STRATEGIC SOURCING

Strategic sourcing involves developing a proactive, holistic, and continuous evaluation and re-evaluation of the sourcing activities in an organization. Strategic sourcing aims to achieve the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) along with minimal supply chain risk.  Hence, it reflects the organization’s relationship with its sourcing partners as a loop instead of a one-way process—an in-depth profile of the suppliers and their core capabilities is developed and periodically aligned to the sourcing requirements of the organization.

Strategic sourcing views suppliers as crucial value partners and aims to build sustained, collaborative relations. The customer-supplier loop is assessed at every stage of its lifecycle in order to ensure that the needs of the organizations are continuously and efficiently met.

To accomplish this, strategic sourcing leverages spend analysis, supplier evaluation, supplier relationship management, and detailed market research. Strategic sourcing is, hence, a long-term process and for its successful implementation, it needs skilled personnel and relevant technology platforms and tools.