Do you know what responsiveness is? The word, which gained strength with the emergence of the internet and different types of devices (cell phone, tablet, desktop, etc.) means the ability to respond quickly – or appropriately – to uncertain scenarios and circumstances.
Just as the content of a website or application needs to adapt to the device it is being presented on, people, professionals and companies also need to make adjustments to face different challenges and realities.
In the third edition of ME B2B Summit, which took place in November last year, we talked about the topic from a purchasing perspective and invited leading executives in the area to share their learnings over the last two years.
Check out a summary of everything that was said now!
In uncertain scenarios, the watchword in purchasing is “resilience”
To discuss the topic of “adjusting the purchasing area in real time,” we invited Jerson Nascimento, CPO of JBS in South America; Celina Maria, Supply and Import Manager at Sotreq; and Leandro Chirinea, CPO of Nestlé Brazil. Flavio Barreiro, Supply Chain and Operations Leader at Accenture in Latin America, was the moderator of the conversation, who brought several important insights to the professionals.
After almost two years of many uncertainties, the chat, of course, began with the lessons learned during the covid-19 crisis and the word “resilience” was the most remembered by executives.
At the beginning of the pandemic, maintaining the continuity of operations, especially due to the shortage of personal protective equipment, was one of the biggest challenges. Inflationary pressure and the difficulty in guaranteeing prices were also remembered as some of the most threatening moments for professionals.
Uncertain purchasing scenarios: 7 key lessons learned
1. Adaptability is essential
Being able to adapt quickly to changes and seeing adversity as a learning experience are ways to lessen the impact of times of crisis. After all, no company is 100% prepared.
In this sense, having resilience is one of the skills that allows you to react better to uncertain scenarios.
2. Nobody builds anything alone
The pandemic has certainly shown how important it is for people to come together for a common goal: to get through this period in the best possible way. Teamwork was crucial to facing one of the most difficult moments in history.
People's motivation to learn quickly and seek partnerships to alleviate problems were essential during this period.
3. Remote work works
The performance of teams and remote leadership was one of the most significant discoveries for companies. According to professionals, “it was either that or we would have experienced even greater chaos in relation to supply”.
The new work format was not a huge surprise. This movement had already been happening before, in a timid way, and now it has proven to be very effective for companies, with the possibility of further expanding the diversity of people.
4. Having partner suppliers is more valuable than price
The choice of the cheapest purchase is a thing of the past. Today, it is necessary to look at the purchasing strategy as a whole. Therefore, in B2B purchases, the best option is not always to pay less.
It is in times of crisis that we meet our best allies – and they are not always those who guarantee the most savings.
5. Supplier diversity brings multiple benefits
Having a diversified supplier base is essential to face uncertain scenarios. Even if there are already long-term partners, unforeseen events can happen at any time.
For this reason, constant mapping of suppliers, who meet the fundamental requirements for supplying the company, is essential and very advantageous.
6. External scenarios are relevant
Looking at what is happening outside the country and how the market is reacting are attitudes that help to anticipate possible events.
The slowdown in the Chinese economy, already expected for the coming years, for example, has Brazil as one of the main victims, according to report from Folha de S. Paulo.
7. Diverse teams create better results
Studies have already proven: diversity brings innovation.
Therefore, investing in the plurality of the purchasing team is necessary to help the company remain competitive, productive and sustainable in the long term.
Protagonism and the importance of purchasing for business
The purchasing department is increasingly relevant and connected to business, being responsible not only for generating savings, but also proving to be one of the departments that presents the most innovation. And this is mainly due to the transformations that were imposed by past crises.
Therefore, the profile of the purchasing professional had to change. Technical knowledge, which continues to be relevant, no longer walks alone. Now, it is the behavioral skills those required to work in such a dynamic and complex area.
A digital transformation This is also a reality in the supply chain. Digital tools that automate purchasing management and help free buyers from operational processes have also become essential. As a result, professionals can focus on strategies that bring results to companies, such as getting to know their partners in depth and identifying the best business opportunities.
Digitalization is not an imposition, it is a culture. Therefore, one of the skills of the purchasing leader of the future is not to fear technology. Contrary to what is still said in companies, purchasing management solutions do not represent a threat to the buyer's activities.
Therefore, one of the skills of the purchasing leader of the future is not to fear technology. Contrary to what is still said in companies, purchasing management solutions do not represent a threat to the buyer's activities.
The tools were created to improve the most complex issues. Therefore, leaders have an important role to play in communicating the benefits and implementing the change gradually.
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