Latest news with #GEP
Zawya
16-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Procurement at a crossroads: How South Africa can lead in a changing market?
South Africa's procurement sector stands on the brink of transformation. The latest Global State of Procurement & Supply 2025 report, Cool Heads in the Storm spotlights a critical juncture where AI-led innovation, mounting supply chain risks, and board-level shifts are redrawing industry boundaries. Amid unprecedented global turbulence, South African leaders are urged to rethink their strategies: to harness technology, elevate strategic influence, and champion sustainable practices before being outpaced in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Published globally by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) in partnership with GEP, the report draws on insights from 281 senior procurement executives around the world. It presents a picture of an industry in transition—moving away from transactional roles towards strategic, boardroom-level influence. 'Procurement is no longer a support function. It is a strategic lever for resilience, innovation and responsible growth,' says Paul Vos, regional managing director at CIPS Southern Africa. 'But for South African procurement professionals to keep pace globally, they must prioritise digital upskilling, strategic influence and ESG delivery, or risk being sidelined.' Intelligence meets execution A key global finding is the mainstreaming of artificial intelligence in procurement. Over 83% of respondents believe AI will improve operational efficiency, and 81% expect it to automate significant elements of procurement workflows. 'South African procurement teams must embrace AI tools, not just for efficiency, but for critical functions like tariff modelling, supplier diversification and dynamic inventory,' says Vos. 'This is no longer experimental technology. It's a competitive requirement.' Despite this shift, the report notes a worrying trend: investment in sustainability skills has declined for the first time in several years, indicating shifting corporate priorities amid budget constraints and automation-led transformation. Escalating supply threats The CIPS Pulse index shows supply chain risk perception at its highest level to date. Geopolitical instability, US-led protectionism, shipping route disruptions, and retaliatory tariffs are major contributors. South African companies—especially those dependent on imported goods and global commodity exports—are especially vulnerable. 'Now more than ever, South Africa must diversify supply chains, build digital resilience and localise procurement where possible,' Vos urges. 'Procurement professionals have a central role to play in helping companies weather the volatility.' Leadership gaps persist One positive trend globally is the growing presence of procurement at the highest levels of corporate leadership. Twenty-five percent of procurement leaders now hold a permanent seat on the main board—up from 20% in 2024—with alignment between procurement and executive strategy particularly strong in larger companies. In South Africa, however, procurement's boardroom visibility remains uneven. 'Procurement is the voice of value in many organisations globally,' says Vos. 'If South African professionals can adopt a more strategic mindset, backed by data, commercial fluency and leadership presence, we'll see more of them stepping into C-level roles and driving national economic performance.' The report shows a notable shift in development priorities, with strategic thinking (47%), leadership (45%), and influencing skills (43%) topping the list—outpacing technical capabilities like contracting and negotiation. 'The demand is clear: leaders who can speak the language of strategy, risk and resilience are in short supply,' says Vos. 'It's time South Africa produced more procurement professionals who are ready to lead, not just manage.' Resilience sparks growth The data paints a clear picture: procurement is undergoing seismic change, and South African professionals must act with urgency. By embracing automation, cultivating leadership capabilities, and embedding sustainability into their strategies, the sector can not only stay relevant—but play a pivotal role in shaping a more resilient and competitive economy. The time to act is now.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TARIFF PAUSE SPURS GLOBAL MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY IN JUNE, WITH GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS NOW OPERATING CLOSE TO FULL CAPACITY: GEP GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN VOLATILITY INDEX
Europe exits two-year slump, led by German export rebound and domestic demand recovery U.S. manufacturers purchasing surges ahead of U.S. 'tariff pause' ending Asia supply chains pick up, though capacity remains underutilized in Southeast Asia No signs of cost inflation escalation yet despite the 10% universal tariff imposed by the U.S. CLARK, N.J., July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index — a leading indicator tracking demand conditions, shortages, transportation costs, inventories, and backlogs based on a monthly survey of 27,000 businesses — jumped to -0.17 in June, from -0.46 in May, its highest in 2025 as worldwide supply chain activity picked up despite the 10% tariffs imposed by the US administration. For the first time in more than two years, European manufacturers operated at full tilt, driven by front-loaded orders from US customers, and a rebound in both domestic and export demand, particularly across Germany. In North America, demand for inputs surged as U.S. manufacturers moved quickly to secure inputs – commodities, parts, components and raw materials – ahead of a potential end to the current tariff pause. Asia's supply chains also showed signs of recovery, with stronger activity in India, Japan, and South Korea. However, spare capacity remains across Southeast Asia, where factory purchasing continues to lag, notably in China. Notably, there