Archive for August, 2016

All About Value!

Wednesday, August 31st, 2016

 

Today’s post is from our SafeSourcing Archives

One of the knocks that the eProcurement/Strategic Sourcing world has always had from customer and suppliers alike is that it reduces things down to a price-only model that takes nothing else into consideration.  Being a professional in this industry for many years I can honestly say that this is a legitimate issue.   Price, however, is an element that cannot be ignored and when suppliers decline to participate in sourcing events until they can meet with the customer directly it generally means that they need time to prove their value before introducing a higher price that they think is justified by their value.   Since there must be a balance, today we will look at some ways you can collect those elements in order to understand the value behind price aspect of the proposal.

Lead with the RFI – The biggest pushback from vendors asked to participate in sourcing projects is in areas like services, software, or specialized one off projects.  The reason for this is due to the fact that suppliers in these categories generally feel that the offerings among suppliers are too different to be effectively compared to each other.  Whether that is due to pricing model differences, statement of work differences or their approach to quality, they will be hesitant to participate in any event that leads with a discussion on price.  That is why taking the time to engage suppliers in a Request For Information will them each to differentiate themselves from the others before price is brought into the equation.  Doing this will also help fill in any gaps of understanding what the business really wants and needs.

Detail what you want – With the results of an RFI in hand, businesses can better define what they really want.  Because each company will add services or extras to justify their costs that others will not, it is important to define from the collection of information from the vendors and independent research what the business really needs.  Strip away the extra services that are unneeded and add those extras that the business never thought about.  If the better fit for the business is to obtain pricing for software based on users rather an enterprise license, specify for the next round, or conversely collect pricing for both from all vendors in order to see what each supplier can offer.

Create the Scoring Formula In Advance – Many times organizations will run sourcing projects where only a portion of the overall vendor scoring has to do with the price and the rest deals with other factors such as experience, industry reputation, references and extras offered.   Determining this formula well in advance of the project beginning will help keep the integrity in place for where the project ends up heading especially if incumbent vendors are involved that could unduly influence the outcome.  In some cases price may be as much as half of the possible scoring while in others, finding the right solution with the right support and features will outweigh its cost.  Regardless of the formula used, everyone should buy into it before the project is started and at least a portion of the offering features, price, and experience should be used in determining the final score.

For more information on how we can help you develop a strategy that helps your organization make decisions based on value and not just price or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

Social Skills of Emotional Intelligence in Your Business

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016

 

Today’s post is written by Heather Powell, Director of Customer Service & Project Manager at SafeSourcing Inc.

This is the eighth blog within the author’s series of Emotional Intelligence in Business explaining social skills and how it will affect and help your business. Despite a bevy of research and best-selling books on the topic, many managers still downplay emotional intelligence as a “touchy-feely” soft skill1. The importance of characteristics like empathy and self-awareness is understood, sure, but intelligence and technical capability are seen as the real drivers of professional success1. Evidence suggests quite the opposite: that high emotional intelligence (EI) is a stronger predictor of a success1. In fact, high EI bolsters the hard skills, helping us think more creatively about how best to leverage our technical chops. 1.

5). Social Skills. Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks, and an ability to find common ground and build rapport.

a.) Hallmarks of social skills include effectiveness in leading change, persuasiveness, and expertise building and leading teams 3.

Social competence takes many forms – it’s more than just being chatty. These abilities range from being able to tune into another person’s feelings and understand how they think about things, to being a great collaborator and team player, to expertise at negotiation. All these skills are learned in life. We can improve on any of them we care about, but it takes time, effort, and perseverance. It helps to have a model, someone who embodies the skill we want to improve. But we also need to practice whenever a naturally occurring opportunity arises – and it may be listening to a teenager, not just a moment at work 4.

