Experts Emphasis on Why Technology and Sustainability Remain Imperative in Procurement Process
Mary Nnah
Experts in the procurement business have stressed the need for the injection of technology by companies into their procurement process, and the sustainability of such a process, to enable those saddled with such responsibility to prevent waste and achieve maximum results.
The experts, drawn across companies in Africa, made the submission at this year’s Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards, held in Lagos, recently.
Stressing the need to ensure sustainability in procurement, the Group Head of Supply Chain, Jospong Group of Companies, Hannah Out, argued that there is a need for companies to be conscious of what they purchase, adding that should be paramount in the minds of the Procurement officer of the company should be disposed of such products, immediately after use.
She stated that one of the strategies the Group has employed, over the years, is to adopt technology in its procurement process, to ensure that it is buying right.
Besides, she added, one of the criteria the Group always insists on in its procurement bidding process, is to analyse what the prospective customers or bidders do to protect the environment.
Representative of the Volta River Authority, Ghana, Jacob Otuche, noted that the company which controls a sizeable share of the electricity generation market in the West African country, stated that digitization has helped the company set up a robust purchase calendar for the year, and virtually engage its customers.
“We have an application that enables us to plan for a whole year. Besides, we’ve introduced technology into our processes, and this enables us to digitally engage our customers. Through this, we’ve been able to achieve transparency, and check leakages. In procurement, if you inflate the cost of procurement, it always has a way of negatively impacting the company’s bottom line.
“So we have an e-transaction card which allows us to engage our customers digitally. We are also better able to manage our inventory and also do predictive procurement,” he stated.
Jacob however sounded a note of caution to companies, on the need to be aware of the threats technology also poses to their survival.
“We must know that the internet is there, and the threat is also there. As much as we want to enhance our procurement process digitally and reduce waste, we also must be aware that the internet poses its threats,” he stated.
The General Manager, Supply Chain Management Finance, MTN Nigeria, Mr Adeola Oduntan, stated that, as a telecom company, MTN Nigeria has continued to avail itself of digital opportunities by employing technology in every of the categories of the supply chain.
Speaking on the rationale behind the annual event, the Group CEO of InstinctWave, and the brain behind the summit, Mr Akin Naphtal, expressed delight that the Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards, has, in the last five years, received massive support from industry stakeholders and decision-makers in Ghana.
The support, he stated, has gone a long way in helping the organisers raise the standards of the profession, noting that without robust procurement and supply chain strategies, most business operations can’t function.
“Our mission, therefore, is to lift the veil on the Procurement & Supply Chain in Africa as a whole, and that is why we are moving it to Nigeria,” he added.
Naphtal stated that the choice of the leading procurement experts, teams and top procurement & supply chain organizations, being recognized at the event were arrived at for possessing the leadership and practices that have raised the standards of the profession, showcasing top ethics, best practices, tact and brilliance in managing organizations’ supplies as well as promoting business growth and sustainability in Africa.
One of the highlights of the Awards was the conferment of the Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards on the Director General of the Lagos State Procurement Agency, Fatai Onafowote, at the event.
