Supply Chain Management

Here are some notes from Day1 of Ariba Live 2009:
-         The common theme across most of the keynotes and breakouts sessions was that, in these times of economic downturn, Spend Management has become even more relevant. Spend management professionals need to rise up to the challenge and deliver quick solutions to reduce cost and save cash. As Bob Calderoni, CEO, Ariba said in his keynote address, “It’s time for Spend Management to be a Hero”
-         With many suppliers going bankrupt, it was logical that Supplier Disruption risk and methods to mitigate it would be high on the agenda. I found the session with Professor Rob Hanfield, North Carolina State University particularly interesting in this regard.  The professor gave a thorough insight as to how best in class organizations prepare, collaborate and react to counter supplier disruption.
-         The Buyer-Supplier relationship has been very dynamic in the last few quarters. From being a Supplier’s market at the end of the first quarter 08, the world has gone on to become a promising Buyer’s market today. The tools and methods used to manage Supplier Relationships a year ago may not be in the best interest of an organization in this Buyer’s market.
-         There wasn’t any information on new products or services from the Ariba side.
-         The current economic downturn has a silver lining, in the sense that organizations are willing to adopt Spend Management like never before. With greater spend under control and increased focus on indirect spend, new and substantial saving opportunities should emerge.