e-Procurement Software

In their market overview Market Overview, ePurchasing And Contract Life-Cycle Management In 2011 to 2012, Forrester describes four forces that are keeping supplier networks dynamic and competitive. They talk a great deal of sense but they forgot the fifth force - the one that's going to make 2012 the year for supplier networks.

Embracing innovation is crucial in the procurement world. Peter Smith's recent series on procurement innovation has produced some fascinating debate, but it's not only innovation in our procurement processes that are important, we need also to be mindful of new products and new way of doing things so that when we don't become blinkered in our sourcing approach. Innovation is great - which is why our patent laws are so bad.

In the facebook age, when the digital natives - those who don't remember a time before the internet - are emerging as the new generation of business leaders, thinkers and politicians, it can be easy to forget how today's business technology evolved. And it's easy to dismiss it. But knowing a little more than best practice and understanding why we do stuff the way we do is enlightening and helps inform us about the future evolution of business technology.