SRM: How not to bite the hand that you feed
The financial meltdown and global economic downturn has put tremendous pressure on suppliers. This, in turn, has strained client / supplier relationships as clients rightfully expect continued supply and service levels while suppliers may be struggling to ensure continuity.
Posted by Editor at 5:45 AM
Uncovering huge savings possibilities in operational procurement
There's never been a more important time for procurement to identify and direct their organisations to realise potential cost savings effectively, both within current spending and also when assessing new ventures.
Posted by Editor at 9:20 AM
SRM offers improved organisational efficiency
An amount of 36% of delegates attending an international purchasing and supply management convention in the UK said that supplier relationship management (SRM) has helped increase their organisations’ efficiency the most, reported Supply Management recently....
Posted by Editor at 12:00 AM
World Class Operational Procurement Powered by Technology
The contract is signed, months of negotiation are concluded, the supplier is already paying performance incentives and the sourcing managers are going home for their first decent night’s rest in a long time. Is the hard work over? Doubtful, says Peter Alkema, Head of CAO OPS Absa, in this month’s SmartProcurement.
Posted by Editor at 10:10 AM
World-Class Operational Procurement Powered by Technology
Case Study – Using SAP SRM at ABSAThe ability to manage supplier relationships has never been more important. The necessity for governance and control over expenditure with suppliers is simply not up for debate any more, Peter Alkema, Head of CAO OPS Absa, tells SmartProcurement.
Posted by Editor at 9:25 AM
Quadrem Africa receives top award at annual IPSA/CIPS Pan Africa Conference
Global provider of e-Procurement and Supply Management Solutions, Quadrem, has announced that it received the top award for the Best Public Sector Procurement Project at the Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa and Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s Annual Pan Africa Conference in Johannesburg.IPSA WIN
Karen Van Vuuren, IPSA Chair of Board of Directors, Catherine Hills, Client Services Director at Quadrem Africa and Deon Mocke, Vice President Quadrem Africa.
Posted by Editor at 1:55 PM
The year of the CPO! Report back on the IPSA / CIPS annual conference
Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) have missed an opportunity to steer the global economy’s rescue boat, alluded Institute of Purchasing and Supply South Africa’s (IPSA’s) President, Karen van Vuuren, at the institute’s Annual Pan African Conference held at Emperor’s Palace in partnership with the Chartered institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).
CIPS Director of International Development Chris Gallagher, CIPS President Dr Bola Afolabi, IPSA President Karen van Vuuren
Posted by Editor at 3:31 PM
A case study for centralised purchasing - World Class Operational Procurement
Part 10 of a ten-part series that examines key operational aspects of the so-called “Purchase to Pay” value chain
by Independent Contributor, Peter Alkema – Head: Purchase to Pay at Absa
During 2008 at a large South African bank, a purchasing hub was set up to centrally process and support all ordering from the bank’s branches with a skilled SAP SRM team that is accessible through a single, easy to remember number.
Posted by StaffWriter at 1:12 PM
Shed light on your suppliers
While shareholders' visibility requirements have been responsible for the growth of the audit industry, organisations continue to be plagued by other stakeholders requesting information on risk and performance. These include potential joint venture partners, benchmarking agencies, credit-rating agencies, environmental impact organisations, local government and customers.
Posted by StaffWriter at 1:09 PM
Enterprise Development: The little-known golden nugget in the BBBEE pyramid
The business world normally associates the term Enterprise Development with some or other form of philanthropy. An example of this would be where the ‘principal’ donates something (usually money) to improve the knowledge-base and to develop the skills-set of the ‘beneficiary’.
Posted by StaffWriter at 1:08 PM
Can the public sector ever negotiate successful relationships?
“The public sector has significant influence on private sector contracting. Many innovative terms and contracting methods have seen their beginnings in public procurement - examples range from 'termination for convenience' through to public-private partnerships”, Gregg Barrett, Director of Cylon Technology, recently told SmartProcurement.
Posted by Editor at 11:44 AM
World Class Operational Procurement: Oh yes, paying the supplier...
Part 9 of a ten-part series that examines key operational aspects of the so-called “Purchase to Pay” value chain
by Independent Contributor, Peter Alkema – Head: Purchase to Pay at Absa
“Money makes the world go round and this is even more so in the world of ‘Purchase to Pay’ (PTP) where the last step is often the one that receives the most attention, simply because the up-front steps and general governance has not been in place", Peter Alkema, Head: Purchase to Pay, Absa, told SmartProcurement.
Posted by Editor at 10:58 AM
How to generate and track output devices: Savings in the desktop, copying and print environment through managed print solutions (MPS)
This is the second in a series of 4 articles on the topic of generating and tracking output savings, with particular focus on the Managed Print Solutions (MPS) category. The focus of this article is the often delicate issue of “vendor contract re-negotiation”.