Identify and deal with your emotions: Whenever you have an argument with someone else, things can get heated. If someone involved is emotionally worked up, deal with that problem first. Take time apart to vent, blow off steam on your own, then return to the problem. In a work environment, this may just mean complaining to a friend before you email your boss back. In a romantic relationship, remind your partner that you care about them before criticizing. 6

Address legitimate problems once you’re both calm: Once you’re in your right headspace, identify what the conflict is. Before you jump to solutions, make sure you and the other person agree on what the problems really are. Propose solutions that are mutually beneficial and be sympathetic to any concessions the other person may be unwilling to make (but be sure to stand firm on your own).6

End on a cooperative note: Whether in business or pleasure, relationships work best when everyone involved knows that they’re on the same page. Even if you can’t end on a positive note, make sure that the last intention you communicate is a cooperative one. Let your boss/coworker/significant other know that you want to work towards the same goal, even if you have different views.6

Social skills are where good emotional intelligence is perhaps most obvious.

However, emotional intelligence does not start or end with social skills. Instead, it is a cycle, with its core lying with and in the individual. Only those who understand and regulate themselves and their emotions are able to work well and effectively with others. Understanding this is crucial to developing your emotional intelligence.5.

We enjoy bringing this blog to you and hope you find value in it. For more information on how we can help you with your procurement needs or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

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References:

1.http://www.dce.harvard.edu/professional/blog/emotional-intelligence-no-soft-skill

2.http://cultureofempathy.com/references/Experts/Daniel-Goleman.htm

3.https://www.sonoma.edu/users/s/swijtink/teaching/philosophy_101/paper1/goleman.htm

4. http://www.danielgoleman.info/social-skills-and-eq/

5. http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/social-skills-emotional-intelligence.html#ixzz4HQ2pLRR6

6. http://lifehacker.com/emotional-intelligence-the-social-skills-you-werent-ta-1697704987

Tools used to make Olympic athletes more efficient.

Friday, August 26th, 2016

 

Today’s post is by Troy Lowe; Vice President of Development at SafeSourcing.

People watch the Olympics for different reasons. Some watch for patriotism, others watch to root for their favorite athletes, and others are just driven by the athletic competition.  One of the things that I find fascinating about watching the Olympics is seeing the different tools used to help athletes perform at higher levels.

At the last Olympics everyone watching kept asking, what is the weird tape the athletes are wearing? This method of taping is called the Kinesio Taping Method and is designed to help the body’s natural healing process for muscles and joints without restricting the athlete’s range of motion.  In this year’s games, if you’ve been watching Michael Phelps, you may have noticed the purple circles on his body.  This is a result of a method called cupping, an ancient Chinese healing practice that is used to loosen muscles, increases blood flow and helps relieve muscle pain and stiffness.  This method is used by athletes to help reduce the amount of soreness they receive from competing.

For the swimmers, Speedo continues to innovate new swimsuits that are worn by some of the US swimmers. The Speedo Fastskin LZR Racer was developed using NASA’s wind tunnel testing facilities and became popular during the 2008 Olympics.  The suit was designed to compress the body in certain areas and help the swimmers stay higher in the water to reduce resistance.  Below are some other tools that are being used to help the athletes for the 2016 Olympics.

  • Hykso Punch-Tracking Sensors
  • Solos Smart Eyewear
  • Nike’s Zoom Superfly Elite Track Shoes
  • Oakley’s Green Fade Sunglasses
  • Omega Underwater Lap Counters
  • Archery Electronic Scoring System

Interested in learning how SafeSourcing can help your company run more efficiently? Like to try a risk free trial?  Please don’t hesitate to contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. Our team is ready and available to assist you!

China’s New Face(book)

Thursday, August 25th, 2016

 

Today’s post was written by Christine McConnell, Account Manager at SafeSourcing.

