The week that was: 5 August 08 - 12 August 08
When it comes to suppliers, size (despite what some people might tell you) does matter. A recent study by BT Business and Cisco, concluded that SME Suppliers were less competitive than their larger counterparts – with 52 per cent of those questionned claiming that SMEs were unable to offer competitive rates. Not great news when cost is increasingly king, but Procurement Leaders would like to look on the bright side. Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of those involved in the study believed that small businesses were better positioned to offer a more personalised service. But although this is obviously good news from a supplier relationship management perspective, the fact that 40 per cent of larger concerns said they were less-inclined to take a punt on a smaller supplier when things get tough suggests that SME suppliers could face an uncertain end to 2008.
Figure of the week – 32,000 – the number of calls from businesses seeking advice on energy supply by watchdog Energywatch every year.
The Wall Street Journal recently outlined the drastic steps that India’s outsourcing giants are taking to ensure that their staff are fully-versed in the ways of the West as they increasingly look to expand their businesses in Europe in the light of the on-going problems across the pond. Among the lessons learnt in classes such as “Being German”, include the expectation that “Germans expect brutal honesty in communication, no hype or exaggeration and minimal hand gestures.” Seems like stereotyping is alive and well.
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