Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

What is the Certified Professional in Supply Management? (CPSM??)

Thursday, May 24th, 2012

The Certified Professional in Supply Management? is the qualification that supply management professionals strive to earn. The CPSM? will be relevant internationally and reflect the expanded knowledge, skills and abilities needed to be a successful supply management professional.
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Certification for the CPSM is offered by the Institute for Supply Management or (ISM) which was founded in 1915 and is the largest supply management association in the world as well as one of the most respected. ISM’s mission is to lead the supply management profession through its standards of excellence, research, promotional activities, and education. ISM’s membership base includes more than 40,000 supply management professionals with a network of domestic and international affiliated associations. ISM is a not-for-profit association that provides opportunities for the promotion of the profession and the expansion of professional skills and knowledge.

Supply chain workers should be proud of their profession and earning your CPSM is one way to brag about it.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

It used to be that when someone was Sassy or had their Head in the Clouds that we knew what that meant.

Friday, May 11th, 2012

In today’s technology driven world where things trend, based on how social they are, the words can be combined to mean availability, expandability or there when one needs it.

Of course it’s Friday and a lighter version of our daily post where we like to play around with words and content that is important but not necessarily as well understood by all.

Sassy according to Miriam Webster has several meanings such as impudent, vigorous, lively or distinctively smart and stylish. In this case this author would like our SaaS offering to be distinctively smart and stylish if it were being referred to as a Sassy Saas offering.

Years ago when we referred to someone as having their head in the clouds, according to  the free dictionary  it meant  guided by whim and fancy; flighty, flyaway, scatterbrained,not serious in content or attitude or behavior. Today when someone says store all of your information in a cloud based solution; I’m not so sure that most procurement software providers would like any of the above definitions.  This author does however have an affinity to having our developers guided by whim or fancy because if they were not, they would never try anything new and we would never be anymore than what everyone else is.

So if you want to know more about a very sassy SaaS offering with usage at your whim because it actually has it’s head (brain) in the clouds; give SafeSourcing a call. It could mean that you are distinctively smart.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments!

Sourcing the best possible freight lanes.

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Obviously? you do ot want your freight lines trying to cut corners by traveling the ICE ROADS. Can anyone say help!!!

By the way, your?DC delivery?will be late this week.

Let’s hope?we sourced?a different route for?next week.

New Recycled Packaging Guidance Released

Monday, March 5th, 2012

Today?s post is by Mark Davis; Sr. Vice President of Operations and CTO at SafeSourcing.?

Recently GreenBlue, a nonprofit organization that helps organizations develop more sustainable products and packaging released their ?Guidelines for Recycled Content in Paper and Paperboard Packaging? report which outlines the best ways to use recycled content in over 20 types of packaging.

This 31 page report delivers technical details and cost related information to help companies make the best decisions possible for their packaging strategy and is one of the areas we will be touching on today in discussing the types of tools and resources companies have to make their recycled packaging decisions.

The Consultants ? Independent consulting groups such as GreenBlue were created to help organizations develop stronger recycled packaging decisions that meet the ?Green? needs of the company without negatively affecting the company?s bottom-line.? Organizations like these can meet one-on-one with your company to discuss your strategy but they can also provide valuable publications and events that are equally valuable to your company to help you make recycled packaging decisions.

Existing Partners ? You may not know it but you are likely partnering today with companies like SafeSourcing that can provide you additional assistance in finding vendors that can either improve the packaging you are using today or can help you find vendors who excel in providing products with industry-recognized recycled packaging.? Your eProcurement partners should be able to provide you with a good clear picture of the best companies to be doing with when looking at these criteria.

Organizations? Government and standards organizations are terrific sources of information and current trends.? New trends such as the one where dairy-based films as opposed to petroleum based packaging are just one of the emerging trends that organizations such as the Agricultural Research Service ( an in-house research agency of the U.S Department of Agriculture) can provide, but there is much more.? Almost all of these organizations have certifications and standards that they offer companies and will generally make the companies that have earned these available so that you know which companies are taking the steps to be ?greener? in what they do.? These same certifications may also be something that your company may be interested in pursuing and marketing as well.

For more information on finding vendors or organizations who can help you become an industry-leading recycled packaging company, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.??

