Business owners should be reasonable in their demands during the initial phases of any procurement process. If you expect too many results for too little investment, suppliers might not really be able to deliver. It is better to start in a practical manner and slowly move towards increasing profitability and efficiency. Generally speaking, some suppliers offer better terms than others and are also more flexible. But choosing the right one is a decision best left with procurement professionals.
1. Maintaining Consistent Sustainability
One of the main challenges faced by procurement companies today is maintaining a good level of sustainability for their clients. Establishing procurement projects in low-cost markets is a very easy of saving a lot of costs.
There are some question marks regarding supply chain efficiency, owing to the relative lack of infrastructure. Even if initial sustainability results are promising, realize that cost surges can occur abruptly due to various market-specific factors. Businesses should be aware of this need for flexibility due to procurement difficulties. Reputed service providers will, however, take proactive steps to maintain sustainability under most market conditions.
2. Risk Management in Newer Markets
The possibility of risks appearing out of the blue are actually quite real. Economic crashes can hurt low-cost countries more than their relatively affluent counterparts i.e. first world economies. Other key risks that usually impact procurement solutions include economic sanctions, trade embargoes, supplier disputes, logistical problems, natural disasters, and strikes. If you are sourcing from well-known marketplaces like China, the risks might be less pronounced.
Risks in relatively nascent procurement marketplaces are often difficult to handle. This is because suppliers are often not experienced in dealing with major risks. Procurement companies might lack a substantial plan B, to protect the interest of their clients. That is why every agency should associate with only reputed suppliers. Even though some questionable suppliers might offer very low-cost structures, your investments are at immediate risk when disaster strikes. This is why many procurement consultants refuse to associate with relatively unknown suppliers. Fortunately, there is no need for concern if you are investing through proven service providers. They are always equipped with actionable risk management plans.
3. Supplier Related Issues
Supplier related concerns can put active procurement processes in trouble. In fact, supplierproblems are the first ones that need to be addressed. There are also concerns about obtaining suitable suppliers to work with. Many procurement agencies face a lot of trouble during supplier testing and qualification phases. This is a problem that not all companies face. Another key supplier related issue is agreeing on terms. Oftentimes, procurement professionals are unable to convince promising suppliers of accepting client terms. This can lead to further uncertainty and confusion.
These are some of the most widespread challenges that affect procurement functions and outcomes. If you are interested in effective solutions, get in touch with a well-known procurement service provider.
