Why does procurement struggle with its visibility or status in the organisation? Elaine Porteous asks in this month’s SmartProcurement. “There may be many reasons,” she says. The procurement function may have: • not aligned itself with the organisation’s strategy and goals; • not identified its most important stakeholders; • not taken relationship building seriously; […]
5 ‘hows’ to improve the perception of procurement Read More »
Dramatic changes expected in the South African telephony market over the next few years mean buyers of telephony and IT services (fixed line and mobile) should avoid long-term agreements with their current service provider(s), keep on top of market offerings and understand the changing need of the businesses they serve, says Purchasing Index’s (PI)
Buying Telecommunications? Avoid long-term agreements Read More »
IBM is working with the Zambian government to set up a new medical supply chain pilot project to better manage inventory and delivery of medicines, reports Supply Management. The collaboration with the Zambian Ministry of Health will make 200 life-saving drugs more widely available. According to IBM, the public health sector in Zambia registers
Zambia managing medical supply chain with ‘cutting-edge technology’ Read More »
Increased fuel price still biggest cost driver Rising costs and the global economic situation spell out increased competition and tighter margins in the logistics industry. Driving down the cost of logistics and making South Africa more competitive will require no less than bold steps forward, finds the 10th State of Logistics Survey. Published by the
SA Logistics must make bold steps to drive costs down Read More »
Most inexperienced, small suppliers are so eager to supply that they hardly pay attention to the words ‘payment terms’. Yet the timing between cash outflows (as a business extends its service or sells a product) and inflows (as it receives payment for the said service or product) is the single most important factor in
Supplier cash flow vs Corporate promises Read More »
One of the largest obstacles preventing supplier growth, especially for SMMEs, is the lack of funding from traditional sources. With restrictions to finance, suppliers may be forced to pay high interest rates with local money lenders or approach banks to discount invoices. However, a financing alternative lies in a multi-bank supply chain finance platform,
Buyers, use your credit worthiness to support your SMMEs Read More »
For a ‘small’ supplier, risk could prove to be a catalyst towards unlocking ‘big’ business prospects. Having a healthy respect for the value that risk can add to your organisation will undoubtedly change how you approach it, prepare for it and deal with it. By putting the necessary controls, checks and balances in place
Risk: small supplier business threat or value-adding opportunity? Read More »
The next five years will see radical socio-economic transformation as “economic transformation and inclusive growth take centre stage among state priorities,” said Jacob Zuma at the inauguration of his second term of office as State President. He affirmed the role of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as one of these priorities. It is therefore reassuring
Confusing Codes clarified as Zuma affirms BEE priority Read More »
The South African PMI fell to 44.3 index points in May from 47.4 in April, dragged down by significant declines in the Business Activity and Employment indices, while demand also remained weak. The drop in the Business Activity Index, to 42.5 from 48.5, “puts the index firmly in contraction territory,” said Abdul Davids, Head
SA PMI continues partner-contrasting drop Read More »
Barloworld’s 2014 supplychainforesight Survey highlights the growing importance of educated, empowered and connected consumers – and how the demand for personalisation is driving complexity and competition in the supply chain, Tech-Pro tells SmartProcurement. Today, the demands of ‘information-enabled’ consumers fuel a highly competitive global economy. To prosper, supply chains need to identify, understand and
The rise and rise of customer centricity in SCM Read More »
