The Real Cost of Not Having a Procurement Lead Procurement isn’t a cost. Not having it is. Most SMEs never make a conscious decision to operate without procurement leadership. It just happens. The Managing Director is focused on winning new business. The Finance Director is juggling cash flow. Department managers buy what they need when […]
How to Choose a Procurement Outsourcing Partner: Seven Questions I’d Always Ask Choosing a procurement outsourcing partner isn’t just about finding someone who can negotiate better prices. You’re choosing a business to represent your organisation, work alongside your people and build relationships with your suppliers. Get that decision right and you’ll wonder how you managed […]
Procurement Maturity: The Four Stages Most SMEs Go Through Most business owners don’t wake up thinking about procurement maturity. They notice something else first. Supplier costs keep creeping up. Contracts renew without challenge. Different departments buy the same products or services from different suppliers. Nobody is quite sure when key agreements expire. The natural reaction […]
Why Your Last Procurement Hire Didn’t Work, and What to Do Differently This Time The post-mortem nobody runs Most businesses that have tried full-time procurement and been disappointed do not run a proper post-mortem on why it did not work. The person leaves, the role gets quietly absorbed back into finance or operations, and a […]
Does Your Business Need a Fractional Procurement Leader or a Full-Time Head of Procurement? A fractional procurement leader can provide senior procurement expertise, supplier management and governance support without the cost of a full-time executive hire. For many SMEs, choosing between a fractional procurement leader and a permanent Head of Procurement is not as straightforward […]