Posted by Editor at 6:30 AM
Collaborative cost management with key suppliers
It has been said that in organisation within a world-class procurement framework it is difficult to find a clear-cut distinction between the organisational drive for continuous improvement viz-a-viz value release from actively managing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). "In fact, these objectives represent the two sides of the same coin and trying to determine which side is more important is irrelevant", Nic Badenhorst, an independent procurement consultant, told SmartProcurement.
Posted by Editor at 12:00 PM
Quadrem delivers African market new services powered by SAP® Software
Quadrem has signed a global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) agreement with SAP AG. The organisations will work together to help customers reduce the cost and complexity of implementing and operating integrated electronic sourcing, procurement, invoicing, and contract management processes. In addition, Quadrem's BPO services have qualified as ‘powered by SAP’.
Posted by Editor at 9:45 AM
Supplier Opinion Surveys 3: A component of supplier relationship management
In this, our third and final article in our series on Supplier Opinion Surveys, we present examples of the deliverables of supplier opinion surveys, discuss the objectives of these surveys, as well as supplier satisfaction dimensions within the context of supplier relationship management.
Posted by StaffWriter at 9:30 AM
South African named Chief Operations Officer of global e-Procurement leader
Amsterdam & Dallas – Quadrem, a global provider of supply management solutions, has promoted Brandon Spear to Chief Operations Officer. In his new role, Spear will continue to oversee Quadrem’s operations for eight regional offices on six continents. Additionally, Spear will lead Quadrem’s research and development team as they build next-generation systems to enable customers to operate reliable, efficient supply chains.
Posted by StaffWriter at 9:50 AM
Supplier opinion surveys: Practical how to's and key benefits
In our previous article entitled “What does your supplier really think of you?” we introduced Supplier Opinion Surveys to you and discussed the various types of surveys and questions that can be developed to assist you as a procurement professional in understanding the true relationship with your supplier, and to determine those areas which need improvement.
Posted by Editor at 8:30 AM
What do your suppliers really think of you?
"The majority of suppliers will mostly not express what they truly feel and experience in their relationship with your company, its employees and specifically your buyers," Andrew Hillman, MD of Bespoke Sourcing Solutions, told SmartProcurement.
Posted by Bernie at 7:02 PM
Mining Division Launches its Full E-Procurement Functionality with African Suppliers
Dallas & Johannesburg - Anglo Base Metals launched its full e-Procurement functionality at a formal event on 1 August 2008, in partnership with Quadrem Africa, a subsidiary of Quadrem International Ltd, a supply chain solutions company with one of the world's largest electronically connected supplier networks for private and public sectors.
Posted by Editor at 11:30 AM
Free State Province signs with QUADREM for centralised, verified supplier database
Johannesburg and Amsterdam - March 2008 - Quadrem Africa has recently been awarded a three-year contract to implement and manage one centralised verified supplier database for South Africa's Free State Provincial Government and four Public Entities in the province.Posted by StaffWriter at 8:54 PM
Using Value Engineering for world class Supplier Relationship Management
Value Engineering is a creative approach used to optimise life-cycle costs, save time, increase profits, improve quality, expand market share, solve problems, &/or use resources more effectively (VEMSA).Thapelo Petje, CPO at MTN SA tells SmartProcurement that "In order to create value from contracts or tenders awarded procurement professionals must look at how to manage suppliers after the contract award."
Posted by StaffWriter at 8:56 AM
Supplier Relationship E- Management launched
One of the pillars of Strategic Sourcing is SRM (Supplier relationship management) - which is in this context, is process for building and management of enduring and sustainable supplier relationships. The delivery of quality products/ services on time every time at the right price is usually the result of a particularly sound relationship between the vendor and client.Posted by StaffWriter at 9:24 AM
PART 2: How to negotiate with a SOLE Supplier
By Bernie van Niekerk
Its that time of the year.... Your SOLE supplier is about to present you "their valued customer" with their increase. They know, and you know that there is not much that you can do about it....
Now for whatever reason (part 1 of this article dealt with making sure you aren't put in a sole supply situation in the first place!) you or your organisation is faced with no alternative supplier or product. Not the greatest position to be in when trying to negotiate a better deal!
Posted by Bernie at 7:59 PM
How to negotiate with a SOLE Supplier (Part 1)
By Bernie van Niekerk
You know the feeling ...Their price increases are double that of everybody else's... As far as their service is concerned well you've got 2 choices.
1. Take it or 2.Leave it!
Their ''service" personnel are insolent to say the least. But there is one thing that you both know. namely, this supplier is in charge... and they know that you know!
Without the power of an alternative can you really negotiate...?
Posted by Bernie at 8:17 PM