Strategic Sourcing
Strategic sourcing is the buzzword these days. Theoretically this refers to an intuition’s procurement process where constant improvements and re-evaluations are made to the buying activities. However it is often overused or used in the wrong context. Quite often, sourcing solutions is used to refer to outsourcing to save costs. The company or the business establishment would just outsource a part of its business activity to another company or even send the job overseas where it can be done at a cheaper price. Of course in many instances the outsourced job is done efficiently at the lower price. In some cases the business would outsource most of their work to an outside company, and would keep just the minimum. This is known as wholesale sourcing.
Though often this means cheap labor, it can also save the company in terms of incidental expenses such as the ability to have a smaller office and lower electricity bills and Internet expenses.
There Is More To Strategic Sourcing Than Just Cost Savings
Strategic sourcing is much more than that. To start with, as the name suggests, there must be a strategy and this should not be only about cutting costs. For example, the company should have a long term goal and a plan of action. It should decide why it needs to source. For instance, is the business sourcing a product that is to be used as a basic necessity? Perhaps the business is a newspaper publisher and wants to outsource the job of ink manufacturing (which is frankly often the case). Very few newspapers would want to get involved in ink manufacturing. The companies sourcing needs are thus very vital here.
Cost saving can also be of great importance. Today’s businesses have become very competitive, and one good way of staying competitive is by trimming the fat. So if the business can save costs by sourcing services and can pass on the savings to their customers, then the business can retain its customers and even win over new ones. The business would be able to retain the competitive edge over its rivals.
The Definition Of Strategic Sourcing And Purchasing Has Changed Over Time
In the literature of management, the definition of strategic sourcing has gone through a lot of changes with time. At one time, purchasing was regarded as an aspect that was reactive and was bad for the bottom line of the business. Now, the companies sourcing requirements is at the forefront.
Sourcing consulting can be a vehicle of progress by procuring raw materials, a finished good that adds value to the product or a process that either saves time or money or does both. Of course, the business can source technology as well. For many businesses it could mean either one of these, or even both.