Facebook and social media have had quite a checkered past in China. After being widely available for several years, Facebook was blocked following a series of riots that took place in northwest China in 2009. The government suspected that the activists were using Facebook as part of their communications network, (and they probably were). Apparently the Chinese government is still highly sensitive to any internet application that might be used to organize China’s masses beyond the reaches of their authority. As such, they also blocked access to YouTube after soldiers were filmed beating Tibetan monks, and to Twitter. In 2010 the ubiquitous search engine Google was also pushed outside the Great FireWall for refusing to allow the Chinese government to censor its search results. All this is of particular interest to me now because my brother boarded an Airbus A330 last Friday morning to begin a new chapter in China. He’ll be teaching US and World History at Beijing No. 4 High School International; and although I couldn’t be happier for him, I cannot imagine being unable to communicate with him regularly. He is one of my best friends. To that end, I am now exploring alternate ways for us to connect.

WeChat to the rescue! Since its inception four years ago, WeChat has become the dominant instant messaging service in China with nearly 700 million monthly active users to date. WeChat enables users to call, text, and send pictures. However unlike Facebook Messenger it’s not simply a messaging platform. Once inside the main WeChat app, you can check current events, manage and pay bills, book a reservation at a favorite restaurant, hail a taxi, or even schedule a doctor’s appointment. In fact, WeChat contains several million third party apps. From retail stores to brands to celebrities to start ups, almost any group or association can have their own account – each account acting like its own web page – turning WeChat into a kind of mobile web browser. If WeChat is as simple to use as it looks, my brother and I will be sharing stories again in no time. I can’t wait for his next update!

Would you like to learn how SafeSourcing could help your company communicate more effectively? Interested in a risk free trial? Please don’t hesitate to contact SafeSourcing. Our team is ready and available to assist you!

 

Supplier Relationships and E-auctions

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016

 

Today’s post is from our  SafeSourcing Archives.

Do you have a really good relationship with your supplier? Do you think an e-auction will harm that relationship?

If you said yes to any of the above questions, you are not alone. This is a common misconception within companies.

Research carried out by telephone interviews by CIPS  (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply) in conjunction with Oracle and The University of West England, I-ADAPT (Independent Assessment of Development of Auctions as a Purchasing Tool) concluded that buyers and sellers, both interviewed, had shown no negative impact post e-auction. It helped organizations lower their purchasing costs by improving transparency and forcing buyers to be upfront with all purchasing requirements. Online auctions have strengthened supplier-buyer relationships without negatively affecting quality.

However, that may not always hold true if an online auction is thought to be executed unfairly or unethically. There are a few steps a buyer should consider before executing an online auction to maintain a strong supplier relationship post-auction.

1. Initiating the process:
• Assign a lead for the auction
• Select a commodity that is a good fit for multiple suppliers
• Ensure all specifications and terms for products/services are clear to a new supplier

2. Planning the Process:
• Decide what details you will need to make a decision (price, quality, service level, etc.)
• Develop an award strategy and criteria
• Set and agree on an auction schedule
• Notify the incumbent of your intention of the online auction. Nobody likes surprises!

When an e-auction is prepared in its entirety and has buy-in from the appropriate parties within the company, the live event will run smoothly without harming any supplier relationships. SafeSourcing is experienced with running the live events. We have the staff to provide all suppliers with direct communication and training. We want to make suppliers feel comfortable with the e-auction format, and based on our experienced SafeSourcing supplier database- we are doing just that!

If you are interested in seeing how an e-auction can bring great value to your company, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Services Account Manager or call us directly at 888-261-9070.

We look forward to your comments.

Agile procurement methodology

Monday, August 22nd, 2016

 

 

Today’s post is our SafeSourcing Archives

An Agile approach to project management methodology is most commonly used in software development, but has seen extensive use in business as well. Agile in and of itself is a relatively unspecific concept in execution, and as such has been flexible enough to find wide use in a variety of industries, and has been particularly well deployed in small or start up companies that must be adaptive to their customers’ needs and volatile markets.

