Changes in the purchasing industry are happening all the time. To keep up with the fast pace of change, it is essential that buyers develop skills and refresh their knowledge frequently.
As the relevance of the purchasing department increases in companies, the job market demands for this professional also grow.
For this reason, both technical and behavioral skills deserve attention in a purchasing career.
In this post, we will list 5 skills for you to improve in 2022 and stand out.
Purchasing skills: a maturation process for professionals
When we talk about buyer skills, we need to understand that, a few years ago, the purchasing area stopped being strictly operational and became strategic.
Nowadays, the skills needed to be a good buyer are the result of a long process of maturation in the area and crises faced by companies.
The pandemic, the most recent challenge, has redefined work formats, with purchasing teams working remotely and accelerated the digitalization of the purchasing area.
With all these changes, the skills needed to be a successful buyer are no longer the same as they were in years past.
Therefore, below, we have listed the 5 skills that we consider essential for 2022. Check it out!
5 skills to be a successful buyer in 2022
1. Engage with sustainability
The modern buyer considers sustainability and issues ESG – environmental, social and governance – as a fundamental process of its purchasing strategy.
But to put this discourse into practice and actually contribute to society's most urgent issues, it is necessary to go beyond creating responsible sourcing policies.
In the procurement area, becoming engaged with sustainability means being willing to seek ethical and transparent partnerships, with a focus on shared commitment.
Furthermore, a sustainable purchasing area helps its suppliers to develop, prosper and considers changing what needs to be changed in favor of this cause.
In this sense, one of the most necessary skills is continuous process improvement. From now on, it is essential not to be afraid of change.
2. Search for trends and technologies in the market
Some time ago, the purchasing department stopped being just an acquisitions department and, today, it is one of the main departments responsible for creating new products and services for a company.
Therefore, to remain competitive in such a competitive market, the buyer needs to be aware of trends and look for technologies that can add value to the product/service.
In purchasing, innovation is not only linked to the creation of a product or the implementation of new raw materials, but also to the integration of digital solutions and automation of processes.
It is important to reflect that, often, a possible innovation can be found in a visit to your supplier, for example.
Another point is that in the procurement of the future – closer than we imagine – consumer behavior will determine purchasing strategies. Keep an eye on it!
3. Find cost reduction opportunities
Cost reduction is one of the most important aspects of purchasing. After all, R$1 saved on purchases means R$1 in profit for the company.
How much do we spend? What do we spend on? Who do we spend with? When do we spend? Questions like these can be answered with spend analysis, within the methodology of strategic sourcing.
Spend analysis helps the purchasing department identify cost reduction opportunities and its application must not put essential aspects of the business at risk.
In addition to understanding strategic purchasing methodologies and spend analysis, to reduce costs in the area, the buyer will need to master the techniques of negociação.
The use of digital shopping solutions, such as Procure-to-Pay, for example, allows the buyer to make smart negotiations, have access to spend analysis and achieve more savings (economy).
4. Make decisions based on metrics
In purchasing, to be more agile and assertive in decision-making, it is necessary to consider KPIs (key performance indicators), such as savings, lead time, productivity, among others.
It is through KPIs that the purchasing area has access to the activity scenario, allowing the buyer to have a greater chance of making the right choices.
That is, when accessing the indicators, the professional leaves the field of assumptions to make way for data intelligence when they need to plan or act.
This analytical competence, combined with intuition, experience and observation, form a powerful combo for professionals to be successful in the field.
5. Develop and improve behavioral skills
Technical knowledge was once very important in the past. Today, it is no longer sufficient in any professional's career.
In the purchasing area, soft skills (behavioral skills) are one of the most sought-after skills for professionals, especially for purchasing leader.
And you may probably be wondering: how do I develop my behavioral skills? One of the key points is to seek self knowledge, develop active listening, and always think and consider before making any important decision.
Tip: observing people and their attitudes in different situations can help you develop your behavioral skills in a more assertive way.
In this article, we looked at the main skills for a buyer's career in 2022.
So, do you have any more to suggest? Share in the comments!
To the next! 😉