Public Sector & Regulated Industry Archives

In the News: Smarter and Leaner: How the Zero-Based Approach is Unlocking Up to 50% in Procurement Savings

In our latest article, we explore how zero-based approaches, and zero-based spend in particular, is unlocking savings of up to 50% in indirect costs for procurement leaders, providing practical strategies for smarter demand management and therefore rethinking what's bought, why it's needed, and how much is truly required.

The Met Office: Procurement Act Readiness

The Met Office appointed 4C Associates as a trusted partner to support them with navigating some of these challenges and to ensure their readiness for February 2025.

Digital Procurement: Saving our Government’s Systems

Some 25% of government systems are outdated, according to findings from DSIT (2025) - contributing to an estimated cost of £45 billion a year to the taxpayer. If optimised correctly, technology in public sector procurement can enhance transparency, accelerate strategic decision-making, secure sensitive data and soften long-term cost to the taxpayer.

Cut Smarter, Spend Better: How Zero-Based-Everything Redefines Procurement Efficiency

In today’s economic reality, traditional strategies like incremental savings or across-the-board reductions are just too slow, too blunt, and too superficial to cope with these pressures. Simply put: leaders can no longer rely on yesterday’s budgets or blanket reductions to solve today’s challenges. To thrive, businesses need a smarter, faster approach - one that delivers impact quickly and aligns every...

2025 Procurement Predictions Featuring our Experts

Zip’s 25 Procurement Predictions for 2025 include insights from leaders of our Digital team, Mark Ellis and Joe Gibson. The comprehensive, forward-thinking guide, shaped by insights from 25 leading voices, dives into critical industry trends, challenges and opportunities

Software Asset Management: Cost Savings & Beyond

At its core, Software Asset Management is about more than just keeping track of your licensing estate. Think of it as an efficient and clinical software inventory of an organisation, uncovering hidden inefficiencies and ensuring every software asset is used to its fullest potential.

Procurement’s Role in Supporting Innovation and Agility: Moving Beyond Traditional Boundaries

In The News: The Human Factor: The Missing Piece in Successful AI Procurement

In Joe Gibson’s recent article for The CFO, "The Human Factor: Navigating the Challenges of AI adoption in procurement," he explores the critical role of humans in navigating the challenges and maximizing the benefits of AI in procurement.

Podcast: The Secrets to Effective Procurement in Competitive Markets

Our MD, Jeremy Smith joined Higgle: The B2B Sales Club Podcast to unlock the secrets of effective procurement in today’s competitive landscape.

Women in IT’s Advocate of the Year award nomination

We were delighted to see our Partner, Kelly Archer nominated for Women in IT’s Advocate of the Year award this week. She continued her great work by speaking to 4C’s Women’s Network about her career and sharing lessons learned along the way.

Key Takeaways from DPW 2024

Digital Procurement World (DPW) provided opportunity to discuss the pressing challenges facing businesses today. From escalating geopolitical tensions to the rapid advancements of AI and the complexities of IT contracts, the landscape is changing rapidly. Here are our key takeaways.

Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Idiocracy?

Our Partner, Kelly Archer and IT Expert and Director, Joe Gibson explored what sets good and bad AI technology apart in the procurement space in CPO Strategy’s Spotlight story.

The Importance of Building a Resilient Supply Chain in today’s Dynamic Business Landscape

Our Head of Operations, Robin Agarwal explored the importance of a resilient supply chain in his article for SupplyChain Strategy.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This guide introduces the key activities in strategic sourcing and focuses on the key steps to follow to ensure it can be successfully implemented within organisations.

Procurement Vs Strategic Sourcing

This guide introduces the key activities in strategic sourcing and focuses on the key steps to follow to ensure it can be successfully implemented within organisations.