By RSouthard on
7/30/2008 6:00 AM
In the retail environment, this is a very common question. Compared with other industries, retail has always suffered low margins and low profitability. The grocery segment in particular has struggled to drive one percent net profitability for years. With cost of goods generally between sixty five and eighty percent, the answer to the opening question should be none. Another unfortunate reality is that retail places much less of it’s spend under the management of these types of tools than any other industry. In fact in the mid to lower tier markets these tools are almost non existent.
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/29/2008 6:00 AM
Sometimes the detail gets lost in translation, so for those of you that are following on a daily basis here is a simple list. These are certainly not all of the benefits that retail can drive from the use of e-procurement tools, but it is a good starting point.
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/28/2008 6:00 AM
The old saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” This quote is used to guide people to adapt to the culture of places that they visit. So I guess according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “When in America, only eat American grown jalapeño’s.”
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/25/2008 6:00 AM
It often bothers me when I am visiting with customers, prospects or at a speaking engagement that while explaining the benefits of a spending program like the benefits of Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings as it relates to the use of procurement tools, that I get that far away look and sometimes just disinterest by someone in the in the audience.
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/24/2008 6:00 AM
Let’s face it, for the almost 10 years the primary driver associated with reverse auctions or e-procurement events has been a reduction in cost of goods. In large part, if a retail company saved money it was deemed to be a good event for the retailer and vendor alike. But, what about the supplier?
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/23/2008 6:00 AM
You bet they are. That is if you want to drive the greatest possible savings across the broadest range of categories; and have a sustainable process moving forward.
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/22/2008 6:00 AM
These business structures have been around for a long time. Many have evolved to use cutting edge e- procurement tools. Do their retailers also benefit from their use of these tools in order to reduce their net landed costs?
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/21/2008 6:00 AM
Most of us probably do not pay attention to the fact that gas prices rise each and every summer. The reasons are many, but primarily it is because summer fuel is more expensive to produce.
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/18/2008 6:00 AM
The simple answer is everyone. All interested or involved parties including growers, brokers, retailers, consumers, employees of each, emergency room workers and anyone else that has a vested interest due to a lack of food safety.
Read More »
|
By RSouthard on
7/17/2008 6:00 AM
There are very few retailers beyond the very largest that even use e-procurement tools and more specifically reverse auction tools. In the very largest companies these are legacy tools that are installed behind the company’s fire wall and staffed by company employees.
Read More »
|