white papers

Procurement technologies are here to stay. They offer faster, more accurate data analysis and transaction recording than can be done with human hands. These tools are offered at increasingly lower prices due to “on-demand” software access, and the emergence of new players in the software field. This white paper offers 7 valuable, experience driven tips to keep ahead of the pace of development. However, it is often difficult to optimize the use of that software due to: Lack of appropriate skills among users Attempts to support functionality not necessary to the overall process Lack of alignment with strategic goals  

In business, as in life, the only constant is change. Organizations that can’t adapt get pushed aside by more agile competitors. The companies that succeed tend to be more focused on innovation. As a result, they’re better prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. Is your company an innovator? Does senior management embrace change or prefer to maintain the status quo? Are you equipped to succeed no matter what market conditions or competitive threats you face? If the answer to any of these questions is No, you’re organization could be in trouble. With insights from some of the world’s leading innovation experts, Want to Stay Relevant? Innovate, by Hans van Eck-Casteels, offers a roadmap for building a culture of innovation within virtually any company. In this thought-provoking report, you’ll discover . . . 10 key steps for successful innovation Common organization barriers and how to overcome them Essential change management skills The [...]

HCMWorks’ 2012 Indirect Procurement Survey reached a new high in participation and delivers information that suggests a broad based need for change within peer company procurement divisions if the desired outcomes are to be achieved. Procurement Trends In conjunction with the data collected from our surveys on LinkedIn, this years report is sending some clear signs of conflict: Executives aren’t satisfied with cost cutting tactics but; Procurement is under resourced being tasked to do more with less; Corporate culture isn’t supporting the needed procurement transformation Without executive support the potential for meaningful results will continue to go unrealized. How does your company compare? More importantly perhaps, how are you going to break through the barriers you face in delivering those ‘meaningful’ cost savings that, in the end, return shareholder value?

For those who work with (MSPs) and own managed services contracts, it is essential to have a clear understanding of what these teams do, why, and what to focus on when evaluating performance. This white paper aims to answer all of these questions clearly and concisely. Three Main Reasons Why Companies Choose To Engage A MSP Know When You Are Ready to Outsource Important Elements of a Procurement System Who is managing your program today and how much are you leaving on the table? Download this whitepaper to find out how your organization could be benefiting from MSPs contingent workforce services.  

This white paper outlines a common-sense approach that can help procurement executives become Rock Stars within their organizations. Learn how companies like Salesforce.com and Rent-a-Center overcame “analysis paralysis” with a few simple steps that revolutionized their procurement organizations. Through the use of: Single Sign-on “On Ramps” Listening to Business Unit Needs Laser-like focus on adoption These organizations are achieving upwards of 90% of total corprate expenditures on one single platform. Also included, many more business examples of how Volume can result in Rock Star Status!!

As summer comes to a close, we wanted to provide our readers with additional insight from our 2011 Indirect Procurement Survey by relating those findings to some of the key activities we see in the market. Subscribers who download this position piece will gain valuable insight to: What Important 4 aspects should be considered when approaching Indirect Most often experienced barriers to entry into a complete indirect procurement strategy What 4 steps can lead to gaining traction on key indirect categories What it means to “match the hatch”

Back by popular demand, our 2010 Survey results gave our readers tremendous insight into the untapped opportunity into indirect services spending, savings and behaviors. The latest results in the Roadmap to Success Series will give readers more deep insight into the areas of indirect services procurement and get a peer review of how their company compares to the current market trends. 79.3% of respondents reported Indirect Services is the best “Area of Meaningful Corporate Savings Opportunity” Our field studies are demonstrating a growing desire among senior-level Procurement and Finance executives to gain three key objectives from analyzing their indirect services expenditures: Greater Visibility Rapid Savings Sustainability in Processes and Results Learn what over 100 Procurement Professionals are saying about their Performance metrics and dashboards can be developed to critically assess supplier performance and ensure that the measurement process is efficient, consistent, transparent and, most importantly, created in partnership with the suppliers for a true 360 [...]

Today we hear phrases like “economic tsunami,” “the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression,” “crisis in labor,” “the economic crisis of 2009,” and “the world financial crisis.” While we all know that the pundits spin out these phrases to capture our attention, we can’t help allowing our fearful imaginations — the same part of our brain that Stephen King plays with — get the best of us, and this keeps us watching, listening, and reading. What talent wars lay ahead? How can you successfully prepare for the crunch? How will workers bounce back from a poor economy?

In the fourth and final installment of HCMWorks’ Supplier Relationship Management Blueprint Series, readers will learn that by fostering collaboration both within their firms and with outside business partners, companies will be better equipped to drive growth through increased productivity and innovation. . . In the final installment of our Supplier Management “Blueprint” series, Kimberly Smokey challenges senior supply chain managers to view supplier relationships in a new light. Instead of seeing suppliers as cost centers, Smokey recommends that companies view suppliers as true business partners with expertise, assets and capabilities that can be used to create competitive advantage.

In the third installment of HCMWorks’ Supplier Relationship Management Blueprint, readers will learn six principles for implementing supplier performance metrics. As companies engage in greater numbers of supplier partnerships, and as partnerships become increasingly important in terms of strategic and financial impact, senior management has begun to pay more attention to supplier partnership performance metrics. This is a welcome development, for as the old adage goes: “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”