Comments on: Software Vendor Selection http://www.esourcingforum.com/archives/2006/10/12/whos-your-vendor/ The source of information and best practices in strategic sourcing. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:20:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: E-Sourcing Forum: the source of information and best practices in strategic sourcing http://www.esourcingforum.com/archives/2006/10/12/whos-your-vendor/#comment-2537 E-Sourcing Forum: the source of information and best practices in strategic sourcing Tue, 17 Oct 2006 03:08:44 +0000 http://www.esourcingforum.com/?p=272#comment-2537 [...] In other words, as the marketplace is starting to realize, eSourcing is more than just the reverse auction - it’s the entire process from spend analysis, through need identification, through eRFX, bidding (possibly, but not necessarily, through an eAuction), decision optimization, contract management, and compliance monitoring - and any on-demand eSourcing provider worth their salt should understand this, and provide you with a solution that covers this entire cycle. Unfortunately, most eSourcing providers, like many early adopters, were stuck in the “eSourcing is eAuction” for too long, and not all providers will be capable of providing you with the complete end-to-end solution that you need to excel at your sourcing efforts - it’s buyer beware. Choose wisely when making a decision - and see my recent post on “Software Vendor Selection” for additional guidance. [...] [...] In other words, as the marketplace is starting to realize, eSourcing is more than just the reverse auction - it’s the entire process from spend analysis, through need identification, through eRFX, bidding (possibly, but not necessarily, through an eAuction), decision optimization, contract management, and compliance monitoring - and any on-demand eSourcing provider worth their salt should understand this, and provide you with a solution that covers this entire cycle. Unfortunately, most eSourcing providers, like many early adopters, were stuck in the “eSourcing is eAuction” for too long, and not all providers will be capable of providing you with the complete end-to-end solution that you need to excel at your sourcing efforts - it’s buyer beware. Choose wisely when making a decision - and see my recent post on “Software Vendor Selection” for additional guidance. [...]

]]> By: Eric Strovink http://www.esourcingforum.com/archives/2006/10/12/whos-your-vendor/#comment-2392 Eric Strovink Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:27:32 +0000 http://www.esourcingforum.com/?p=272#comment-2392 Hmm, we have to be careful in the spend management arena. How can one perform a spend management situational assessment, or (good grief) a needs assessment, without spend management software in place (specifically, spend analysis software)? That's like the captain of an aircraft carrier signalling the engine room "full speed ahead" without knowing his current position! Always conduct a spend analysis first, then make your other decisions. Keep your hands off the throttle until you know what you're facing. At that point, I'm on board with the article. Hmm, we have to be careful in the spend management arena. How can one perform a spend management situational assessment, or (good grief) a needs assessment, without spend management software in place (specifically, spend analysis software)? That’s like the captain of an aircraft carrier signalling the engine room “full speed ahead” without knowing his current position!

Always conduct a spend analysis first, then make your other decisions. Keep your hands off the throttle until you know what you’re facing.

At that point, I’m on board with the article.

]]>