The Manifesto for Agile Software Development[1] summarizes the methodology as:

  • Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
  • Working software over comprehensive documentation
  • Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
  • Responding to change over following a plan

Several sub-categories of Agile methodology have emerged that break down execution more specifically:

  • Scrum – The most widely used Agile framework, it incorporates product owners, cross-functional teams, and “sprint” planning and reviewing.
  • Lean – Probably the most well-known and practiced outside of the development community, made famous by Toyota’s just-in-time manufacturing practices
  • Dynamic Systems Development Method – Follows the mission of “fitness for business purpose”, and ranks activities by incorporating the pareto principle.
  • Crystal – Focuses on team size, system criticality, and project priorities.

One of the greatest strengths of the Agile approach is adaptability. Most procurement projects are necessarily iterative; It usually takes several exploratory steps for all parties to reach parity between the customers’ needs and the suppliers capabilities. During each step, the project’s direction may fluctuate quite a bit, and the procurement team must be ready to recreate timelines, reformat strategy, relocate product or even change team members. Diving into the details of the frameworks above can be arduous, but the benefits of finding a framework to sync your team’s workflow can be enormous once you find a methodology that works for you.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist your team with this process or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

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[1] “Agile Manifesto.” 2003. 25 May. 2016 <http://www.agilemanifesto.org/>

Goals!!!!

Wednesday, August 17th, 2016

 

 

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant at SafeSourcing.

Today, businesses often set goals, not only for the company as a whole, but also for specific departments, teams, and individuals. The goals a business sets may be for different reasons, be it financial, team building, or development. Failing to meet certain goals can have negative consequences for a company, where meeting and exceeding goals can have an incredibly beneficial and rewarding outcome. So, how should a company set up and achieve its goals?

Figuring out the direction the business needs to head is the first step toward setting goals. Determine what areas of your business need the most work or improvement. You could set a sales goal for a month, set a goal for hours worked on a task, or set progress goals on a project. The goals set should be challenging, yet attainable. It’s okay if your team works a bit harder, but when a goal is virtually out of reach, efforts drop substantially and frustrations go up.

Next the level of goal you expect needs to be calculated. When first implementing goals, try setting one that is between current performance levels and the ideal level. Then, if goals are consistently met, then goals can rise as well. Setting goals too high or too low can hinder motivation in your business.

Finally, reward those in your business who meet goals. Often, the final reward is motivation enough for employees to put in the extra time and effort. Just as goals can be big or small, rewards can too. Some common rewards are bonuses, extra time off, prizes, or outings.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help you with your business goals, or are interested in our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Going, Going, Gone

Wednesday, August 17th, 2016

 

Today’s post is by Dave Wenig, Regional Sales Manager at SafeSourcing Inc.

There are many variations of auctions, each with its own particular use. In eProcurement, reverse auctions reign as buyers are seeking lower prices and higher value for the goods and services they require. Within reverse auctions, we see many variations of this theme. Of course, organizations have plenty of options when determining how to go about running a successful reverse auction.

Sellers have many options as well. Auction types that seek to get the highest price for a good or service are plentiful with options like silent auction and Dutch auction being two well-known types. One of the most common types of auction is the English auction. An English auction is one where a seller seeks the highest price that a buyer will pay for the seller’s goods. Here again, an English auction can be modified to take advantage of different options like a reserve price set by the seller.

Organizations often choose to leverage these different auction types, both reverse and forward. At SafeSourcing, we work with our customers to both buy and sell goods and services through our tool suites. Purchasing organizations reap the benefits of the reverse auctions. Sellers enjoy their own customized auction tool.

Regardless of whether you’re buying or selling, your goal is to get the best price and SafeSourcing can help.

Dave Wenig is a Regional Sales Manager at SafeSourcing. Dave or any member of the experienced team at SafeSourcing would be happy to discuss how SafeSourcing can help you reach your buying and selling goals. For more information, please contact SafeSourcing. 

We look forward to your comments.

Survival of the Fastest

Tuesday, August 16th, 2016

 

Today’s post is our SafeSourcing archives

The landscape of retail operations is changing faster than anyone thought possible.   With the change we are seeing new businesses born and quickly grow to huge levels and we are seeing long established companies who are unable to adapt begin their descent in total collapse.  The biggest reason for this is who the customer has become and how the changes and habits and in their “non-purchasing” lives have added to these huge changes.  So what are you doing to take advantage of these changes and keep your business relevant?

