Author: Kloepfel
High Savings in IT and Mobile Communications What specific challenges are there in IT procurement compared to other purchasing areas or product groups? In IT procurement, there are specific challenges that differ significantly from other purchasing areas or product groups. The biggest challenge is ensuring the operational readiness of IT, as a failure can cripple the entire company’s activity. While a faulty laptop is only a minor issue, the failure of the central IT system would halt the entire operation, as no external connections would be possible. Therefore, it is crucial that changes in providers or suppliers do not cause…
In recent years, due to supply chain disruptions, many companies have increased their inventories to shore up their ability to deliver. With the economy turned around, priorities have fundamentally changed. In the face of significant declines in orders and sales, as well as expensive financing, the capital tied up in inventories is becoming more important. In addition to the targeted management of inventories, optimized payment terms for receivables and payables can significantly improve a company’s liquidity. In this article, we offer you a practical guide to optimizing working capital. Net working capital refers to the difference between current assets on…
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New logistics centers and 40,000 jobs by the end of 2024 Amazon has announced plans to invest 10 billion euros in Germany. This investment will further expand both the logistics network and the cloud infrastructure in the country. The initiative is also intended to strengthen Amazon’s 25-year relationship with Germany as a location for innovation and business. The company plans to create 4,000 new jobs in three new logistics centers by the end of the year: Operations will begin in Horn-Bad Meinberg (North Rhine-Westphalia) in late summer 2024, in Erfurt (Thuringia) in May 2024 and in Großenkneten (Lower Saxony) in…
Supply Chain Pulse Check by Deloitte and the BDI The Federation of German Industries (BDI) and Deloitte have presented their latest Supply Chain Pulse Check. This is now the third edition of this report on supply chains. The current version of the Supply Chain Pulse Check was produced in collaboration with the service association ISLA. According to Deloitte, more than 120 supply chain managers were surveyed between April and May 2024. The participants are predominantly employed in large companies in the mechanical engineering/industrial goods, automotive, chemicals, construction and transportation and logistics sectors, according to the consulting firm’s press release. Pessimistic…
Export of Goods worth 58.6 Billion Euros In May 2024, German exports to countries outside the European Union decreased by 6.4 percent compared to April 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Goods worth 58.6 billion euros were exported there last month. Compared to the same month last year, May 2023, exports to third countries fell by 4.9 percent. USA as the most important trading partner According to Destatis, the most important trading partner for German exporters is the United States. Goods worth a total of 13.0 billion euros were exported there. Exports to the US increased by 7.5…
Efficiency, resilience, and digitalization in focus 1. Optimization of procurement costs 2. Maturity assessment through maturity analysis 3. Strategic procurement 4. Hybrid organizational forms 5. Performance management 6. Building robust and resilient supply chains 7. Efficiency enhancement through automation and digitalization In a time marked by skills shortages, global crises, and an urgent need for digitalization, procurement and supply chains face significant challenges. Many companies have not yet achieved the desired level expected by procurement itself and key stakeholders. However, there are solutions that can bring about positive changes promptly and are valued by employees. In this article, we present…
Sustainability as a driver of innovation Authors: Benedikt Benz, Senior Consultant Kloepfel Consulting and Heiko Steinmetz, Sustainability Manager Kloepfel Consulting Purchasing decisions play a decisive role when it comes to selecting packaging materials. In this guide, we give you an overview of primary, secondary and tertiary packaging materials and concentrate on various focus product groups. The market for packaging materials is constantly evolving. Sustainability is increasingly becoming the driving force behind innovation. Companies that offer environmentally friendly packaging solutions are well positioned to meet the changing needs of consumers, but also to comply with legal requirements both nationally and within…
How sustainability can drive innovation and growth Ekodev, a leading French consultancy specializing in sustainable transformation, has recently opened a branch in Düsseldorf. Since its establishment in 2009, Ekodev has successfully completed hundreds of projects and established itself as a key player in the field of sustainability. Ekodev Germany is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EPSA Group, with CEOs Jean-Christophe Giannesini and Theodor Uljanov at the helm. Environmental protection and child labor: Ekodev’s portfolio Ekodev aims to fully support German-speaking companies in their sustainable transformation journey, starting from initial assessments, through strategy development, to operational implementation and continuous improvement. Their…
