Procurement 101: Why We Need Data Analytics
Do you want to leverage big data in procurement but are unsure how to article the benefits? Here are four ways data analytics is changing the procurement profession.
1. Supply Chains Will Be More Transparent
Data analytics will make it possible to have visibility of more factors than humans could ever analyse on their own. With customers demanding the country of origin and the practices surrounding the acquisition of everything in the products they buy, data can help track products through the supply chain. Additionally, procurement professionals can find ideal suppliers with predictive data. Doing so will make it easier for products to adhere to a specific code of ethics throughout the supply chain.
2. Risk Focus Will Shift
As more information trickles through the supply chain, the timeline of risk will shrink. With more visibility, you’ll be able to concentrate on immediate disruptions in the supply chain and respond to those.
Tracking weather, traffic conditions and other disruptions that could affect your supply chain will allows for more rapid adjustments, which will in turn lead to fewer disruptions in the supply chain and of the business. Planning for these factors becomes easier with data analytics that can juggle far more pieces of information than humans can.
3. Procurement Professionals Will Become Knowledge Leaders
The information procurement professionals will use will make them knowledge leaders for the entire company. For cost savings, the data used in procurement will be invaluable. To take one example, a commercially sold multivariable freight optimisation program saved one industrial company 25 per cent on its air freight costs. The marketing department may consult with the information procurement professionals gather from social media to determine demand.
4. Automation in the Supply Chain Will Gather Pace
The Internet of Things (IoT), which combines sensors and data analytics, will ramp up automation in the supply chain. Automation will ease the supply management professional’s job, as much of the ordering becomes part of the system. Sensors on store shelves can measure how fast a product is selling, then alert the manufacturer to adjust the amount to deliver to individual stores — or even the total number of products to produce. The head of JDA Labs, an operations planning software company, describes big data and sensors as answering manufacturers’ demands for product placement information. The sensors show where stores place products on their shelves, and informing manufacturers of their product placement is the first step toward automation of meeting consumer demands.
Implementing Data Analytics for Procurement
Walter Charles, CPO of Biogen, advises companies to include data analytics in their processes and claims businesses do not need a large team of scientists. All they need are a category manager and a group of six to 10 people who know how to use the software to examine bids.
Charles used such a team to work with $12 billion when he was at Kraft Foods and had a similar group for $10 billion in work at Kellogg’s. Ernst & Young, EY, suggests the team members know how to work with quantitative data since quantitative risk management will become a critical part of procurement. With the right people and software, you can make data analytics a reality for your business.
Analytics will make use of unexpected data. Ernst & Young predicts that by 2025 social media, mobile technology, big data and the cloud will be the primary sources for data analytics in procurement. Analysing this information will be necessary with the right software and people to unpack it.
Security and Big Data
Part of using shared information in the cloud and big data will be keeping the information and your company secure. You cannot ignore the problem, so make sure you always have updated virus screening software. Additionally, keep a firewall for your business. When in doubt, hire a trusted IT security professional to keep your information secure.
Is Data Analytics the Future of Procurement?
Data analytics will become an integral part of the future of procurement and the supply chain. If you don’t start the process of implementing it in your operations today, you could be behind tomorrow. The information from this process will save you money and make your business more efficient. Data analytics is one investment where the ROI will continue to benefit your business for years.
