“PROCUREMENT ORGANISATIONS ARE AS UNIQUE AS THE COMPANIES THEY OPERATE IN ; A FORWARD-LOOKING , OPEN- MINDED ATTITUDE IS A MUST FOR PROCUREMENT IN TRANSITION ”
ATRO RANTA-AHO VICE PRESIDENT OF VALUE ENABLEMENT , SIEVO
BE : In the Middle East , procurement has traditionally been a transactional function that focuses mostly on procuring goods and services to meet the specified technical requirements at the lowest price possible . Now , we see a few new trends shaping procurement and workplace culture . There is more focus on end-user demand planning , a stronger introduction of category management and strategic sourcing , and a shift towards analytics and digital procurement to drive value .
This shift in procurement-related culture is primarily driven by government entities and companies exploring ways to optimise their operational costs , of which procurement is an important component . Another key driver has been COVID-19 . The disruption to global supply chains put more emphasis on the localisation of goods and services . Category management and consolidated demand through procurement enabled import substitution and supported localisation efforts .
What do today ’ s workers want from the procurement function ? PR : With more and more digital natives entering the workforce , it is crucial to be a tech-first organisation . The pandemic accelerated this trend , with people looking for increased flexibility at work to manage work-life balance , more so than bonuses and perks . So , they naturally opt-in for employers who offer flexibility in terms of the way they work – including fully or partially remote work options . Becoming a tech-first organisation can help you to do the same . BE : With the drive for value through procurement , professionals are expecting to upskill their analytical and negotiation skills , as well as training on sourcing strategies . Furthermore , they are looking for spend analytics tools and digital procurement solutions to help them gain insights and identify savings opportunities .
54 July 2022