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

Chances are your parents and grandparents grew up with one type of milk- -cow’s milk. Today there are many types of milk to choose from.  The question is what type of milk are you looking for?  Are you trying to cut fat?   Are you lactose intolerant?  Are you concerned with the sugar content?  Milk can be a tricky question.  The following are different types of milk offerings:

1. Cashew Milk. Cashew milk is very similar to almond milk. It is approximately 40 calories per cup and 3.5 grams of fat. It is often fortified with vitamins D, B12, and A. The drawback is that is low in protein.
2. Coconut Milk. Coconut milk has become a healthy fat and protein in recent years. It has a unique flavor and is typically low in calories. It is higher in fat than other types of milk, and can be higher in sugar, unless it is unsweetened. It often comes without protein.
3. Goat’s Milk. Goat’s milk was one of the first alternatives to cow’s milk. It is high in protein, but is also high in saturated fat. It is similar to whole milk. It is packed with a lot of nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A and C. It also comes fortified with vitamin D.
4. Hemp Milk. Hemp milk is made from hemp seeds. It is a rare milk and high in omega-fatty acids. It provides more iron than cow’s milk. It is low in protein. It is best to look for unsweetened hemp milk fortified with vitamins A and D.
5. Almond Milk. Almond milk has become very popular. It is a lactose-free alternative that has more vitamin E than cow’s milk. It is found in a variety of flavors and is low in calories (30 calories per cup if unsweetened). It is low in protein compared to cow’s or goat’s milk.
6. Cow’s Milk. Cow’s milk is very high in protein and provides calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus. It is high in protein, keeping you feeling full for extended periods of time. The drawbacks depend on the type of milk selected- skim milk contains no fat, while whole milk is full of saturated fat (eight grams of fat per cup).
7. Soy Milk. Soy milk is the original alternative to cow’s milk. It is popular with people that are lactose intolerant. It is low in fat, high in protein, and often fortified with vitamins A, B, and B12. Look for varieties that haven’t been heavily sweetened.
8. Flax Milk. Like flax seeds, flax milk is high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. It is typically low in fat and calories. It can also be high in protein. Avoid the flavored varieties as they are heavily sweetened which also ups the sugar content.

SafeSourcing regularly sources milk for a variety of companies. For more information on SafeSourcing and how we can help you with your sourcing needs, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Emily Lockhart, Active Beat, 3/15/2017

Today’s post is written by Ivy Ray, Senior Procurement Specialist at SafeSourcing Inc.

It has been almost two years since I joined the ranks of the “cord cutters”. I was a bit skeptical when my husband suggested we cancel our cable subscription. My initial concerns were how will I be able to DVR and what about the premium channels? There is a website that devoted to cord cutting options and product ratings.

We were already subscribers of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime as side entertainment options, for a number of years, while still remaining cable dependent. We were also already using three of the four top-selling streaming devices which are Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Apple TV. I realized we were already there, but just hadn’t cut the cord. Antennas were the only purchase that was necessary to make the transition.

At first, it took some time getting used to where to locate different shows, but it was mostly a pain free transition. The growth in streaming content and providers has made it possible to view most television shows and movies, seamlessly. If there is a series on a premium channel that you’re interested in watching, you can purchase a la carte through Amazon Prime instead of the traditional bundling of channels that most cable companies require. There are several great DVR options for antennas from Tablo, Channel Master, and TiVo.

In addition to the previously mentioned streaming providers, there are multiple options including Sling TV which has every variation of ESPN you can name, YouTube TV, and broadcasters such as CBS All Access, HBO Now. Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus will be available in late 2019. HBO Max and NBC Universal’s Peacock are set to launch in 2020.

Streaming subscription plans have reasonable and varying price ranges and some offer ad-free viewing at a higher price option. Prices range from $4.99 to $15.99 per month which is a huge savings compared to cable prices starting at $35.00 to $50.00 per month for basic package, increasing to around $100.00 once your introductory offer expires.

The market trend of cord cutters has seen viewers cutting back or dropping their television subscriptions in favor of using a mixture of sources, such as terrestrial television and internet streaming services, as an alternative. Whatever your preference, there is a low cost option available. Try them out for free and save your money.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you in exploring your procurement solutions for your business efforts, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

References………………………………………..

1. https://www.cordcutters.com/
2. https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/tivo-vs-tablo-vs-channel-master-vs-plex-the-ultimate-ota-dvr-guide/
3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/20/everything-you-need-know-about-upcoming-streaming-services-one-handy-rundown/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrestrial_television

Today’s Post is by Eli Razov, Senior Account Manager at SafeSourcing Inc.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940. In 2018, clinical research on cannabidiol included preliminary studies of anxiety, cognition, movement disorders, and pain. CBD does not have the same psychoactivity as THC and may change the effects of THC on the body if both are present.

