DRIVING CHANGE THROUGH DATA
SUSTAINABILITY
60
Despite procurement ’ s traditional ‘ costcutting ’ reputation , success in supply chain sourcing is about far more than driving down price .
From procurement specialists with an understanding of AI and business performance data , to suppliers that are bought into a business ’ ethical stance , strategic sourcing has a key role to play in an organisation ’ s overall success .
This has taken procurement from a transactional function to one intended to add commercial value across the entire organisation . Tasked with delivering constant improvement and innovation , managing risk and reputation , while adding competitive advantage , strategic sourcing in the supply chain makes procurement a much more complex and multi-faceted ‘ business function ’ that it may previously have been seen .
DRIVING CHANGE THROUGH DATA
Across sectors , digitisation is driving change , with procurement no exception . The procurement team is granted a new asset in the form of supply chain data – and , as a result , is increasingly empowered to steer business strategy and add value .
The advent of AI , robotics and automation allows procurement departments to analyse
“Savvy businesses are seeking diverse talent , looking for leaders ready to challenge the supply chain status quo ”
— Richard Guest , Principal Consultant , Berwick Partners
AUGUST 2019