Today’s post is from our SafeSourcing Archives

New programs, software, tools and suppliers all come with risks due to the unknown factors that could affect how your business runs.  Many times this is why businesses choose to run pilots so that they can evaluate the team they are working with, the program or solution they are introducing and whether or not the effectiveness of those solutions is worth the impact it will make on the business in order to fully implement it.   Today’s blog will cover some of those areas that should be considered to run a successful pilot.

The pilot team – The team that is selected to run a pilot is important.  They need to have a vested interest in the outcome for their department and have knowledge of how the company will use the tool or program so that they can score its effectiveness.   At least one member of the team should have had experience with running a pilot program so that they can guide any of the other members who have not.  Above all else, these team members need to have passion and excitement about the outcome.  Putting team members on the team who it as just another thing they have to do will produce a result that may not benefit the company.
Test the result not the tool – So many times companies get caught up in scorecards that quantify features and functions of a program or solution, which they forget to evaluate these things against the eventual goal, which is how well a program will provide a solution to an issue for the company.  Scoring how a software solution operates on a mobile tablet device may be one piece of information evaluated but when it is based in a need to be filled because the company’s managers are on the floor and they need to be able to do 3 particular functions, then the scoring becomes relevant and can be weighted based on how important this need is.

Share the progress…..often – Good pilots often fail because the people who will eventually make a final decision or have executive ownership are not kept in the loop on the progress.  Whether the progress is good or not as good as expected, most executives would rather know where things stand sooner rather than later because they see the big picture.  They know other things that are happening within the company that the pilot team may not and not having insight into the progress early can affect many other areas of the company.  The other benefit to sharing progress is to generate excitement within the company in anticipation of the time the program or solution eventually gets rolled out to the rest of the organization.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help you with your sourcing pilot programs 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.

Today’s post is  from our SafeSourcing Archives.

I was in a casino recently and overheard this conversation after an explanation of how one of the games worked:

Person 1:

“Well it seems like there are more ways to lose then there are to win.”

Person 2:

“Sure the House makes the rules.”

Person 1:

 “That doesn’t seem very fair.”

Person 2:

“Yeah, but you don’t think they build a new casino here every year because they LOSE money do you?”

Unfortunately many companies move along playing by their vendor rules, paying for services and items that aren’t as favorable as they could be.  Today’s blog will look at a few ways that you can turn that around and begin setting the rules for your benefit.

Price Model Consolidation – One of the common things that happen throughout the course of any Request for Proposal is the aspect of collecting the proposed pricing.  As will happen in almost any request for proposal, the vendors will have slightly different pricing models and fees that they offer you with rarely any two being the same.  Use the results of the RFP to choose the pricing model pieces that suit your company the best and create a strategy that you can then have the suppliers offer a “best and final” proposal before you make your final decision that will allow you to compare each vendor on price as well as value offering.

RFQ Terms & Conditions – One of the areas where companies frequently miss out, is the opportunity to set the foundation of the Terms and Conditions you want before you invite them to submit a proposal.  By determining in advance the terms you expect the awarded vendor to offer you will eliminate vendors who can’t or refuse to meet you terms in advance, saving you time in the end.  If they have an amendment to the terms and conditions you specify you can always allow they submit that requested modification to you in advance so that you can determine if you would still like to see a proposal from them.

Sample Legal Documents – Another area that can really help with the eventual contract that will provide your company the greatest value is to get and receive samples of the legal documents that the agreement will eventually be based around.  This means that getting Letters of Intent or Sample Contracts from your legal department to event participants so that they will know what will eventually be expected of them or collecting Service Level Agreements from the vendor so you know what the scope of what they will offer you can be critical in identifying and overcoming hurdles before they ever start.  It also means that you can work with you suppliers to determine details in advance that provide your company the greatest offering.

For more information how you can begin to start setting your own Procurement Rules, please contact a SafeSourcing Project Manager.

We look forward to your comments.

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

The Autumnal Equinox, happening September 23rd this year, is right around the corner, and that means football season, changing colors, and cooler temperatures are almost in full swing. But what does all this mean for you and your business? Here are a few things to watch for in autumn that may not be obvious at first.