We look forward to your comments.

It?s more than just being ?green?

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Today?s post is by Mark Davis; Vice President of Operations and CTO at SafeSourcing. Mark asks

For many companies the first steps to becoming greener companies begins with the desire to be doing more than just making a dollar in this world.? Their initiatives are the type of trailblazing that publications and ?Bloggers? love to read and write about.? That all being said, there was nobody that ever said becoming green didn?t have to be a good business decision as well.

In today?s blog we will briefly look at some ways companies can leverage some financial incentives for their organization while they are saving the planet.

Reduced expenses ? One of the most import of the 4 R?s (see series from last July?s SafeSourcing Blog) is Reduce?? By its very nature the concept of getting greener by reducing waste will allow companies to reap financial rewards in the reduction of expenses.? These can come in the form a reduction in printer costs by using more online publications, or they can come in the way of reduced utility expenses by changing the way lights, heating and electricity are managed within the organization.

Rebates & Incentives? ? During a time when there is such a push to protect our environment, incentives are piling up for companies to take their first steps toward becoming a greener company.? Government organizations from the Federal level all the way to the local level are offering thousands of different incentives for taking steps.? Some of these are tax breaks which translate straight to the bottom line and some are outright cash incentives.? Other companies such as insurance companies are providing additional discounts off of their rates to companies who choose greener ways to heat their buildings or that purchase environmentally safer vehicles for their internal fleet.

Increased revenue ? The fact of the matter is that along with price and value, people ?like? to buy products from companies who are trying to do the right thing in their business practices (i.e. Getting greener).?? In the mind of the consumers, companies that invest in the future of our planet are the types of companies who are more likely to produce items they want to buy.? In 2010 Clorox invested millions towards the process of moving away from chlorine gas transportation.? In the end the move was a breakeven one in terms of expense but it has generated an overwhelming perception that Clorox is a company that is ?committed to doing the right thing.?? Clorox sales as a result are ?up.?

Regardless of why your company takes its first step to becoming greener, one thing is for sure, it doesn?t have to be without benefits.? For more information on becoming a greener company or in sourcing from companies who do, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.??

We look forward to your comments.

It’s more than just being “green”

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Today’s post is by Mark Davis; Vice President of Operations and CTO at SafeSourcing. Mark asks

For many companies the first steps to becoming greener companies begins with the desire to be doing more than just making a dollar in this world.  Their initiatives are the type of trailblazing that publications and “Bloggers” love to read and write about.  That all being said, there was nobody that ever said becoming green didn’t have to be a good business decision as well.

In today’s blog we will briefly look at some ways companies can leverage some financial incentives for their organization while they are saving the planet.

Reduced expenses – One of the most import of the 4 R’s (see series from last July’s SafeSourcing Blog) is Reduce   By its very nature the concept of getting greener by reducing waste will allow companies to reap financial rewards in the reduction of expenses.  These can come in the form a reduction in printer costs by using more online publications, or they can come in the way of reduced utility expenses by changing the way lights, heating and electricity are managed within the organization.

Rebates & Incentives  – During a time when there is such a push to protect our environment, incentives are piling up for companies to take their first steps toward becoming a greener company.  Government organizations from the Federal level all the way to the local level are offering thousands of different incentives for taking steps.  Some of these are tax breaks which translate straight to the bottom line and some are outright cash incentives.  Other companies such as insurance companies are providing additional discounts off of their rates to companies who choose greener ways to heat their buildings or that purchase environmentally safer vehicles for their internal fleet.

Increased revenue – The fact of the matter is that along with price and value, people “like” to buy products from companies who are trying to do the right thing in their business practices (i.e. Getting greener).   In the mind of the consumers, companies that invest in the future of our planet are the types of companies who are more likely to produce items they want to buy.  In 2010 Clorox invested millions towards the process of moving away from chlorine gas transportation.  In the end the move was a breakeven one in terms of expense but it has generated an overwhelming perception that Clorox is a company that is “committed to doing the right thing.”  Clorox sales as a result are “up.”

Regardless of why your company takes its first step to becoming greener, one thing is for sure, it doesn’t have to be without benefits.  For more information on becoming a greener company or in sourcing from companies who do, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  

We look forward to your comments.

