Elaine Porteous If your background includes a four-year business or science degree, you have strong technical skills and you have worked away in sub-Saharan Africa, you have a head start. Add to that, solid experience in construction or engineering, and you can speak Portuguese or French, your future is secure. If you lack any […]
What are SCM hiring managers looking for in 2014? Read More »
Michael Porter developed his well known Value Chain Model in 1985, in which he asserted that procurement was a support activity – an exercise that aided inbound and outbound logistics, operations, marketing and the provision of services to generate profit for an enterprise. Although the model has relevance today, procurement has come a long
Where do we go from strategic sourcing? Read More »
James Marland – Vice President of Network Strategy, Ariba, an SAP Company Do you remember the days before barcodes? All the goods in shops needed a pricing sticker, which meant someone would have to trundle round the stockroom or the floor tagging items with a pricing machine, and then the till operator would manually
Which came first: the barcode or the egg? Read More »
Recently, researchers Ruamsook and Craighead detailed what they believe is a perfect storm brewing in US supply chain management that will “contract the pool for supply chain talent”.¹ A similar set of circumstances exists in South Africa, Tech-Pro Personnel tells SmartProcurement. The American ‘Storm’ Ruamsook and Craighead’s research found key emerging trends that “individually
‘Perfect storm’ brewing for South African supply chain talent? Read More »
One of the biggest challenges supplier company executives face today is efficiently managing working capital. Growing suppliers consume large amounts of working capital in the form of inventory and trade receivables, which puts strain on ready-money resources. This could have a negative effect on production, order fulfilment and ultimately the relationships between procurement professionals
Financial innovation for supply chains Read More »
Three periods in South Africa’s history have applied policies making entrepreneurship a last resort for many would-be entrepreneurs. During these periods the country has offered selective groups less-risky alternatives to becoming entrepreneurs effectively disincentivising entrepreneurship in the country, says Allon Raiz, CEO of enterprise development organisation Raizcorp. “South Africa’s political history meant that pre-1948,
SA’s economic empowerment history offered easier routes than entrepreneurship Read More »
Hope Factory business mentor Busi Raphekwane shares some crucial guidelines for SMMEs interacting with procurement, in this month’s SmartProcurement. This is pertinent information for procurement and supply chain functions to share with their SMME suppliers. As an SMME interacting with procurement departments, there are certain expectations that need to be met. The key is
How should SMMEs operate with mature procurement functions? Read More »
How can companies ensure that they get the best out of their procurement card programmes? “By having a good procurement card policy in place,” explains Anita Carolus, Nedbank Corporate Card National Sales Manager. The greater visibility and control that these programmes offer, as well as regular review and reconciliation of spend on a procurement
Driving procurement card adoption through policy Read More »
While mobile devices have revolutionised how we engage with each other and the rest of the world, they have also arguably affected our ability to literally “switch off” and think. Because critical thinking and analysis are vital for business innovation and growth, entrepreneurs need to find a means of creating appropriate time and space
Thinking time for SMMEs: a catalyst for implementation Read More »
Entrepreneurs around the country have been honoured at the regional Shanduka Black Umbrellas (SBU) Enterprise Development (ED) Awards. These were held recently at its incubators in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Awards are made in three categories, namely Best SBU Ambassador, Jobs Created and Best Performing Company (based on profit generated and net
ED incubator announces regional award winners Read More »