Football Season – Americans love their football and love celebrating with friends over tailgates. With tailgating, comes an increased need for supplies. Expect an increased demand for charcoal, propane, beef, and brats. In addition, there may likely be a need for extra lighter fluid and, consequently, fire extinguishers.

Changing colors – For the northern parts of the country, the changing color of the leaves is a beautifully astounding spectacle that many enjoy and look forward to. There are, however, things to consider during this time. Those beautiful leaves fall, and then they must be raked or mulched, bagged, or burned. Again, the sales of fire extinguishers could be on the rise along with rakes and compost bags. In addition to leaves falling on yards, they fall in the streets too, so extra precautions should be taken as leaves tend to make tires slip and slide, especially when wet, and may spur an increased demand for all-weather tires.

Cooler Temperatures – The cooler temperatures can be a great relief after hot and humid summer days and nights. Those dropping temperatures can signal a decrease in electricity (from ac units) and an increase in natural gas (from furnaces). Cool temperatures also spur more campfires and bonfires, so one could expect to see an increase in, say, marshmallows and hot dogs, not to forget another reason the demand for fire extinguishers may be on the rise.

With each change we see in nature, there will always be changes within business. If you could use help in sourcing your needs for the upcoming changes, or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Next year will be another presidential election and campaigns are already revving up their advertising efforts, but what does this have to do with procurement?

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

You have probably already seen presidential forerunners in the news lately, and if you are lucky enough not to, you likely will see them soon. The ads often demonize opponents while glorifying their own candidate, just as the next ad shows the opposite. Even if we ignore all the advertisements and rely on our own research and opinions, how does one know if any of the candidates will actually fulfill their promises?

This is where procurement comes in – your business is faced with suppliers and vendors from all over the place, similar to our government elections. One will say their business is best and competitors pale in comparison, just as the competitor states the opposite.  This is when research and your own values come into play.

SafeSourcing can help your business do the research and find the right fit for your organization based on the values you prefer. Whether you prefer local vendors or national chains, SafeSourcing can help you decide what would work best for price, value, and goal.

But, again, how do you know that SafeSourcing and the suppliers will do what we promise? First, SafeSourcing can help you with your vendor contracts so that everything promised is fulfilled. Second, SafeSourcing offers a risk free trial of our services so you can see what we can do for your company. We know we can help your organizations and believe that once you try us, you will see how much we can save you and how much help we can be.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help with finding the right supplier candidate for you, 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 by Troy Lowe; Vice President of Development at SafeSourcing.

Everyone likes to save money.  There are many things that you can do around your house to save energy and money.  Some of the improvements can be costly such as replacing appliances with Energy Star appliances.  There are also many inexpensive things that can be done by you in your spare time.  With the improving technology there are some cool gadgets that can be installed to help.  For instance, installing a smart thermostat that learns your behavior and creates schedules for heating and cooling.  They also make devices that help reduce water consumption in your shower.  These devices work by decreasing the flow of water when the water reaches a certain temperature and when you are ready to shower, the flow of water will increase.  Some of these devices are also Wi-Fi enabled and record usage and water consumption.  This data can be viewed with an app that you install on your smart phone.

Below are some other things that can be done as well.

• Install compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs
• Caulk and Weather strip around doors and windows
• Install ceiling fans to help circulate the air and lower air conditioning use
• Install low-flow toilets
• Fix dripping faucets
• Replace furnace filters regularly
• Add additional attic insulation

If you would like some help researching some of these products, we can gather all the necessary information for you and help you decide which solutions 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.

We look forward to your comments.

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

Could you be your own subject matter expert?  Is this someone a business really needs?

This is a tricky question, but simply put, no.  You shouldn’t be your own SME.  This position proves again and again to be essential in any business.  For example, if a nuts and bolts manufacturing business was looking to branch out into a new direction, like washers, they would need to consult with a knowledgeable person on the subject.  A SME could provide necessary details that could otherwise be easily overlooked.  Any information received from any consultant should be valued and considered, even if it is not heeded.

However, you should aim to be your own SME.  Doing research and finding out as much as possible on any given subject will only benefit your business.  This can provide an outside perspective and can help if any questions or problems arise.  Just like when visiting a doctor, you should listen to their advice, but also find out as much as you can so that you can make more educated and beneficial decisions.

If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help with your subject matter experts 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.