Successful digitization is an essential prerequisite for any sustainable business – after all, automated processes…

Selecting suitable suppliers, comparing prices or processing orders – procurement processes take time and tie up human resources. This is all the more true if these steps are carried out manually. Thus, automated procedures in the purchasing process are an integral part of modern supply chain management and can help to make procurement more efficient, transparent and flexible. A wide range of e-procurement solutions as part of the digital supply chain helps companies streamline processes and relieve employees of routine tasks. We have compiled an overview of the benefits of e-procurement and present potential solutions.

After three turbulent years, global supply chains have eased considerably – freight rates are falling and the flow of goods is more reliable again. Nevertheless, companies will continue to face challenges in 2023 that need to be mastered strategically. Resilience, agility and transparency remain important goals. So will reconciling cost efficiency, performance, security and sustainability. We discuss six trends to show which strategies are gaining importance in procurement, what is fueling their implementation, and what synergies digital solutions promise.

Where do German companies stand in the digital transformation of their supply chains? Which technologies are already being increasingly used and what are the main drivers? Also – what are the obstacles that logistics managers are facing on their way to the logistics of the future? The comprehensive online study "Digitalization of Supply Chains" conducted by the German Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (BME) and Fulda University of Applied Sciences, provides valuable information on this topic.
We have summarized the most important findings.