As modern procurement functions continue to evolve, there is an increasing demand for professionals to deliver value from their networks by way of influencing, negotiating and tactically dealing with customers and suppliers within the supply chain. It’s clear that the skills to run a well-oiled procurement function are vast. Demonstrating this value to the rest of the business remains a bigger challenge. This idea of raising procurement’s brand within the business – from a cost centre to true value provider – was a key theme of the 2019 Procurement Innovation Festival. 250 eager professionals turned out in force for Australia’s newest procurement event at Sydney’s Luna Park, to hear from the brightest in procurement innovation. We also stepped outside of our ecosystem and heard from top negotiators, psychologists, PR experts and coaches on how to be better people and leaders. The two-day event, run in collaboration with industry powerhouse AT Kearney, explored the skills and knowledge needed to create a well-rounded procurement function: effective leadership, thoughtful strategy, and cutting-edge technology enabling the big innovative ideas needed to transform our organisations. Here are three key themes that underpinned the 30 insightful sessions at Procurement Innovation Festival 2019. Moving the Needle from Cost Centre to Value Provider The modern procurement function has come a long way from the days of supply and demand management. Made up of strategic professionals with a complex set of skills, teams are tasked with extracting value from their network by way of influencing, negotiating and working tactically with stakeholders within … Continue reading →