Spring finally kicked in with a vengeance in Stockholm this weekend and as always it’s accompanied by a number of sure to tell spring spend management signs.
First, we’ve got the eProcure & Supply – Germany’s largest purchasing and supply management event with approximately 125 exhibitors and an expected attendance of around 3000 purchasing professionals.
Second, and from my perspective a little more interesting is the annual spring unveiling of Aberdeen’s CPO Agenda report; this year subtitled “Smart Strategies for Tough Times”. As always, Andrew Bartolini has done a solid job, yet there are few headline grabbers lodged in the 36 pages.
The one standout metric unveiled relates to 2009’s big spend management topic: supply risk.
“71 % of CPOs believe supply risk is increasing, yet 30% have a formal program in place to manage it.”
Now, that a figure that definitely will be front and center in many vendor presentations as the year rolls-on.
I for one think many more companies actually have a formal risk management program in place, it’s just that it probably did not involve the purchasing department, let alone give purchasing the responsibility to actually own and manage the process.
May 6, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I agree with you. I think the word “solid” tells all. If not, your would have said “outstanding”, right?
And I also agree that every single outfit out there that deals with sourcing and procurement will be selling a “supply risk management” solution. Even if it is a re-branded old product or service.
May 6, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Carloz, your last comment is spot on, I’m sure that re-branding workshops are at the top of the agenda for all marketing and product development departments across the entire vendor base at the moment.