SCDigest ran a commentary recently which spelled out five recommendations for improving your results for eSourcing.
- Prioritize The Trinity Of Reliability, Quality And Price
- Use e-Sourcing Strategically
- Provide Clearly Defined And Relevant Specifications
- Focus On The Quality, Not The Quantity Of The Supplier Pool
- Encourage Suppliers To Participate In Shaping Negotiating Terms
Very true, eSourcing does not change what you would normally do when going through a sourcing exercise, it just enhances it. If you sense the loss of a critical milestones, recalibrate and get it right.
SCD claims here that not all projects are suited for eSourcing. This is a classic trap and not true. It is true that not all things should be reverse auctioned, but teams should get used to using other tools like RFx and optimization for specialized opportunities. Additionally, the sourcing team should be capturing the spend information to maintain quality reporting in the management dashboards.
Again, to point one, have good specs whether you are on or offline line and issuing a bid. Otherwise, you should just “re-order” and not “source”.
Here is a good point and where your sourcing organization needs to get serious about using RFx technology to the fullest of its capabilities.
Using collaborative bidding tools like multi-round RFx or optimization allow a much more interactive bidding experience and where suppliers stay engaged and productive for the entirety of the project.
Don’t forget the most important one!
Utilize your eSourcing vendor for high quality support and guidance in eSourcing best practices. In all likelihood, they have already been there and done that, with regards to the problems that you are staring down.
