The Procurement Signal

#12: Perform financial checks on your suppliers, without the analysis!

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:13:30 +0000

Nothing kills a procurement career faster than a critical supplier vanishing overnight. But for lean teams without a massive budget for third-party risk reports, how do you actually perform due diligence without an accounting degree?

Today, we’re diving into a simple, three-tiered approach to evaluating supplier solvency. We move past the jargon to give you the exact questions to ask and the specific "red flag" phrases to watch out for in annual reports and CPA letters.

Key Takeaways:

The Open Books Club: Navigating public annual reports.
The Solvency Shortcut: What to ask for when a private company won't share their books.
The Startup Runway: Measuring risk in emerging, high-growth partners.
Frequency Matters: Why due diligence is a marathon, not a sprint.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

Check out the book, Rewire Procurement - https://amzn.asia/d/08kJB3rt

#11: Post Contract Trap: Why “sourcing & handover” kills business value?

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:07:39 +0000

"It’s not procurement’s risk." We’ve all heard it, but is it true? In today’s episode, we dive deep into the "handover" culture in procurement. We discuss why a successful RFP doesn't guarantee a successful partnership and how "Value Leakage" and "Unmanaged Risk" thrive in the absence of post-contract governance.

Inside this episode:

The Soccer Metaphor: Why leaving the goalpost to your "midfielders" (the business) leads to failure.
The AI Threat: Why sourcing is becoming automated and how governance is your new job security.
The Governance Dream Team: A breakdown of who should own what—from Category Managers to the often-overlooked Risk & Sustainability Managers.

Stop being a gatekeeper and start being a bridge. Tune in to learn how to own the full supplier lifecycle.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

Check out the book, Rewire Procurement - https://amzn.asia/d/08kJB3rt

#10: Decoding Net Zero: Procurement’s Role in the Value Chain

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:42:36 +0000

If Your Suppliers Aren’t Green, You’re in the Red!

"Every time you sign a contract, you are essentially buying the carbon footprint of that supplier."

It’s a bold statement, but in the world of Scope 3 reporting, it’s the reality. In today’s episode, we’re looking at why 90% of your organization's footprint likely sits within your supply chain—and why Procurement holds the key to fixing it. We move past the "compliance knock on the door" and dive into how to update your category strategies and influence product design at the source. If you’ve ever wondered how to transition from "counting carbon" to actually "cutting it," this episode is for you.

What we cover in this episode:

The Compliance Reality: What Finance and Legal actually want when they ask for spend data.
The Strategic Shift: How to move from reactive reporting to proactive supplier development.
The Design Phase: Why 80% of environmental impact is decided before a PO is even issued.
Getting Started: Why your segmentation model is your best friend in identifying carbon "hot spots."

Don't let your procurement strategy stay stuck in the past. Tune in to learn how to adapt your team for the Net Zero journey.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

Check out the book, Rewire Procurement - https://amzn.asia/d/08kJB3rt

#9: Procurement Technology won’t fix People or Process issues

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 13:58:38 +0000

In this episode, we tackle the all-too-common urge to solve organizational chaos with a new SaaS tool. We’ve all seen the polished vendor demos—the ones with the colorful charts and "effortless" automation—but there’s a catch: that wasn't your data.

We dive deep into why technology is an enabler, not a cure-all. If your stakeholders are bypassing you and your data is a disaster, digitizing that mess only creates "digital confusion."

In this episode, we discuss:

The Demo Disconnect: Why "out-of-the-box" integrations often end up as manual Excel uploads.

The Root Cause: Identifying when your problem is actually about People and Process, not software.

Compliance vs. Strategy: Can a system really "force" a better process, or does it just hide the cracks?

"If you haven’t mapped the real-world pain points beyond a vendor demonstration, how do you expect a platform to deliver value?"

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

Check out the book, Rewire Procurement - https://amzn.asia/d/08kJB3rt

#8: 10 ways procurement adds value beyond cost savings

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:47:35 +0000

For decades, the "Value of Procurement" has been reduced to a single line item: Cost Savings. But in a world of fractured supply chains, volatile markets, and shifting consumer ethics, if you’re only measuring "dollars saved," you’re missing 90% of the story.

In this episode, we move past the "Department of No" stereotype and explore how modern procurement teams align themselves with high-level corporate strategy. We break down the 10 Strategic Levers—from Risk Mitigation and ESG to Speed to Market and Data Intelligence—that transform procurement from a back-office cost center into a powerful value-multiplier. Whether you’re a C-suite executive or a category manager, this episode will change the way you define "success" in the supply chain.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Access the FREE content library at https://sites.google.com/procurementsignal.com/home/content-library

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

Check out the book, Rewire Procurement - https://amzn.asia/d/08kJB3rt

#7: If everyone is a buyer, what does procurement do?