is no evidence in the data of cost inflation escalating dramatically, despite the tariffs. "In June, Europe shook off its long slump and global supply chains ran at full capacity — despite the uncertainty and on-and-off again tariffs," said John Piatek, VP, Consulting, GEP. "But under the surface, companies are putting in place contingencies: stockpiling inputs, reshaping supplier networks, near-shoring operations, and securing supply chain financing." Interpreting the data:Index > 0, supply chain capacity is being stretched. The further above 0, the more stretched supply chains < 0, supply chain capacity is being underutilized. The further below 0, the more underutilized supply chains are. Interpreting the data:Index > 0, supply chain capacity is being stretched. The further above 0, the more stretched supply chains < 0, supply chain capacity is being underutilized. The further below 0, the more underutilized supply chains are. JUNE 2025 REGIONAL KEY FINDINGS ASIA: Index rises to -0.27, from -0.40, indicating a pick-up in Asian market activity, but the region's supply chains remain underutilized overall. This mostly reflects subdued factory conditions in Southeast Asia. NORTH AMERICA: Index rises to -0.06, from -0.24 as US manufacturers ramp up purchasing sharply ahead of the tariff pause coming to an end. North American supply chains effectively ran at full capacity in June. EUROPE: Index rises to 0.01, from -0.30, signaling full capacity utilization across Europe's supply chains in June as the continent's industrial sector emerges from its prolonged downturn. U.K.: Index rises to -0.41, from -0.97, its highest for seven months, but still indicative of an elevated level of slack across the U.K.'s supply chains. JUNE 2025 KEY FINDINGS DEMAND: Global factory purchasing activity continued to trend upwards in June, with demand at its most robust in just over a year. This was driven by a considerable rise in North America, driven by the US, as manufacturers ramped up buying ahead of the pause on US tariffs coming to an end. INVENTORIES: There were increased reports from businesses of a rise in stockpiling due to price or supply concerns during June. Mentions of safety buffers being built into warehouses were their highest so far in 2025 globally, with the prospect of higher tariffs driving procurement managers into precautionary action. MATERIAL SHORTAGES: The global item shortages indicator, which measures the prevalence of supply problems, remains historically low, indicating robust availability. LABOR SHORTAGES: Suppliers' workforce capacity remains sufficient to process current order loads, according to our data. Reports of manufacturing backlogs rising due to staff shortages remain stable at historically typical levels. TRANSPORTATION: Global transportation costs were once again in line with their long-term average in June. Reports from surveyed businesses of logistic cost pressures remain anchored. For more information, visit Full historical data dating back to January 2005 is available for subscription. Please contact economics@ next release of the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index will be 8 a.m. ET, Aug. 12, 2025. About the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is produced by S&P Global and GEP. It is derived from S&P Global's PMI® surveys, sent to companies in over 40 countries, totaling around 27,000 companies. The headline figure is a weighted sum of six sub-indices derived from PMI data, PMI Comments Trackers and PMI Commodity Price & Supply Indicators compiled by S&P Global. For more information about the methodology, click here. About GEP GEP® delivers AI-powered procurement and supply chain solutions that help global enterprises become more agile and resilient, operate more efficiently and effectively, gain competitive advantage, boost profitability and increase shareholder value. Headquartered in Clark, New Jersey, GEP has offices and operations centers across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. To learn more, visit About S&P Global S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) S&P Global provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. Media Contacts Derek Creevey Joe Hayes S&P Global Market Intelligence Director, Public Relations Principal Economist Corporate Communications GEP S&P Global Market Intelligence Email: Phone: +1 646-276-4579 Phone: +44-1344-328-099Email: Email: View original content: SOURCE GEP Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BizClik Announces Finalists for the 2025 Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards
Celebrating Innovation, Excellence, and Leadership Across Global Supply NetworksLondon, UK – 2nd July 2025 – BizClik, the global B2B digital media and events company, is proud to announce the finalists for the Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards 2025. The awards ceremony will take place on 24 September 2025, immediately following Day 2 of Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London, at 8 Northumberland Avenue. Now in their second year, the awards are a cornerstone of the Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE portfolio. They spotlight the companies, initiatives, and individuals driving progress across procurement, supply chain, logistics, and operational excellence. This year's awards are sponsored by GEP, SAP, Coupa, and Amazon Business. Record-Breaking Entries and Esteemed Judges With hundreds of nominations submitted across 18 categories, the competition attracted a diverse range of entries from around the globe. Each submission was assessed by a distinguished panel of industry leaders, including: Rebecca Simpson, Chief Procurement Officer, Royal Mail Nina Bomberg, Chief Procurement Officer, Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH Jarrod Glover, Director of Cost Management & Procurement, Santander Paul Williams, Director, Head of Supply Chain Sustainability, Deutsche Bank Their rigorous evaluation has produced a shortlist that showcases the full spectrum