CBD derived from hemp (with 0.3% THC or lower) was delisted as a federally scheduled substance by the 2018 Farm Bill. FDA regulations still apply: hemp CBD is legal to sell as a cosmetics ingredient, but despite a common misconception, because it is an active ingredient in an FDA-approved drug, cannot be sold under federal law as an ingredient in food, dietary supplements, or animal food.

With many different kinds of oils, balms, creams, and roll-on gels there are different products to be discovered and with laws changing many C-Stores, Beauty, and Grocery chains have already begun to carry various products. The different health benefits and rising popularity these products are popping up everywhere. With the global cannabidiol market size estimating roughly $1.34 billion in 2018 it is expected to expand at a CAGR of 32.6% over the next 5 years.

Working alongside with major manufacturers and distributors, SafeSourcing can help you procure these popular products.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact SafeSourcing  we have an entire team waiting to assist you today.

Citations:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabidiol
2. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cannabidiol-cbd-market

Today’s post is from our SafeSourcing Archives

Three years ago the Wall Street Journal published an article about how the economy is forcing consumers to consider lower priced stores and goods to save money (Article Link).  Since that time major retailers such as Kroger’s have invested heavily into private label brands that consumers trust as much if not more than the National brands they used to buy.   Just announced in June were three brand new private label store brands from Kroger to bring in quality products at a lower price point.

In today’s blog we will be looking into some new areas of private label sourcing you might not have thought about previously.

Services – One of the areas that companies do not always think of for private label sourcing are services.  Many of these services deal directly with the design and marketing of the private label products themselves helping to develop campaigns for the retailer.  There are other services, however, such as Kosher services and product development services that can also be sourced.

Product Ingredients – In some cases the retailer manufactures or is considering manufacturing their own private label products and the raw materials needed for those products need to be sourced.  Flavorings, chemicals, fragrances, pharmaceutical ingredients and organic ingredients are just some of the items that can be sourced.

Supplies and Equipment – When it comes to private label products there are also unrelated equipment and supplies that are needed in order for the inventory to get to the consumer.  Advertising vehicles, pallets, shelving, signage, coolers and freezers, and doors and curtain systems are just a few of the many types of connected purchases which are necessary in order for private label products to be sold.

Not For Resale – This area of private label spend is growing larger every day as more retailers are beginning to offer food and/or beverages in their stores.  Towels, cups, bags, trays, paper products, and stretch wrap are all additional areas of private label products which can be sourced on a regular basis.

Whatever your private label Sourcing need is, the economy is quickly demanding that companies begin to pay more attention to the mix of products they source for their customers.  For assistance in sourcing these categories for your business, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  

We look forward to your comments.

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

While traveling this past summer, almost without exception, all the public restrooms I used had hot air blowers instead of paper towels. I wondered which was the better option.

Some of the basic differences are:

1. 1. Hand dryers create less waste. A big complaint for many companies are paper towels have to be cleaned up, some people flush them creating plumbing expenses, and the cost of the paper towel averages about 1 cent per sheet (the the average person uses 2.5 sheets to dry their hands) compared to .02-1.8 cents of electricity used with a hand dryer.
   2. Hand dryers create much less waste than paper towels. Many companies complain they have to cleanup paper towels that can be all over the floors of restrooms. Someone has to be responsible to bag them, cart them to a dumpster, and then the expense to have to take to them to a landfill. It is easy to see why the hand dryer seems to be the better choice here.
   3. Some people believe a hand dryer just circulates bacteria in the air. A hand dryer should be cleaned every year (and more often if in a heavy use environments) to remove built up dust. A high-speed dryer is better in this regard as the forced air keeps them cleaner. There is a hand dryer that contIns anti-microbial compounds imbedded in the paint and plastic components that minimize bacteria growth.
   4. “A 2012 systematic review found that paper towels dry hands more quickly and more thoroughly than air dryers.”1. Where hygiene is paramount such as hospitals and clinics, paper towels should be recommended.
   5. Air dryers allow only one user at a time. A user can take a full minute to dry their hands. This can lead people to avoid drying their hands. A study revealed some people only took 22.5 seconds to dry their hands, and 41% of people left the washroom drying their hands on their clothing. Wet hands spread bacteria much more effectively than dry hands. The bottom line here is that paper towels dry hand more effectively and people use them more. With a hand dryer, people incompletely dry their hands, or not at all.
   6. If your goal is to reduce your carbon footprint, than air dryers are the way to go. If you want to maximize customer service, most people prefer paper towels. “If, however, your primary goal is hygiene, which is the case in hospitals and other healthcare settings, then paper towels are the current clear winner. They dry hands faster, more completely, and minimize the spread of bacteria to the environment and cross contamination.”2

If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help you, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative.  We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

References……………………………………………………………………………

1 https://www.restroomdirect.com/hand-dryers-vspaper-towels.aspx

2.https://science based medicine.org/air-dryers-vs-paper-towels/

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant and Director of HR at SafeSourcing

For many of us, our schooling has emphasized the importance of proofreading our written works. This is supposed to eliminate any grammatical and punctuation errors, remove redundant ideas, and help keep a message fluid and comprehensible. Outside of the classroom and into the business world, proofreading should be even more important, but is often rushed or not done at all. This oversight and missing errors in a written work can affect your business, and your pocket.

