STRATEGIC SOURCING
The pressing issue of strategic sourcing : “ I think , if we ’ ve learned anything over the last couple of years ,” says Gregor Stühler , Co-founder and CEO at Scoutbee , “ it ’ s that nothing is certain , except perhaps , more uncertainty . Strategic sourcing can help build stable supply partnerships to keep organisations ’ operations running smoothly in tumultuous times .
“ It can also help when it comes to risk management , as closer supplier relationships help companies identify and resolve potential problems quickly , before they become major issues . This also involves seeking out alternative sources in case natural disasters , geopolitical events or other crises cause disruptions in the supply chain .”
The Value Strategic Sourcing can Provide to Organisations Stühler says that strategic sourcing allows companies to align their sourcing goals with their business goals , increasing efficiency and minimising risk within the supply chain . “ Companies can use strategic sourcing to make their procurement processes less myopic and cost-focused . Once they have a sourcing plan , it will enable them to develop a flexible , agile system that adds to the overall value of their business ’ s long term goals and strategies .”
According to Stühler the first step is to analyse business needs and historical spending , followed by drawing up a strategic plan , and then carrying out data collection and market analysis to determine which suppliers to work with . “ Once the suppliers have been chosen , strategic sourcing also involves continually evaluating performance
Gregor Stühler , Co-founder and CEO of Scoutbee
PRO
60 February 2023