tens of millions of fines your company can’t afford as it is operating on razor thin margins, then what? And so on.

The reality is, Failure to Monitor a Supply Chain for Risk Can Tarnish Your Brand.

Don’t forget! A Major Disruption to Supply Chains Occurs Every Day — Is Yours Ready?

That’s one reason A Financial Health Check Should Be a Pre-Qualification of Every Supplier Qualification.

You have to Stop Blaming the Supplier! Melamine in the Milk is STILL Your Fault
After all, You’d Think It Would Be Obvious By Now that You Should Not Poison Your Customer!

You Need to Get Sustainable Because Customers Won’t Pay!

Sustainablity Requires Shared Understanding

Waste is costly. More costly than you think.
So here’s A Starter’s Guide to Zero Waste
Reasons you should Waste Not, Want Not
and Grocery Retailers Waste So Much Food It Should Be Criminal!

And even though you’re focussed on that bottom line, remember to ask yourself:
Is Your Supply Management Ethical?
Do You Know the Rules of Ethical Supplier Interaction?
Dilemma or Not, Buyers Still Must Take Ethics into Account!

And while you might not be big on document management,
Content is a Cornerstone of Compliance

In conclusion, come back tomorrow for the eighth day of X-Mas, and Don’t Be a Smeghead!

On the Sixth day of X-Mas (2016)


On the sixth day of X-Mas
my blogger gave to me:
e-Procurement Posts
some SRM Posts
some CLM Posts
some Best Practice Posts
some Trend Bashing Posts
and some ranting on stupidity …

Before we go any further, the doctor would like to remind you that It’s Sourcing and Procurement, that we’ve already given you a list of basic questions to ask your e-Procurement Vendor, and that Procurement is so extensive that it’s the source of 101 Damnations that plague your working existence. All that being said, there is still more to say and some of it is captured in the linked posts below.

What is a “Best” Procurement Organization? Does it even exist?

No Environment is too Challenging or too Unique for Procure to Pay … despite what the neigh-sayers say!

3 More Terrible Reasons NOT to use e-Procurement … to add to the neigh-sayers’ pile of excuses!

What Procurement Processes Should be Automated? (Hint, not all of them!)

Procurement is Complex. Is Your Platform Capable of Handling It? (Hint, probably not!)

Have We Reached B2B 3.0 Yet? Part 5: B2B 3.0 in Procurement

How Do You Maintain Coherence Between Sourcing, Procurement, and Accounts Payable? (This is an important question, any incoherence costs you $$$!)

Some Procurement Myths Debunked!
Part I
Part II

And a shout out to the maverick!

And, finally,
Finding Your Procurement Mojo and Gettin’ Sigi Wit’ It
Part Un
Part Deux

Come back tomorrow for the seventh day of X-Mas!

On the Fifth day of X-Mas (2016)


On the fifth day of X-Mas
my blogger gave to me:
some SRM Posts
some CLM Posts
some Best Practice Posts
some Trend Bashing Posts
and some ranting on stupidity …

Supplier Relationship Management. It’s another mouthful. And depending on your mindset, it either sounds like it is the consultant fad of the day or just drinks after work. But it is a critical part of Supply Management. Without good supplier relationships, you’re leaving money on the table. Lots of it. Not only does poor supplier performance cost you in terms of stock-outs, quality, returns, etc., but it costs you in opportunity. High performing suppliers are often the best source of innovation and value an organization has, and the organizations that are treated as customers of choice by those suppliers reap the biggest benefits. Thus, SRM is critical to master and to get right. So here are a few good posts to help you understand SRM and the current state of affairs.

It’s 2016! Welcome Back to the Industrial Age of SRM!

SRM Case Studies Speak for Themselves

Is Your SRM Program Leaving Hundreds of Millions on the Table?

Want an Exceptional Supply Management System? Do NOT Forget the Supplier!

Forget SIM. The Real Answer is SIR.

Just What Is A Next Generation Supplier Network

SIM? Is It Old News or a Shiny New Pair of Shoes?
Part I
Part II

The Most Important Word In Supplier Relationship Management Is Not What You Think It Is

Why You Need a Master Data Strategy to Properly Do Supplier Information Management

Why is Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Under-delivering?

How Do You Identify a Stellar Supplier?

Of course there is much more to be said on the topic, but this gets you started. And searching the archives will keep you going.

Come back tomorrow for the sixth day of X-Mas.