As some background, the Oxford comma is the last comma used to separate a list of items. While it is often acceptably omitted, omitting it can change the meaning of a sentence. The oxford comma is used in the sentence, “You see two dancers, President Kennedy, and Bob Hope.” Clearly, the meaning of this sentence is that you see two people plus two dancers, for a total of four people. The same sentence, without the Oxford comma, “You see two dancers, President Kennedy and Bob Hope,” implies that you see two dancers, one being President Kennedy, and one being Bob Hope.

The real-life effects of omitting the Oxford comma can have detrimental effects on business. For example, a recent article described how the lack of the Oxford comma left one company to pay millions of dollars in a lawsuit. As the New York Times reported, the lack of the Oxford comma in one of Oakhurst Dairy’s contracts forced the company to pay $10 million for overtime it wasn’t expecting to pay.

While this is just one example, this situation demonstrates why proofreading is more important than ever, especially in business. Simple typing errors, misspelled words, incorrect grammar, and unclear language can leave customers and clients wondering about the quality of a business. On the other hand, clear, well-written, and informative language can bring in customers and clients.

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

Today’s post is from our SafeSourcing Archives

How can companies benefit from using Fleet Management Services?

Fleet Service companies provide turnkey solutions for fleets.  Typically they provide solutions for Asset Management, Operating Cost Management and Risk Management.  Please see the details on services below.

Asset Management:

1. Title and Registration Services
2. Vehicle financing, acquisition, delivery
3. Used vehicle marketing
4. Violation Management

Operating Cost Management:

1. Fuel Expense Management
2. Telematics
3. Managed Fleet Maintenance
4. Vehicle expense management
5. Fleet management outsourcing

Risk Management:

1. Motor vehicle records and vehicle monitoring
2. Vehicle accident management
3. Safety Services

Fleet Service companies can help identify savings and improve fleet productivity.  In addition, they maximize your company’s fleet investment by benchmarking your fleet against the industry.  They also can recommend specific steps to improve fleet effectiveness.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help your Purchasing Department evaluate Fleet Services please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments

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

When looking for an Internet connection solution, there are several types of connections available. The most common are DSL, Cable and Fiber Optics.

DSL(Digital Subscriber Line) uses telephone cable to transmit data. When using DSL you have a dedicated connection that is not shared with others within your area. The speed is, however, affected by the distance between your location and the location of your Internet Service Provider(ISP). There are two types of DSL connections, asymmetric and symmetric. Asymmetric uses the phone line to connect to the internet and still allows you to use the same phone line to make phone calls. Because of this design, the upload speeds are slower than the download speeds. Symmetric also uses the phone line for the connection but uses both parts of the phone line for its connection. This allows for increased upload speeds, but the line cannot be used for incoming or outgoing phone communication.

Cable uses coax cable to transfer data. Cable is generally faster than DSL, but it is not dedicated so you are sharing bandwidth with others in your area. So there may be peak times during the day when the connection is slower because of the amount of usage within your area. Since most of the internet usage is used for downloading, cable is designed to give priority to downloading and upload speeds are much slower. If you are planning to upload a lot of data then you may want to consider DSL or Fiber for your solution.

Fiber Optics, which is the future for transmitting data, uses optical fibers to transfer data. Instead of using electricity and metal cables it uses light and glass to transmit the data. Because of this, it offers faster speeds because of its ability to move large amounts of data over great distances. Along with DSL, Fiber is a dedicated connection and not shared with others in your area so your speed will not be affected by other users. One downside to this technology is that is new and expensive to install so it may not be available in your area.

While much of this information is pretty basic, SafeSourcing can help with any of your more detailed network sourcing at rates well below what you might negotiate on your own.

If you would like some help finding the right Internet solution, we can gather all the necessary information for you and help you decide which one will meet your needs. If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help you, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Today’s post is by Dave Wenig, Vice President of Sales and Services at SafeSourcing, Inc.

