The Brief - April 10 2014 - ChainLink Research

Best practices, technology, and new takes on critical business topics from ChainLink Research

Thursday, April 10, 2014 – Published twice monthly.

Integrating S&OP

Thursday, April 10, 2014

We explore the success that several companies have achieved through automating and integrating their S&OP process. [ Read: Integrating S&OP ]

Suppliers: A Proven Competitive Weapon You May be Overlooking

By Thomas W. Bower

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Some authors have suggested that strategic sourcing is often done in a win-lose style, without true collaboration between buyer and seller. Nothing could be further from the truth, as a win-lose relationship is the antithesis to strategic sourcing done the right way. Strategic sourcing, done right, can become a real competitive advantage. [ Read: Suppliers: A Proven Competitive Weapon You May be Overlooking ]

Spotlight on Direct Materials Procure-to-Pay

By Bill McBeath

Thursday, April 10, 2014

The procure-to-pay process (P2P) for direct materials resists standardization and automation. As the critical execution phase of source and procurement, it is where the rubber meets the road for inbound materials. This is the first in our series on direct P2P, based on recent research. [ Read: Spotlight on Direct Materials Procure-to-Pay ]