@Risk

Business executives around the world continue to worry about market volatility and economic uncertainty, however most feel their companies are better prepared to handle these challenges than they were during the economic slowdown of 2008-09, according to new research from Capgemini Consulting.

The study, which surveyed 350 supply chain executives from leading companies across Europe, the US, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, found that:

• Familiar business challenges persist. Market volatility (52 percent) and the economic downturn (39 percent) are the biggest business challenges currently faced by respondents. Just 17 percent feel optimistic about the outlook for the economy in 2012.
• Leaders are focused on supply chains. Two-thirds (67 percent) of respondents said they have implemented measures to improve visibility and control within the supply chain, and 59 percent have taken steps to increase flexibility within supply chain operations. As Capgemini points out, companies that have taken these measures should expect to have a head start on their competitors in 2012 as they will be able to measure and adapt their supply chains more easily. (more…)

Analysts continue to debate how long it will take for the global economy to return to “business as usual” status. But, a survey by Capgemini Consulting found that most CPOs and senior supply chain leaders are feeling rather optimistic –about both an economic rebound and procurement’s future function.

Well more than half (65 percent) of those polled in the Global Chief Procurement Officer Survey 2010 said that the economy is showing clear signs of recovery.  In addition, 60 percent confirmed that the procurement function has emerged from the global economic downturn as a winner, with an improved image within their organization.

Despite this optimism, however, significant questions remain. Is procurement’s “improved image” solely dependent on procurement’s ability to focus on cost reduction? Shouldn’t procurement also be contributing to value and innovation?

The survey found that cost reduction continues to be a major focus area with savings targets increasing as they did in 2009. In fact, more than 40 percent of those polled said they have savings targets at nearly 10 percent for 2010.

But – and here’s where there’s a disconnect –the report also reveals that the vast majority (80 percent) of survey participants reported that top management expects them to improve the overall value contribution of procurement.

Obviously, procurement needs to refine its role as a contributor to long-term business value. The cost-cutting that helped organizations weather the recession must mature into a more robust approach that integrates the supply chain into the overall business strategy.

From the report: (more…)

New results from the latest edition of Capgemini’s Global Trade Flow Index show continued growth.

Every quarter, the index tracks the trade of goods and services based on an analysis of a number of trade and market-related parameters. The input data comes from the latest available official figures (related to the import and export of goods and services) from national agencies of the 23 top countries in terms of global trade in global trade flows. The latest results reveal: (more…)

Economic recovery has surpassed economic downturn in the list of business drivers for 2010, according to results of Capgemini Consulting’s new study of 300 leading companies across Europe, US, Asia-pacific and Latin America.

Specifically, the study found that: (more…)

Most shippers are cutting costs and as a result, they’re re-thinking both their supply chains and their 3PL relationships, according to a new study from Capgemini, in cooperation with Oracle, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Panalpina.

The survey, which polled more than 1,000 logistics executives from both 3PL users and providers in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, examined global markets for shippers and logistics providers and found that, as you might expect, the recession has created significant challenges for both shippers and 3PLs.

(more…)