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Browsing All Posts filed under »Procurement Trends«
Managing the Process of Automation: Leveraging Capabilities Without Forfeiting Accountability
“It ain’t easy leading a software company these days. Customers are sick of poor quality, inadequate security, old-fashioned business models, and pie-in-the-sky claims for trends like open source. They just want software that works. That was the message coming from customers, industry experts, and even some company executives at the Software 2005 conference last week […]
Will the Ghost of Harold Kutner Still Haunt the Corridors of the New GM?
August 11, 2009
In a May 15th, 2000 Business Week article Harold Kutner was referred to as an “old school purchasing guy with a reputation for playing hardball with suppliers.” Amongst his heralded “accomplishments” at the time was the fact that he was the driving “force behind the auto industry’s first e-marketplace for car makers and parts suppliers” […]
On-Demand Broadcast of “Intersecting Ideals: Why GM’s Supply Chain is in a State of Ruin” Now Available
August 11, 2009
In what was a fast-paced, insightful discussion with industry expert Bill Michels, we get to the heart of the issues behind the precipitous collapse of the GM domestic supply chain – and the North American auto industry in general. Several of the key points that were discussed include the fact that margin sustainability from the […]
Spend Analysis versus Spend Intelligence: More Than a Semantical Difference
August 11, 2009
I believe the phrase “spend intelligence” to be misleading. To me, it sounds like a new take or sub-segment of business intelligence software applications which offer analytics and dashboard capabilities and sit on top of existing systems of record. The problem is that spend visibility and analytics is much more complex, requiring data cleansing, rationalization, […]
Company Challenges Government Agencies to Practice Smarter Spending
August 6, 2009
08.04.2009 – San Mateo, CA – Coupa Software, developer of an on-demand e-procurement application for smarter spending, announced today that federal, state and local government agencies are invited to use Coupa e-Procurement free of charge for six months to rein in spending and establish control over inefficient procurement practices. “When you look at the budgetary […]
Did an Anti-North American Sentiment and Arrogance Undermine Andersson’s Tenure at GM?
August 6, 2009
On the August 11th PI Window on Business Show I will be talking with three time honoree as a Supply and Demand Chain Executive’s “Pros To Know,” and co-author of the book “Transform Your Supply Chain” Bill Michels, regarding General Motor’s precipitous fall in relation to their supply chain strategy. Like previous segments, I spend […]
GM and Procter & Gamble Articles Stirs Both Controversy and Interest Overseas
August 4, 2009
The Shared Services & Outsourcing Network or SSON recently published a two-part article entitled The Trend Towards Vendor Consolidation examining the developing tendency among large-scale organizations towards reducing the number of vendors with whom their procurement departments have to deal. That article was prompted by a debate – still ongoing – between analysts and commentators […]
Multi-Billion Dollar U.S.-Based Engineering and Construction Firm Utilizes GPO to Strategically Source Audio Conferencing: Does It Really Matter?
August 4, 2009
When I first received the news that Corporate United, the nation’s largest group purchasing organization (GPO) had played a critical role in helping a Fortune 500 firm whose annual revenues exceed $6 billion in spend to “strategically source audio conferencing services,” I wondered why this would be important news. After all outside of the parties […]
Virginia Call-In Show Provides A Few Interesting Insights
July 30, 2009
Yesterday’s PI Window on Business call-in show regarding the recently released Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission’s (JLARC) report on how Small-Medium Enterprise suppliers have been affected by the Commonwealth’s eVA procurement platform provided a few interesting insights relative to communication, pay-to-play fees and the related (and growing) cash surplus. While the JLARC Briefing highlighted […]
Virtual Conferencing Trends (A PI Social Media Poll)
July 30, 2009
At the annual Gartner Predicts 2009, the item topping the list of forecasts called for a significant decrease in physical traveling as virtual conferencing options offer an alternative. Specifically, Gartner is looking at high-definition based video meeting solutions to replace 2.1 million airline seats annually by 2012, costing the travel and hospitality industry US $3.5 […]
Procurement Insights 
August 14, 2009
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