Indirect spend categories like temp labor, packaging, freight, and capital equipment are notorious for hiding savings in plain sight. Experienced indirect buyers have learned that cost tables transform the way organizations manage these categories. Here’s how you can leverage cost tables to drive real results. Why Cost Tables Matter Indirect categories are complex. They often involve dozens of…
This guide explains how purchasing executives can use current ChatGPT Plus functionality to drive faster analysis, better decisions, and measurable productivity gains. It reflects how ChatGPT Plus works today and focuses on practical procurement use cases. Most lessons apply to the paid M365 Copilot and…
Indirect market tests rarely go smoothly when the Statement of Work is unclear. When requirements are vague, suppliers make assumptions. Quotes come back inconsistent. Performance varies across sites. Internal customers complain that the supplier “isn’t doing what we hired them to do,” and the supplier…
Cost savings still sit at the top of every purchasing scorecard. Yet executives know the current environment is harder. Tariffs, supply volatility, and higher operating costs have made it tougher to find cost savings the old way. Market tests alone are not enough. The good…
Microsoft’s M365 Copilot is built directly into Excel. You must have a Microsoft 365 Enterprise subscription, as well as an additional M365 Copilot subscription, but its ability to handle so many of the Excel tasks buyers are tasked with is well worth it. It also…
For decades, most U.S. manufacturers followed a clear sourcing playbook: move production to low-cost countries, particularly in Asia, to reduce piece-part prices. That approach worked—until it didn’t. Tariffs, rising freight rates, supply chain disruptions, and more tariffs have pushed manufacturers to rethink their sourcing strategies….
When most organizations think about sourcing strategy, they typically focus on direct materials, where strategic sourcing initiatives are well-established and commonly used to implement category strategies. Indirect categories like IT, facilities, logistics, marketing, and MRO are often left behind because they are decentralized, complex, and…
U.S. manufacturers are reducing dependence on distant supply chains. This trend started in 2018 with the steel and aluminum tariffs, accelerated in 2021 with post-covid supply chain disruptions, and has now become the “new normal” with U.S. tariffs on imported goods averaging nearly 15% –…
When it comes to indirect spend, purchasing leaders face a different challenge than with direct materials. With so many stakeholders, it’s important to understand their needs related to the category. There’s also a need to understand how the company’s strategic plan translates into needs for…
In recent years, more manufacturers have shifted away from relying solely on Asian suppliers. Rising freight costs, tariffs, long lead times, and supply chain uncertainty have made reshoring manufacturing and nearshoring to Mexico a smart strategy for many companies. But for procurement teams that have…