“ The more we invest in digital , the more time we can dedicate to strategic sourcing , meeting with our suppliers , understanding new techniques and innovations ”
VANITHA PRABHU GLOBAL PROCUREMENT MANAGER , BT GLOBAL SERVICES INDIA
Though COVID-19 placed further pressures on even the most basic procurement functions , Prabhu believes the outbreak was an energising testing ground for the unit ’ s new capabilities , and how procurement organisations can lead from the front in risk-mitigation . “ We took a very proactive approach and we never waited long to act ,” she says . “ We started monitoring the performance of our suppliers , how they ' re doing , what the impact might be , and then ensuring there is business continuity so there is no impact to the supply chain .”
As the pandemic took hold of countries around the world , Prabhu ’ s teams were forced to wrestle not only with how quickly they reacted , but “ how swiftly you are able to make decisions ”. She uses the example of a supplier in China , which was unable to fulfil its obligations due to restrictions imposed in response to the virus . “ Now you see the supply chain is getting impacted , so you have to ask what are the other sources of suppliers ? Do you have in-country sourcing , or are there local country sourcing where you can quickly procure the services so that your supply chain is not disrupted ? I don ' t want that experience again in future ,” she jokes . “ But we are prepared for those now .”
For Prabhu , the future holds vast opportunity . As a leader in India , she is something of an outlier : a woman in a senior leadership role in a country she says is more broadly prone to rewarding braggadocio above merit and experience .
“ Procurement is a very male dominated area ; there are very few women employees in the sector ,” she says . “ Oftentimes you find many capable women will think they
88 June 2021