of innovation in procurement and supply chain, from sustainability and digital transformation to operational leadership and strategic sourcing. Finalists include Uber, Lenovo, Royal Mail, MTN Group, Karsan Automotive, and more. View the full list of finalists. Awards Ceremony Details Winners will be revealed at a black-tie gala on 24 September 2025, hosted at 8 Northumberland Avenue in central London. The event will welcome over 300 senior executives for an evening of celebration, global recognition, and high-level networking. Attendance is by invitation only, ensuring an exclusive environment for peer recognition and meaningful connections among global procurement and supply chain leaders. Winners will be featured across Procurement Magazine, Supply Chain Digital, and the wider BizClik network. Sponsorship Opportunities Sponsorship packages are available for both Headline and Category tiers, providing: Direct engagement with C-suite decision-makers Premium visibility across BizClik's digital and event platforms Brand alignment with global leadership in procurement and supply chain excellence To discuss tailored sponsorship opportunities, contact: About BizClik BizClik is a global B2B digital media and events company, producing sector-focused content across procurement, supply chain, sustainability, technology, fintech, AI, and more. Through magazines, websites, newsletters, webinars, and industry-leading events, BizClik connects enterprise leaders with executive audiences, driving strategic engagement and business growth. For more information, visit: Media Contacts Alice PageCommercial Promotions & Communications Director, Beckie JordanEvents Media Director, in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
U'Khand tourist footfall 8 times higher than its population, says Dhami.
Varanasi: Upon reaching Varanasi on Monday to attend the Central Zonal Council meeting on Tuesday, said that participating states would receive guidance from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on their issues. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During a brief chat with reporters upon his arrival in the city, Dhami said, "Different states have different concerns. Himalayan states have their own issues; some are related to our borders, and some are connected to the govt of India's ministries, such as the forest and environment. We are the first state to implement Gross Environment Product (GEP), while the footfall of pilgrims and tourists is seven to eight times greater than our population. " Apart from the issues related to these subjects, he said, many other issues would be tabled at the CZC meeting to seek guidance from the HM. In this meeting, he said, "We discuss all those issues related to our states and matters concerning the govt of India. Discussions are held based on mutual agreement to ensure cooperation among states, support each other's development, and collectively address the challenges facing the country," he added. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, the entire nation is progressing rapidly. All states are contributing to this progress with the resolve of a developed India, and Uttarakhand is also fully prepared to contribute.
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"Playing sport signifies shared values of humanity, unity, and peace": Uttarakhand CM Dhami
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 23 (ANI): Highlighting the significance of sports in daily life, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said playing a sport signifies the shared values of humanity, unity, and peace. Addressing an event organised to mark June 23 International Olympic Day, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, ' It is a matter of great pride for us that an event has been organised in Dehradun on this International Olympic Day. This reminds us that playing a sport is not just about winning a medal but also signifies the shared values of humanity, unity and peace.' 'Today, when we talk about the Olympics, we feel proud of the achievements of our Indian athletes - be it Neeraj Chopra winning the gold medal for javelin throw, Mirabai Chanu, Lovelina or the Indian hockey team... Our Indian sportspersons, including those from Uttarakhand, are making the country proud,' he added. Earlier in the day, Padma Bhushan awardee, eminent environmentalist and founder of HESCO, Anil Joshi, met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his official residence. The Chief Minister said that on this occasion, he had a meaningful discussion with him on important topics like environmental protection, green development, and the implementation of GEP in the state. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the CM said that the ongoing Kedarnath Yatra had become a confluence of the remarkable synergy between spiritual devotion and development in the state. Taking to X, CM Dhami announced that in a span of just 48 days, more than 11.4 lakh devotees have paid their respects at the revered Kedarnath shrine.' Describing the pilgrimage as 'a wonderful confluence of development with faith', the Chief Minister said the surge in footfall has not only strengthened Uttarakhand's spiritual landscape but also significantly boosted its local economy. 'This is not just a pilgrimage but has become a symbol of Uttarakhand's economic, cultural and spiritual prosperity. Hail Baba Kedar!' he said, sharing updates using the hashtag #CharDhamYatra2025. The annual Char Dham Yatra, which includes pilgrimages to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, is one of the most significant religious journeys in Hinduism. The state government has undertaken a series of infrastructure upgrades in recent years--including improved roads, helicopter services, and better accommodation--to ensure a safer and smoother pilgrimage experience for devotees. This year, the Kedarnath Dham has seen an unprecedented inflow of pilgrims, which officials attribute to both improved facilities and increasing spiritual interest. (ANI)
