When I checked my calendar today I realized that, during my first 30 days as CEO, I spent nearly 150 hours in meetings. Now, some might say that that’s a very unproductive way of spending your time, but I beg to differ. For nearly 5 hours every day I’ve been meeting customers, prospects, the IBX board of directors and of course IBX staff. I intend to continue down this path, listening to the market in order to develop our strategies. In the meantime, if you have questions regarding IBX, do not hesitate to contact me.

It’s been a very exciting 30 days to say the least, and as I look ahead I am filled with enthusiasm. The new Managed Sourcing service that was released this winter is up and running and looks very promising, it off-loads purchasing functions enabling them to further focus on strategic categories and still retain price and quality focus on non-strategic categories. The Skanska case story - transforming purchasing in the construction industry - shows the importance of purchasing and how it can transform an entire business.

Purchasing is a very powerful tool. We tend to forget that we – as purchasers – are responsible for approximately 40% of the worlds combined business revenues – that’s an astonishing 25,752 billion USD*. Our choices and actions not only have a significant impact on our companies, but on the development of business and the environment globally. I’m really excited to be part of such a fantastic challenge (and opportunity), and coming off yet another strong year for IBX, I know IBX will be integral in transforming purchasing in the future.

In the coming months, I will continue to meet the people that in one way or another interact with IBX, I’m sure that the input from some of these meetings will end up as articles in this newsletter. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Leif Bohlin, CEO, IBX Group AB

When it comes to sourcing of non-strategic categories, many companies are simply leaving them unsourced due to their non-strategic nature. This means that a substantial amount of a companies spend is left un-sourced. IBX now introduces IBX Managed Sourcing, an outsourcing service for non-strategic categories. 

With our long experience of sourcing and deep supply market knowledge, the Managed Sourcing service makes sure that you secure market prices on previously un-sourced categories and that the contracts are implemented into the e-procurement solution. IBX also manages the ongoing commercial relationship with the supplier.

“The new service allows our customers to offload their purchasing organization from sourcing non-strategic goods and helps them to focus on core strategic sourcing”, says Robin Titus Product Manager, IBX Group AB.

“IBX has been our partner during the extensive transformation journey. Not only have they delivered the tools, but their consultants have also contributed on a strategic level”, says Sandra Petersson, Project manager for Skanska’s Effect program.

Read the full efficient purchasing success story: Taking control of purchasing in the construction industry

One of the major problems that purchasing organizations face, is how to actually bring home the savings. Visualizing and marketing the corporate contracts is one of the biggest challenges that purchasing functions are facing today.

I think we all agree that succeeding with procurement is very much about getting your agreements used in the organization. So let’s regard it as a sales process.

In the spring of 2008, IBX will – as usual – be present at the most prestigious purchasing events throughout Europe. Starting off our conference season in Amsterdam with the ProcureCon Indirect, we will participate at both the ELP Forum in London and the e_procure and supply in Nürnberg.

ProcureCon Indirect, 14 - 16 April 2008, Amsterdam, Netherlands

ProcureCon Indirect is the only European event designed specifically for Indirect Procurement Professionals. At ProcureCon Indirect 2008, visitors can learn how to be part of this dynamic wave of strategic organizational development and become a leader and keep up with the next stage indirect procurement strategies. The event will address the key issues and showcase the most pioneering examples of indirect procurement.

ELP Forum 22 May 08 – London

The 8th bi-annual European Leaders In Procurement Forum will place in London, UK on 22nd May 2008 at Lord's Cricket Ground. The theme of the conference is Procurement in the fast lane: 'Driving next generation strategy for improved business performance'.

e_procure and supply 2008, Nürnberg, Germany

With nearly 3,600 visitors mainly from the German-speaking regions, the annual e_procure and supply exhibition and congress in Nürnberg is the leading source information regarding software and services for sourcing and procurement in Germany.