Over 500 senior procurement practitioners from 36 countries gathered in London in May 2015 for Procurement Leaders World Procurement Congress. Attendees explored the theme of Mapping the Future of Global Procurement through in-depth debate with peers, practical breakouts and inspiring real-life case studies from influential CPO keynotes. Here is a sample of some of the top tips shared over the two days on 8 procurement hot topics including procurement strategy, successful transformation, talent development and innovation.

1. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
Top tips from the
2015 World Procurement Congress

2. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
1. Encourage your procurement team to hot-desk to help them become more influential and
effective by working closer with their business partners.
2. Speak the language of the business: the best way to engage internal customers is to
communicate real insight in an effective way.
3. Define procurement’s added value to internal stakeholders by illustrating an understanding
that you are the expert.
4. Changing the corporate mind set requires a robust and "deliberate" communication
programme from within the procurement organisation.
Improving cross-functional collaboration
5. Know when to avoid procurement-centric terminology and speak
the language of the business.
World Procurement Congress top tips

3. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
1. Challenge your function by taking a progressive approach to procurement
strategy and encourage them to ask themselves, “What would a new CPO
do?“.
2. Encourage your team to share one new insight every day as most
procurement teams hit the wall they’ve built themselves.
3. Remind your team of the important role your function plays: Procurement’s
right to exist depends on its ability to deliver strategic value, beyond cost
reduction, to the wider organisation.
Motivating your team
World Procurement Congress top tips

4. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
1. Don’t underestimate the importance of letting your supplier feel that your
contract is not just another cost cutting policy.
2. Markets are changing from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market. Keep in mind
how this will force you to change the way that they interact with key suppliers.
3. Collaborating with suppliers and seeking an external perspective is of
paramount importance.
Supplier Engagement
World Procurement Congress top tips

5. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
1. Guaranteeing suppliers a generous margin in return for innovation will greatly
increase the likelihood of success.
2. Innovation opportunities are often missed by businesses by simply not listening to
their suppliers.
3. Consolidated targets should be set for key stakeholders, R&D, Operations and
Sourcing in order to encourage innovation.
4. Procurement’s role in innovation should be to "help find it", facilitating suppliers and
R&D.
Driving Innovation
World Procurement Congress top tips

6. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
1. Increased cost pressure on procurement translates into a greater amount of
pressure to implement category strategy across all regions of operation. Try
relocating category managers from head office to regions of operation in order
to perpetuate category strategy.
2. Take a 360 degree approach when re-energising your procurement strategy,
considering both internal and external perspectives.
3. Rather than take small steps towards your strategy goals, be bold when
carrying out changes.
Implementing procurement strategy
World Procurement Congress top tips

7. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
1. CPOs need generalists, rather than technology experts, on their teams who
understand and can contribute to stakeholder dialogue.
2. Ageism affects procurement and works both ways – too young and too old. It
is essential to value people for their talent rather than anything else.
3. Invest in building capabilities beyond procurement because procurement is a
business skill.
Developing a strong procurement team
World Procurement Congress top tips

8. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
1. Treat the cloud as a category. CPOs need teams who understand the cloud
market and how to communicate within it, with both internal and external
stakeholders.
2. The development of new technologies is happening at a rapid pace and this is
disrupting the way businesses and procurement operates. Don’t fear this
change but embrace it.
3. Investment is needed in cyber security to prevent your business being open to
risk.
Embracing and utilising technology
World Procurement Congress top tips

9. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
1. Keep in mind that transformation is not something that ends: it is a continuous
journey that requires ongoing investment in team and performance.
2. Always transform to be agile, not to a certain situation.
3. Don’t be afraid to look outside of your industry for new innovations and other
vehicles for driving the function forward.
Undergoing a successful transformation
World Procurement Congress top tips

10. #MAPTHEFUTURE #WPC
Looking for more insight?
Join us at one of our upcoming events for in-depth peer discussions,
inspiring key notes, topical breakouts and engaging roundtables.
www.procurementleaders.com/events