Will you sacrifice sales to do the right thing? – We all know that the lifeblood of a company’s survival is their sales.  If the sales aren’t happened the expenses don’t get paid.  Cuts are made and people lose their jobs.  This idea is so engrained into our way of thinking that the mere thought of purposely losing sales is retail heresy.  Several companies are finding that when they create programs for customers to facilitate the sale of existing used product to other customers, thereby losing those sales, that they actually increased sales during that time due to the fact that the sellers were buying newer products, extending service agreements and spreading the word that these companies worked with their customers to do the right thing rather than focus solely on making a buck.

Focus on the experience – We now live in a world where people’s lives are filled with social experience.  From the time they wake up they are checking news, sports scores, Facebook posts and Tweets before they even get out of bed.  All throughout there day these connections remain intact as they follow what is going on in the world and experience the news through a multitude of channels.  Retailers must take a cue from this change in lifestyle not only in the US but all over the world and create experiences for their customers both online and in their stores.  This may mean disproportionately investing in store floor sales staff or investing in new web design that does not always funnel the customer straight to a buying decision.

Work with, don’t fight technology – Technology changes everything and has been doing so for a long time.  It has removed some aspects of the corner store experience but it has created others such as selection, value and competition.  It has allowed companies to develop, manufacture, and sell more creatively and more efficiently than have ever been able to do and with fewer resources.  Every technology may not be right to adopt for your business but the awareness of what those technologies are and how you could benefit from them is something every retailer should embrace.  You don’t have to be the first adopter but being the last could put you out of business fast.

At SafeSourcing we understand and help companies every day embrace ideas like these and help them find partners and solutions that can help them leverage new trends and technology.  For more information on how we can help your business or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

Pros and Cons of Requiring Uniforms

Monday, August 8th, 2016

 

Today’s post is by Gayl Southard, Administrative Consultant for SafeSourcing.

As a business owner, you might face the decision to require a uniform, or a dress code policy. There are many pros and cons to this decision.  Uniforms can make employees feel part of a team.  It can also give employees a professional image in the eyes of your customers, especially companies that have employees that visit customers in their homes, such as appliance installers, exterminators, etc.  On the negative side, the uniform may be made of heavy fabric, making it uncomfortable in warm weather.  Employees may not like how they look in the required uniform, or may believe the uniform is a symbol of control by their employer.  One major company has relaxed their dress code policy recently.

On July 25, 2016 Starbucks announced their new dress code. The Starbuck Dress Code allows their baristas their own individual style, while still presenting a neat, clean, and professional look.  Starbucks old dress code policy only allowed black or white shirt colors.  Now, gray, navy, dark denim and brown, including patterns are permitted.  Shorts, skirts, dresses and pants, including dark-wash denim are part of the updated wardrobe policy.  Employees are also permitted to make a “hair” statement with permanent or semi-permanent hair color – as long as it is within food safety standards.  Also beanies, fedoras, and other type of hats are welcome.  Some customer feedback was ”We like it.  We’re happy to see that you can wear expressive clothing to show who you are.”  There is some thought as to this dress code is what is already in their employees’ closet, making it easier to dress for work rather than to make their employees go out and purchase the white and black shirts previously required.

The iconic green apron still remains. Cosimo LaPorta, Executive Vice President, U.S. Retail Store Operations stated, “We want partners to be as proud of their look as they are when they tie on the green apron.”1 Starbucks prides itself on ingenuity, continual innovation and customization in every business aspect.  They are confident that this will uplift the Starbuck brand, as well as the customer’s experience.

Uniforms has historically been  a very aggressive bid  category that has driven great savings for companies that still require them in their workplace.

For more information on how we can help you with your procurement needs or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

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1Starbuck Newsroom, 7/25/16