Strategic Sourcing Europe

Below is a chart found on … formerly named CPGmarket website (CPGmarket has been acquired by Accenture in 2005 and is now nicely called http://www.trade.supplychainservices.accenture.com), representing an eSourcing approach. If the strategic sourcing pillars are re-used:

• Knowing what you talk about,
• Defining priorities,
• Developing strategies per ‘sourcing groups’,
• Using e-technology to speed-up selection process, results and to enable continuous improvement

… RFx (eTenders), negotiations (eAuctions), e-contract management and supplier performance management (supplier relationship management) are identified as clear steps to go through.

Empowering Strategic Sourcing programs with technology is now a proven best-practice with amazing cost-savings benefits bottom line…sometimes. Not surprisingly, most of the leading B2B technology providers are trying to cover the whole process as Ariba does for a while now (well, from an internet perspective) and are progressively acquiring niche players to get a clear competitive advantage (as Procuri, SAP and Perfect Commerce).