Purchasing Future Trends. In the next 5 years more changes will occur to how Purchasing takes place than in hte previous 100 years. As presented by Purchasing thought Leader Bill Kohnen to various Professinal Forums and discussions.

1. Purchasing and Supply in on the verge of a
big shift.

2.  Coming shifts are beyond recent develops of
globalizations, LCC Sourcing, Introduction of
operational systems
(SAP, Oracle), Introduction of new tools
(tablets, smart phones.
 Adoption not necessarily expensive so
Fortune 100 has no advantage. In fact maybe
at a disadvantage.
 Traditional Purchasing organizations and jobs
will transform more in the next 5 years than
the previous 100 years

3.  Everything becomes a commodity
 Syndicated Commerce
◦ World class tools and supply chains for all sizes of
organizations
 Everyone is a Buyer and Seller –
◦ Purchasing contributes directly to revenue generation as
well as cost savings
 Big Data will
◦ smooth planning cycles – end of “Bullwhip Effect”
◦ Create relevance to offers to Buyers that create more
specific value
 Creating better Purchasing customer experience will
be key to drive savings
 Procure to pay operations will be totally automated.
 The word foreign is losing its meaning (Borrowed from United Airlines)

4.  In every job whether operational or strategic
be ready to, explain current process and
present how to revolutionize it.
 Start to understand use of “Big Data” and
„Syndicated Commerce”
 Do not be afraid to be part of transformation
of process – become process owner and
manager
 Becoming a subject matter expert Commodity
Manager will be a high reward job.

5.  Much more Strategic view with ability to
contribute directly to revenue generation
 Strong IT understanding on a systems level
with ability to deliver systems that match
“internal customers needs.
 Truly global view and experience
 Soft Skills more important

6.  Being an expert with
excel, access, worksheets etc.
 Focus on cost savings.
 Purchasing centric individual quantitative
measures of how many transactions and how
fast.
 Blaming other departments for inability to
deliver better results
 You must sit at your desk and process
transaction. (Better to get rid of your desk
altogether)