CAPS Research tells us that “Procurement/SCM leaders report top obstacles that impact their ability to effectively execute their roles are access to data that can drive decision-making (37%), a shortage of talent, skills, and/or frequent turnover (37%), and outdated technology/software (31%). Removing these obstacles improves operational efficiency, enhance competitiveness, and sustains long-term growth.” Wow! Has […]
Procurement and supply chain leaders are rethinking what drives real value. Research by the Center for Advanced Procurement Studies (CAPS) confirms that supplier collaboration, refreshed category strategies, and cross-functional alignment now top the list of strategic priorities. These are seen as the route to better cost outcomes, stronger performance, and more adaptable operations. But to […]
To achieve value we must be transparent, but transparency exposes us to risk. So we can get comfortable with this in a short term engagement where fundamental change is unlikely, but not when we have to divulge longer term intent (eg potential I may change my mind, select a new partner, discontinue a product line, […]
With many parts of the world facing instability, it is important to recognise that worries and uncertainties are not universal. Here in Dubai, where I write this, there is a palpable sense of stability, confidence, and resilience—an immunity from much of the turbulence affecting Europe and the Americas. This extends to the UAE and Saudi […]
When it comes to the quality of relationships, it seems there is no such thing as ‘average’. 70% of buyers believe that their supplier relationships are better than those of their industry competitors. And while you might think that’s an over-optimistic view, it is relatively modest when compared to the 85% of suppliers who are […]
The Problem: A Pressured Environment with Changing Dynamics Today’s contract and commercial management (CCM) teams face unprecedented pressure to deliver contracts faster and more competitively. Business stakeholders, frustrated by growing complexity, often demand rapid results that push traditional processes to their limits. In talking with WorldCC members, a number of pressing issues and potential break-through […]
In many organizations, the role of buy-side contract managers is increasingly recognized as critical for optimizing value and managing risks. Drawing from the WorldCC 2023 benchmark studies, the following core competencies emerge as essential, with some variation in their relative importance depending on the scope of role (for example, level of engagement in pre-award activities, […]
Let’s face it – for most people, contracts are an unfortunate necessity. They create delay, they are hard to understand and rarely offer practical support. As a result, they are in many cases an afterthought. The true misfortune is the cost that comes from this attitude. By relegating the role of contracts, we also tend […]
For the last few months, WorldCC has worked to create an AI tool that will provide the association's members with access to 25 years of research and market insights - not just as flat files, but offering a unique source of commercial and contracting intelligence. It has proven a fascinating task and each day the AI offers us outputs that it is extracting from across a wealth of validated content. Here, I share a few of the things we are learning.
The endless debates about the role and status of Procurement are on one level quite tedious – they seem to drag on and on, with no definitive outcome beyond wide agreement that things must change. Yet this is an important conversation because the activities undertaken by Procurement have a very real impact not only within […]