Procurement Magazine July 2022 | Page 53

PROCUREMENT STRATEGY
“ THE PANDEMIC , SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS AND THE FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY HAVE CHANGED THE PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE HAD ABOUT PROCUREMENT ”
PRASANNA RAJENDRAN VICE PRESIDENT , KISSFLOW
How is workplace culture changing when it comes to procurement , and what is driving this shift ? PR : The pandemic , supply chain disruptions , and the focus on sustainability have changed the perspective people had about procurement . Many have started to appreciate the value that it creates , which is having a positive influence on procurement leaders where they are shifting their focus from cost savings to value creation .
This shift is making procurement leaders re-evaluate their priorities , in terms of the skills and core values they are expecting from their teams . And , when it comes to suppliers , they are slowly moving out of the ‘ cost savings at all costs ’ mindset , and are focusing on building a strategic relationship instead . AR : A lot has changed . Procurement is seen as a value-adding function with high business contribution , as opposed to a function that only acquires needed products and services at the right time and place . The type of people , tools and mindsets that are needed are also changing .
This shift is being driven by technical development , pressures for agility in dynamic environments , and transformation in generations , from high substance knowledge culture to generalist culture with access to data . Classification and procurement insight requires silent knowledge , but this can be taught to AI later on and automated . procurementmag . com 53