Catalytics – The Next Generation of Procurement

Catalytics^® is a business concept that powers Proxima’s new suite of procurement services, delivering triple bottom line outcomes: people, profit and planet.

45 per cent of consumers have revealed that they would stop spending with a company whose supplier practices are called into question. With so much at stake, Proxima the procurement services provider, today announces the launch of Catalytics^®, a refreshing approach to managing a complex network of suppliers. 

Working with leading minds in business and academia Proxima has constructed a framework for Catalytics^® built on five pillars – Strategy, Structure, Mastery, Culture and Enablers. The Catalytics^® framework changes the conventional approach to managing supplier relationships, moving away from the heavy focus on financial metrics and instead focussing more on long-term value-creation.

Risk in the Supply Chain

Jonathan Cooper-Bagnall, Executive Vice President, Commercial Director at Proxima, comments: “Wider forces such as risk, innovation and sustainability critically influence the success or demise of businesses today. Seemingly indestructible brands have shown themselves extremely vulnerable in recent years.”

“Following horse meat scandals, uncapped oil-wells and garment factory disasters; even major European car manufacturers can witness their reputation and finances holed by the risks buried in the chain of command or hidden in the supply chain.”

The reliance on external suppliers for goods and services shows no sign of slowing down. Additional research conducted by Proxima found that the average FTSE 350 organisation spent 69.9 per cent of its revenue with outside agencies, and only 12.9 per cent spent on the in-house workforce in salaries and benefits.

Further, 46 per cent of risk managers in global businesses say supply chain failure is their number one risk. A Catalytics^® approach will help to mitigate against supply led risks and, conversely, help businesses drive more value out of their supplier relationships.

 Triple Bottom Line

Catalytics^® allows businesses to rethink how they manage complex supply chains in line with Triple Bottom Line (TBL) outcomes – looking beyond the transactions of buying goods or services.

With almost 70 per cent of operational activity performed by suppliers, businesses stand to receive significant benefits from taking a more strategic approach to their supplier ecosystems. 

Catalytics^® accepts that companies today cannot isolate themselves from financial, operational and reputational risks in their extended supply ecosystem, and that those same suppliers are a valuable source of competitive advantage.

Cooper-Bagnall concludes, “Organisations must look beyond profit to evaluate their performance and direct their operations. Long-term value creation – for shareholders and other stakeholders – requires leaders to deliver on triple bottom line outcomes: people, profit and planet. Failure to align operations with the principles of TBL outcomes can have serious effects on brand reputation and market position. Thinking differently about supplier ecosystems will allow business leaders to reshape their entire business to meet the new realities of modern business.”

For more information about Proxima’s Catalytics^® framework, visit www.proximagroup.com/what-is-catalytics