Why is a potential analysis of warehouse and shipping departments, the so-called Health-Check, important? As part of the Health-Check, our customers receive an overview of their costs for shipping and warehousing. The turnover rate also serves as a significant and useful indicator for the purchasing department. Examining warehouse metrics goes hand-in-hand with analyzing the workflows of the shipping department. This reveals where workflows interlink and how they contribute to the overall result of the goods flow. This holistic view includes current, objective benchmarks that clearly highlight potential savings. It also reveals opportunities to improve the overall performance of the supply…
The central role of procurement in waste management The topic of waste management is a classic project theme encountered at nearly all of our clients – every company generates waste. Wherever waste is produced, proper disposal or, ideally, recycling is required. Sustainability considerations, which are becoming increasingly important for many companies, along with ever more complex legal requirements, suggest that the topic holds significant importance. However, it is often observed, especially in medium-sized companies, that the necessary know-how and resources within the procurement organization are not sufficiently available. Daily operations dominate, and the focus is placed on high-revenue, direct product…
Food and energy prices drive the index higher at the current edge Hamburg, May 16, 2024 – After the HWWI commodity price index had tended to decline in the last reporting period (November to January), the index also decreased in February, reaching a local minimum of 166.2. Since then, the index has been rising slightly, increasing by 4.1% in March and by 5.7% in April compared to the previous month. In April, the index averaged 182.9, still 4.9% below the level of the same month last year (as of May 5, 2024). Developments in the gas and oil markets have…
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Intermediate goods remain the main cause for the overall development Intermediate goods remain the main reason for overall development According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), import prices in April 2024 decreased by 1.7 percent compared to April 2023. However, compared to the previous month of March 2024, import prices increased by 0.7 percent. Imported intermediate goods were 4.1 percent cheaper compared to April 2023. Nevertheless, they increased by 0.9 percent compared to March 2024. Thus, intermediate goods reportedly had the greatest influence once again on the overall development of import prices. Energy prices and other categories The prices of…
DIHK calls for measures to strengthen The German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) are calling for measures to strengthen the industrial location in Europe. In their press release, DIHK points out that the European industry is burdened, among other things, by high energy prices and excessive bureaucracy. Volker Treier, Chief Executive of Foreign Trade at DIHK, urges for a swift clarification of the “New European Competitiveness Deal.” According to DIHK’s press release, this call comes following the meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council on May 24. During this session, the Council addressed, among other topics, industrial policy. According to…
Takeover of Captrain Netherlands The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is expanding its network to the Benelux countries. The Austrian logistics group acquired the Dutch railway company Captrain Netherlands B.V. as of May 31, 2024. RCG highlights that this move continues their consistent internationalization strategy Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, states: “The expansion of the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group continues: After establishing operations in China and Serbia, RCG’s international network is now extended to the Netherlands.” Together, they aim to connect Europe’s economic centers with European ports and thereby with the whole world. About Captrain Netherlands B.V. According to RCG,…
Uncovering savings potential in purchasing holistically Interview with Lana Al-Haidary, Consultant at Kloepfel Consulting, and Lina Terhardt, Analyst at Kloepfel Consulting. When should a potential analysis of indirect and direct costs be carried out? And what are typical indications that money is being spent unnecessarily in indirect or direct purchasing? There are several signs that optimization is required in the purchasing area. The main indicators are high purchasing costs in relation to turnover. If purchasing costs make up a significant proportion of turnover, this indicates that there is potential for improvement. The inadequate performance of suppliers is also a problem.…
Uncover savings with benchmarks Author: Michael Peiffer, Senior Logistic Consultant at Kloepfel Consulting Why is a potential analysis of freight costs important? As part of the potential analysis, we provide the customer with a neutral compass. By means of periodic and objective benchmarks, we show them their savings potential in concrete terms. The aim is to provide the customer with clear guidance, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding possible optimizations and savings in the area of freight costs. What savings are possible? On average, the projects achieve savings of around 15.1%. The results vary depending on the sector, with…