Joerg Steinhaeuser

💭 Indirect procurement doesn’t always get the same spotlight as direct categories - but it’s often where the biggest transformation happens. In my conversations with procurement professionals across Switzerland, there’s a clear shift happening. Companies are realising that indirect categories - whether marketing, logistics, IT, or professional services - are full of untapped value. This year I’ve had mandates across all of these areas - sometimes looking for niche experts, sometimes for broader category coverage - and it’s been clear how much focus organisations are now placing on indirect procurement as a driver of efficiency, innovation, and growth. What sets the best teams apart isn’t just cost savings, it’s how they: ✅ Use data and analytics to guide decisions ✅ Build partnerships with stakeholders instead of pushing policy ✅ Embed governance and compliance without slowing the business down I’ve seen this first-hand working with clients where their focus on Indirect procurement is driving real impact and it’s exciting to see this mindset spreading across the market. Indirect procurement is no longer “back office” - it’s becoming a strategic enabler of business performance. I’d love to hear how your organisation is approaching this shift. Are you seeing the same trend towards more centralised, insight-led indirect procurement? #Procurement #IndirectProcurement #CategoryManagement #ProcurementExcellence #Sourcing #MohawkIndustries #EMEARecruitment #ProcurementTransformation

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Hero of #Procurement: Peter Kraljic In 1983, Peter #Kraljic laid the foundation for strategic procurement with his groundbreaking article "Purchasing Must Become Supply Management" (Harvard Business Review). His model forced procurement professionals to think critically about their position, market dynamics, and supplier relationships. This #Kralicmodel is still a founding pillar for procurement. Since then, procurement has evolved through models like the #DutchWindmill and Kearney’s #PurchasingChessboard, but the core principle remains unchanged: ✅ Know your position ✅ Leverage your power ✅ Use fact-based insights The real magic happens when strategic positioning meets data-driven decision-making. Every day, this combination drives better procurement results. Are you applying these principles today? I do! Ever since I started working at WTP Buynamics, I use these models to support our fact based cost drivers insights to support our clients in the effective use of data and position to optimize the use our WTP Cost Models.   #procurement #wtp #suppliermanagement #datadriven

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Your procurement strategy isn’t broken. It’s just outdated. Here’s the hard truth: Most category strategies were built for a different era. Different markets. Different risks. Different expectations. Today, category management isn’t just about managing spend—it’s about unlocking strategic value. And that starts with mindset, not just methodology. If your category strategy still lives in a dusty Excel file or gets “updated” once a year, it’s time to evolve. Because here’s what modern, effective procurement category strategy actually demands: 🔹 Planning that goes beyond forecasting—it's about scenario-based agility 🔹 Long-term thinking that’s iterative, not static 🔹 Critical focus on essential goods/services that impact core business outcomes 🔹 Bundling strategies that drive value without diluting control 🔹 Integration between procurement and the broader business strategy 🔹 Data & knowledge at the center of every supplier conversation 🔹 Execution that’s fast, clear, and bias-free 🔹 Detailed approaches tailored to each category’s risk and complexity 🔹 Analytical thinking that leverages insights, not just hindsight This is the new baseline. This is how category strategy becomes a growth lever, not just a cost control mechanism. So here’s a challenge for every procurement leader reading this: 📌 Revisit your category strategy this quarter 📌 Map it against these 9 principles 📌 Identify one area where you’re still playing it safe Then push it. Test it. Refine it. That’s how you lead transformation—category by category. What’s one outdated tactic you’ve retired in favor of a better principle? Drop it in the comments 👇 Let’s trade war stories and wins. Repost 🔁 to spread strategic procurement thinking or follow us for daily procurement inspiration. PS: Stop wasting hours on generic procurement training. Join Procurement Tactics for role-based learning journeys that turn ambitious teams into strategic partners—every minute counts.

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Procurement leaders today act as true strategy enablers. They balance governance with agility, mitigate risks while unlocking innovation from the supply side, and create measurable value that contributes directly to EBIT, often extending far beyond traditional cost savings. Successful strategy execution requires both disciplined effort and the right organizational culture. In this context, procurement plays a pivotal role in reinforcing and enabling the levers of strategy execution. These levers are activated by ensuring compliance through boundary systems, achieving objectives and P&L impact through diagnostic systems, and fostering cross-functional collaboration through interactive systems, all together driving sustainable and successful execution of business strategy. Al Ghurair #procurement #Leadership #Strategy #Execution #business #Strategy #value #Creation #procurement #Transformation #StrategicProcurement #Management #success #Operational #Excellence #Innovation #EBIT #Impact #Leadership #Governance #Agility #gcc #UAE

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