Welcome to today’s doubleheader. In this final post in the Baseball Season and eProcurement series, we’ll focus on the two most sought after outcomes of an online Request for Quote (RFQ) Event. In the previous posts in this series, we highlighted some examples of how SafeSourcing customers have achieved and enjoyed hitting singles, doubles, and triples in their RFQ Events. At SafeSourcing, a Home Run is achieved when a customer saves between 20% and 24.99% and a Grand Slam is when savings over 25% is achieved.

Home Runs are excellent. It’s a great achievement to save over 20% on a category. Very recently, one of our customers saved over 23% on their uniform purchases. They worked with SafeSourcing to identify the different types of garments that were required and invited several well qualified vendors to participate in the RFQ. This was good exercise for all parties. In the end, the incumbent vendor was able to retain their business through the process. The vendor participated actively and was the lowest company overall which makes the award of business decision very easy.

As great as a Home Run is, Grand Slams are even better. Any time you’re able to reduce costs for a category by over 25%, that’s very exciting. Grand Slams can also be an eye-opening experience for the customers. Certainly, nobody wants to find out that they have been overpaying by 25% or more for any length of time, but that is essentially what might come to mind when a customer achieves a Grand Slam. The reality is that there are a number of factors that go into why savings levels are often so high and this kind of savings shouldn’t be considered as a negative reflection of the capabilities of the buyer or business owner responsible for the spend. One of the strongest factors that leads to a Grand Slam is the use of the RFQ tool and process. Causing open competition leads to maximum savings. Further, when that competition includes a wider selection of potential vendors, the results are compounded. There are more factors too, but these two are very significant.

One clear example of a Grand Slam that supports these points is in the recent project that we completed for a customer covering their Employee Assistance Program. This project was run in two phases. The first phase was an RFP to validate that the potential vendors were able to provide services as required by the customer and to learn about how the services would be delivered. This was important because the customer already had a partner for these services, but they were not aware of alternative vendors or the capabilities they could offer. Once the RFP was completed, select participating vendors were then selected to be invited to participate in a live RFQ for the same project. This was a critical step. As a result of the process, the customer was able to identify several potential partners to choose from for their ultimate award of business. The lowest offering that was already qualified by the RFP offered a 56% savings. Other vendors also finished the RFQ with similar offers. For the customer, that represents a seven-figure cost reduction. That’s a Grand Slam, and they are very common.

At the end of this series, the hope is that we’ve reviewed enough opportunities and examples to illustrate the following point. Cost savings come in a wide variety of categories and amounts. The common thread between all of the examples is that they were valuable for the customer who benefits from the cost savings. Every organization can benefit from savings like what has been illustrated here. Take a moment and consider if you are achieving results like these yourself.

Contact SafeSourcing, Inc. if you’re interested in learning more about how RFQ Events can help your company advance the bases and achieve savings.

Today’s post is written by Ivy Ray, Senior Procurement Specialist at SafeSourcing, Inc.

According to a CEI Survey, 86% of buyers will pay more for a better customer experience. But only 1% of customers feel that vendors consistently meet their expectations. Increasing the percentage of consistently happy customers by 5% goes a long way in retaining customers. Many organizations utilize Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions to maintain customer communications.

There is a rise in the use of CRM solutions for a number of reasons. Initially, the CRM industry was primarily geared towards sales and public relations and offered a way to store customer information and track communication with customers. Currently, CRM solutions cover several areas of business, including customer relationship management, marketing, analytics, communication, and even project management. Some CRM systems even have built in chatbot and calling capabilities, so organizations can communicate with clients directly in the system.

Even small businesses can afford to invest in customer relationship management software, due to the increase of affordable SaaS solutions, which delivers functionality without the complication of a major software implementation project. Tiered pricing structures and lots of competition means small businesses have a variety of CRMs options that optimize the customer relationship management process.

From the dozens of CRM systems available, depending on what you would like to track and how your team works, you will find everything from expensive apps you run on your own servers to customizable web apps with dozens of plans and features, to the simple contacts apps. The main point is CRM should work for you, not the other way around. An over complicated and over customized CRM is just as bad as having no CRM at all. The most common features are:

• Contact Management
• Account Management
• Order Management
• Opportunity Management
• Sales Process Automation
• Campaign Management
• Customer Segmentation
• Call Center Automation
• Service Automation
• Task Management
• Partner Management

In this automated environment, there are many ways an organization can communicate with their customer. While CRM solutions help to manage information and data, ultimately, nothing can replace “real” customer relationships. Knowing your customer is the best way to meet their needs and improve the customer experience.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help your procurement efforts, or on our Risk

Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

References………………………………………………………………..

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecrandell/2013/01/21/customer-experience-is-it-the-chicken-or-egg/#66bcd5793557
2. https://selecthub.com/customer-relationship-management/crm-features-functionality-list/