Supplier Networks drive Supplier Enablement
I see that the Aberdeen Group has published a new report about the importance of supplier networks. The Exec Summary of the report is free and can be located by
clicking here.It is copyright so follow the link to read more.
Click here if you need information on building a supplier network.
Labels: Aberdeen Group, CPO, supplier enablement, supplier networks, supplier portal, survey
Supplier Enablement - co-prosperity
I saw this sound-bite recently:
Understanding and agreeing on each other's expectations for the relationship usually leads to mutual gains or "co-prosperity," a term Scott Singer, director of global general procurement at United Technologies Corporation, says he's hearing more of recently in his meetings with suppliers. So, who exactly is introducing the idea of co-prosperity? Buyer? Supplier?
Co-prosperity and eProcurement. Do buyers consider what the mutual gains are for suppliers when building the business case to invest in eProcurement?
Should suppliers be pro-active and seek a discussion with buyers that are implementing eProcurement to discover and agree on the mutual gains?
Is it possible to put a valuation on the mutual gain and separate the specific gain to buyer and supplier?
Would a buyer be prepared to agree a 'gain share' with suppliers along the lines of: if you agree to ...... and we acknowledge there is a gain to us then we will agree to .......
Just Do ItSome buyers are making eCommerce a condition of business forcing suppliers to accept
fait accompli their customers' preferred way to conduct their business with suppliers. Is this co-prosperity?
Some buyers require their suppliers to meet the cost of participating in their eProcurement programme. Is this co-prosperity?
Let's talk With the assumption that change and progress are inevitable then any reasonable person will sit down and discuss these matters.
We (buyer) are investing £500,000 to implement eProcurement in our business; our reasons are ...... and our expectations are..... We expect our suppliers should benefit and have identified these opportunities. Is this co-prosperity?
We (buyer) are investing £x to assist our suppliers to participate in our eProcurement programme for the following reasons....... Over time we expect that your (supplier) business will benefit and in 12 months we would like to conduct a review with you to learn from you how you benefitted. Is this co-prosperity?
Of course, you are not obliged to do anything and you can exercise your choice to 'opt in' or 'opt out'. The only thing we ask is that you make your choice now. Is this co-prosperity?
Is this nonsense?Yes. In the big bad world of business only the strongest and fittest survive and they aggressively adopt change and the weak and timid who avoid change will fail even if we try and help them. Co-prosperity - nice idea - but our shareholders/stakeholders have expectations and we need to deliver results.
No. In a world that is increasingly turning to low cost country sourcing, outsourcing, offshore delivery, use of contracted-out labour, suppliers working in-house then we are already set on a course that means our performance is intrinsically bound to our suppliers' perfomance. Co-prosperity - good idea - essential to delivering results and meeting expectations of our shareholders/stakeholders.
Is it a Yes or No for you?
Labels: co-prosperity, eprocurement, supplier portal
Supplier Enablement gives way to eInvoicing
It has been suggested that blogs have been co-opted by business and are about as fresh as my trainers.
Click here to read the article published in line56.com today.
Apparently blogs have lost their edge and are no longer fun and individualistic. I'm inclined to agree but that doesn't mean we should give up, does it?
It ain't easy to make supplier enablement fun but you can sometimes test the boundaries of humour.
I'm not deterred and have started another blog this time to discuss - ELECTRONIC INVOICING.
Scroll down for a wealth of information about supplier enablement.Click here for more thoughts about electronic invoicing.
Labels: electronic invoicing, supplier portal
Supplier Enablement- off the wall
To ease into 2007 here is an interesting couple of comments that I found recently.
Suppliers have to think: why would a customer adopt a system if it were going to create more work for them?
So if you are a supplier approached by a customer to submit electronic invoices in replacement of paper invoices is your first thought; will this mean more or less work for my customer?The businesses that have been most successful with the introduction of eInvoicing are those with captive suppliers.
If you are a supplier to a business would you know if you were thought of as captive? Finally two thoughts for 2007.
1. Surveys identify that banks are the preferred provider for electronic invoicing services. This makes sense as payment of invoices is cleared through the banks (whether that payment is by cheque or EFT) and of course they offer liquidity (cashflow) through invoice factoring and invoice discounting. What developments can we expect as banks look for revenue earning opportunities from the increasing use of electronic invoicing?
Click here for how a bank helps a major retailer pay its suppliers.
2. It is well known that the problem facing the development of electronic invoicing is getting suppliers on board. This remains true but statistically we know the numbers increase year on year in the number of participants (buyers and suppliers) and number of electronic invoices. As we exit early adopter phase and move to a market that has a herd instinct then the opportunity size will grow rapidly and attract new players and new propositions.
Will this be the moment that a shift occurs from a technology led business (connectivity to enable transactions at a lower cost) to a services led business (an infrastructure for business) and will that be the trigger for banks and telcos and post and outsourcing providers to pile in?If only we could see into the future.
Labels: banks, electronic invoicing, supplier portal
