Our News And Insights | 4C Associates

The Case for Change: Procurement Annual Report 2023

In last years’ Procurement Annual Survey we discussed the unprecedented procurement and supply chain challenges facing organisations and provided a series of recommendations on how to reimagine and to reinvent procurement for the future. Whilst supply chain resilience issues caused by the pandemic linger, other challenges have emerged with recent political and macroeconomic events significantly impacting energy and input...

Money in One Hand, Money Out the Other – Cash Choreography

With fluctuating inflation, energy costs and shifting consumer demand, 2024 will be an unusually turbulent economic climate; compressing working capital cycles by optimising the time between paying suppliers and collecting from customers will be vital for companies to maximise liquidity and build resilience no matter which direction markets trend. Forward-thinking companies now take a platform approach to connect O2C and...

Mastering the Robot …. Automate > Innovate > Elevate

The modern business landscape where efficiency and productivity are paramount demands that organisations evolve quickly to survive. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a key tool in this quest, allowing for the rapid automation of repetitive tasks that were once performed by humans. But what is RPA and how might it transform procurement?

How AI Is Revolutionising the Life Sciences Industry

From discovering new drugs to diagnosing diseases, AI is helping scientists and clinicians achieve breakthroughs faster and more efficiently. But AI is not without its challenges. How can we ensure data quality, ethical standards, regulatory compliance and human trust in AI? Find out in this article, where we explore the benefits and risks of AI in the life sciences...

The Blockchain Revolution: Cutting Through the Chain of Uncertainty

In a world where transparency is of utmost importance, trust is the most valuable currency, and middlemen are becoming obsolete. It may seem utopian, but it’s happening now, and all sector and industry leaders are quickly adopting it. Blockchain is here.

Byte-Sized Brilliance: Nurturing the Digital Mindset

To become a digital leader, you must be data-driven, curious, adaptable, digitally fluent, and collaborative. You must also understand the societal impact of technology and be able to translate it into business strategies. This blog discusses six key strategies to help you grow into a digital mindset. Becoming a digital leader is an ongoing journey, but by following these...

Analogue to Algorithm: Pioneering Change in a Digital Frontier

Delve into the importance of change in the procurement domain, how diverse approaches to change management can impact outcomes and how a harmonious blend of change management principles and technology can drive successful transformation.

From Automation to Analytics: How Technology Is Making Supplier Management More Efficient and Effective

In the rapidly evolving business landscape, effective supplier management is essential for competitiveness and success. Technology is reshaping this landscape, introducing automation, analytics, collaboration, transparency, and AI to enhance value and performance. Inefficient contract management causes potential value loss, while most procurement lacks advanced supplier relationship programs. Technology-driven automation streamlines tasks like ordering, boosting efficiency and supplier performance. Analytics...

Survival of the Fastest: Why the ‘3 Ps’ Must Become the ‘4 Es’

Traditional businesses need to adopt technology platforms to improve efficiency, sustainability, and compliance. Technology platforms are essential for businesses to survive and thrive in today's world. Businesses that resist new technologies will be at a competitive disadvantage. The blog discusses three key challenges of not investing in new technology platforms: data leakage, compliance failure, and talent deficiency. It also...

ChatGPT: Friend or Foe in the Pursuit of Sustainability?

We explore whether ChatGPT can help improve sustainability, examining the potential benefits and challenges of using AI to promote sustainable practices.

Experience first: The human-centred design principles accelerating the new norms in source-to-pay transformation

This blog discusses how the integration of S2P AI with Human Centred Design will address seven distinct unmet needs through improved user-accessibility, frequency of business-critical insight generation and procurement process efficiency, beyond what is currently available.