With the economy moving the public to lower cost products is it time to review your private label strategy?

Monday, October 10th, 2011

Last week the Wall Street Journal published an article by Ann Zimmerman  titled Frontier of Frugality about how the economy is forcing consumers to consider lower priced stores and goods to save money.  With the landscape of retail changing to adapt to this trend many companies are changing their product mix to include more value and private label products.

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.

Here?s an exceptionally green retail concept. Could a retailer get any more green than this?

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

The team behind Agropolis, agropolisfarm.com, seems to have the future of green retailing pegged. Agropolis is a retail concept that combines the farm, restaurant and the grocery store in one environment. Imagine walking into Agropolis and purchasing fish and vegetables that were raised and grown onsite then sitting down for a meal prepared using ingredients that were also grown onsite. The concept is interesting and it is also very environmentally friendly.

Where does your produce come from? Is it trucked in from some far away land where the growing process includes pesticides and uses acres upon acres of land? Probably. At Agropolis, they have solved the issue of fresh produce by growing onsite. They have also promised that there will be no use of pesticides. Further, they will not grow their produce in soil. Even the nutrients created by the fish will be reused onsite.

It gets better; the fish that created those nutrients also came from the store?s own tanks. The conservancy efforts also include the lighting used throughout this new concept. They will use the latest in LED lighting.

Personally, just knowing where my produce came from (you would actually see it) would be phenomenal and reason enough to be a happy patron. But the knowledge that my selfish desire for better produce also supported our environment would provide a longer lasting sense of satisfaction.

For more information on Agropolis, please visit their website, agropolisfarm.com. And if you are looking to integrate green technology or processes into your facilities or supply chain, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Here’s an exceptionally green retail concept. Could a retailer get any more green than this?

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

The team behind Agropolis, agropolisfarm.com, seems to have the future of green retailing pegged. Agropolis is a retail concept that combines the farm, restaurant and the grocery store in one environment. Imagine walking into Agropolis and purchasing fish and vegetables that were raised and grown onsite then sitting down for a meal prepared using ingredients that were also grown onsite. The concept is interesting and it is also very environmentally friendly.

Where does your produce come from? Is it trucked in from some far away land where the growing process includes pesticides and uses acres upon acres of land? Probably. At Agropolis, they have solved the issue of fresh produce by growing onsite. They have also promised that there will be no use of pesticides. Further, they will not grow their produce in soil. Even the nutrients created by the fish will be reused onsite.

It gets better; the fish that created those nutrients also came from the store’s own tanks. The conservancy efforts also include the lighting used throughout this new concept. They will use the latest in LED lighting.

Personally, just knowing where my produce came from (you would actually see it) would be phenomenal and reason enough to be a happy patron. But the knowledge that my selfish desire for better produce also supported our environment would provide a longer lasting sense of satisfaction.

For more information on Agropolis, please visit their website, agropolisfarm.com. And if you are looking to integrate green technology or processes into your facilities or supply chain, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Should we unbundle or not? That is the retail e-procurement question of the day

Monday, June 13th, 2011

It is primarily because of this reason that most procurement companies are not able to drive the type of savings that their customers deserve.

At Safe Sourcing we discuss unbundling all of the time. We discuss it regardless of category or product. As a result, our low quote savings average nearly thirty percent across all categories while other companies struggle to achieve half of these savings.

For the sake of protecting our value add, I will not give you specifics on products, but think of all of the elements that go into a product becoming a product. This process will surely uncover those value added costs associated with acronyms like customer relationship management or CRM which are used as an excuse to hide margin dollars.

If your e-procurement event is one line item, your solution provider is not doing their job. If your event is two line items your solution provider is probably not doing their job. How many products are you aware of that you buy either for reuse or for resale that are made up of one component?

There is a lawsuit going on in Europe as we speak where a major manufacturer is being challenged to unbundle a particular product family. If you are interested, you can Google the subject.

In the meantime, hold a white board session internally and list any product that you buy for reuse or resale and see how many line items you can come up with that make up the product. Now think about how you might use that information in a negotiation online or otherwise. If you can’t figure it out, give us a call at 1-866-623-9006.

We look forward to and appreciate you comments.