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 06:07:37 +0000

In today’s fast-paced corporate world, everyone has a credit card, a login, and a "need for speed." When Marketing, IT, and HR are clicking the "buy" button themselves, it’s easy to wonder: Does Procurement even have a job anymore?

The answer is a resounding yes—but the job description has fundamentally changed.

In this episode, we explore the identity shift from transacting to enabling. We move past the old reputation of being the "Department of No" and dive into the role of the Strategic Architect. If the company is a highway, Procurement isn't driving every car; we’re the city planners ensuring the bridges don't collapse and the traffic flows toward the right destination.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Access the FREE content library at https://sites.google.com/procurementsignal.com/home/content-library

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

#6 Are you managing vendors or managing crises?

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:31:57 +0000

If your supplier management strategy feels more like a series of fire drills than a strategic partnership, you aren’t alone. Too many procurement teams are stuck in a reactive cycle—jumping on calls only when things break and suffering through "status update" meetings that go nowhere.

In this episode of The Procurement Signal, we dismantle the "check-the-box" approach to vendor management and reveal the hidden engine behind high-performing supply chains: Governance.

We are moving past the buzzwords to give you the practical "Rhythm of Business" that turns transactional vendors into strategic partners.

Let’s dive in.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Access the FREE content library at https://sites.google.com/procurementsignal.com/home/content-library

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

#5: Defining the Radar: Setting Your Risk Scope

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:28:12 +0000

Is your procurement team drowning in data but starving for insights? In this episode of The Procurement Signal, we’re cutting through the noise of Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM). One of the biggest mistakes procurement teams make is trying to monitor every single vendor with the same intensity. When everything is a priority, nothing is. Join us as we break down how to establish a Risk Radar that actually works. We discuss the transition from "checking boxes" to building strategic resilience by focusing on what truly matters.

Let’s dive in.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Access the FREE content library at https://sites.google.com/procurementsignal.com/home/content-library

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

#4: Procurement's 70:20:10 rule for success

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:24:36 +0000

In this episode of the procurement signal, we break down the three elements that truly make procurement tick — through a fresh take on the 70/20/10 rule.

No, it’s not a budgeting model.

No, it’s not a training framework.

And no, it’s definitely not the ratio of coffee, chaos, and courage needed to survive a sourcing cycle.

This 70/20/10 rule reveals where procurement’s real impact comes from:

70% Stakeholder Alignment

20% Standardising Process

10% Tools & Technology

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to fix your procurement problems and unlock meaningful change, this episode is your roadmap.

Let’s get into it.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Access the FREE content library at https://sites.google.com/procurementsignal.com/home/content-library

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

#3: Untangling roles in modern teams

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:20:53 +0000

In this episode of the procurement signal we dive into one of the biggest sources of chaos in modern procurement teams: blurred roles and responsibilities.

From category managers running sourcing events to vendor managers juggling risk, many teams today operate like a game of musical chairs — and it’s costing them clarity, efficiency, and value.

We break down the five core roles every modern procurement function needs to get right:

- Category Manager

- Procurement Manager

- Sourcing Manager

- Supplier Risk Manager

- Vendor Manager

You’ll learn what each role should own, why overlap happens so often, and how to untangle responsibilities so your team can operate with precision instead of confusion.

If your procurement team feels stretched, blurred, or overloaded, this episode will help you reset the foundations.

Let’s get into it.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Access the FREE content library at https://sites.google.com/procurementsignal.com/home/content-library

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

#2: Build vs Buy, the legendary procurement question.

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:16:44 +0000

In this episode of The Procurement Signal, we unpack one of the profession’s most debated questions: Should you build, or should you buy?

This isn’t just a sourcing choice — it’s a reflection of your organisation’s priorities, capabilities, and risk appetite. And procurement sits right in the middle of that strategic crossroads.

We break down the real considerations behind build vs buy, the traps teams fall into, and how to guide the business toward smarter, value‑aligned decisions.

Let’s get into it.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Access the FREE content library at https://sites.google.com/procurementsignal.com/home/content-library

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com

#1: The identity crisis

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:07:27 +0000

Welcome to the very first episode of THE PROCUREMENT SIGNAL And we’re starting strong — with a topic every procurement professional has felt but few openly talk about: Procurement’s Identity Crisis.

Ask ten people in your organization what procurement does, and you’ll get twelve different answers… most of them unflattering. We’re labelled the admin team, the PO police, the cost‑cutters, the paper‑pushers — the people who “slow things down.”

But here’s the truth: procurement doesn’t have a capability problem. It has a perception problem.

In this episode, we unpack where that perception comes from, how it limits the value procurement can deliver, and what modern teams can do to rewrite the narrative and reclaim their strategic identity.

Let’s dive in.

Take the FREE Procurement Maturity Quiz at https://forms.gle/nBYiNtqFYEnYKTqB9

Access the FREE content library at https://sites.google.com/procurementsignal.com/home/content-library

Our website: www.procurementsignal.com