It’s never too late for digitalisation. “The right time is always now because you’ll profit from digital processes in the long term,” said Torben Link, Head of Procurement at Steinbeis Papier. At the third Online Conference for Indirect Procurement (OKIE) on 12 May 2020, he discussed, along with other experts, how companies can utilise digital platforms to overcome the coronavirus crisis.
“Predefined processes and platforms are especially helpful”
Topics such as supply shortages and supply chain security have become particularly important during the coronavirus crisis. Dr. Stefan Benett, Managing Director of Inverto and his team carried out a survey with 100 buyers in 14 countries about these topics. He presented the results at the OKIE Conference. The participants named leadership, agility and cooperation as decisive factors of success in times of crisis. Preventative measures such as supplier audits as well as securing supply chains and alternative sources of supply are also of particular importance. Benett advises buyers to focus on use cases in their company and to work in cross-functional teams. “Predefined processes, such as the ones platforms provide, are especially helpful in this situation,” said Benett.
Platforms can free up valuable time – even after the crisis
“Freeing up capacity is important so that standard and routine processes are able to continue,” stated Torben Link. The Head of Procurement at Steinbeis Papier has been using Mercateo for many years via an OCI interface and the B2B network Unite since the beginning of 2020. Link knows from experience that “a process which is only beneficial for buyers doesn’t make sense. It also has to offer the users added value.” For him, “Mercateo is the quick way to the material” and with it the procurement department’s time can be freed up in the long term.
Platforms also play an important role for Dr. Matthias Kuschel, Senior Director of Procurement at Teva ratiopharm. The company uses Unite via SAP Ariba Spot Buy. It is in times like these, especially when many suppliers are experiencing shortages, that platforms like Unite can make a valuable contribution. Requisitioners can find alternative offers without needing to consult with the procurement department. In turn, this frees up procurement’s time so that they can focus on more strategic topics. Dr. Kuschel emphasised, however, that procurement also has to coordinate with other departments in order to come up with a concept for digitalisation that works for everybody.
International OKIE Conference presented live from Leipzig was a hit with purchasers
Over 780 participants registered for the OKIE Conference 2020. “We really struck a chord with our topics for this year’s conference. The whole event was also simultaneously interpreted into English,” said Mercateo’s Head of Sales, Siegfried Hakelberg. He compered the conference live from Mercateo’s newly constructed online studio in Leipzig, Germany. Meanwhile, the conference’s speakers did their presentations and answered audience questions from their home studios.
A ring at the door: your lunch has arrived!
“For us, digitalisation and personal contact go hand in hand, which is why we delivered pack lunches to participants’ homes or offices, provided they’d sent us their address beforehand,” explains Mercateo’s Head of Sales Siegfried Hakelberg. “Everyone reacted very positively to this and we’re all set up for the OKIE Conference 2021.”
Valuable insights from procurement experts – watch the conference in full
Further tips from the experts, best practice examples as well as all the presentations are available in the full-length recording of the online conference.
Watch the OKIE Conference 2020 »