RISK, ESG, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT ON THE AGENDA AT 2023 SMART PROCUREMENT WORLD INDABA

Debbie Tagg, Smart Procurement chief operating officer

The 17th annual Smart Procurement World Indaba, South Africa’s largest, longest-standing event for procurement and inbound supply chain professionals, will focus on risk. It takes place from 11 to 14 September 2023 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. This year’s theme is “Do Risk Right?”, organiser Smart Procurement has announced. Debbie Tagg, Smart Procurement chief operating officer, says that the profession proved its mettle in navigating risk in recent years, but needs to chart a course in an increasingly volatile, unpredictable and challenging environment. “Procurement and supply chain practitioners played…

Read More

7th Annual City of Cape Town Smart Supplier Readiness Programme Launched : Expanding the Skills and Knowledge of Small Businesses

Reflecting its continuous commitment to the development and success of its vendors, the City of Cape Town (CoCT) has launched the 7th annual  CoCT Smart Supplier Readiness Programme. Participating enterprises have the chance to become a part of a valuable platform and community on which to grow their business successfully and sustainably. “Platforms like this are crucial to small businesses because they provide knowledge and an understanding of the skills necessary to deal with challenges that can stifle growth. I am excited to see the ideas and opportunities from the businesses…

Read More

SOUTH AFRICA : SMART PROCUREMENT HONOURED AT NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL SMME AWARDS

In recognition of its contribution to empowering and advancing entrepreneurs and developing small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), Smart Procurement was honoured at the inaugural National Presidential SMME Awards. These were hosted by The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the awards were presented by Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, South Africa’s Minister of Small Business Development. Smart Procurement, which is Africa’s leading procurement and inbound supply chain information service, was awarded second place in the Ecosystem Enabler of the Year category. Nominees in this category comprised organisations that, through lobbying, organising, advisory services, research…

Read More

INDABA PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON FRAUD, WHISTLEBLOWERS AND THE POLITICAL PRESSURE ON PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY CHAIN PRACTIONERS

Irregular expenditure in national and provincial government departments and State-Owned Enterprises is costing South Africa billions of rands every year. Political interference in public sector procurement was one of the compelling topics on the agenda at the 16th annual Smart Procurement World Indaba. Thandy Pino, who is the founder and CEO of Ntakha Consulting and former Chief Director of Supply Chain and Asset Management at the Gauteng Department of Health, shared her insights and advice on this challenge. She described political interference as an emotional subject for public sector procurement practitioners.…

Read More

THINK GLOBAL AND ACT LOCAL TO REMEDY PROCUREMENT MYOPIA AND ENSURE BUSINESS SUCCESS AND RESILIENCE, EXPERTS ADVISE

Procurement myopia can be a death sentence for an organisation. This has never been more true than in today’s fragile, post-pandemic and disruption fraught business environment, where economies are still reeling, and business resilience and innovation are more important than ever. “Glocalisation” is a remedy for procurement myopia, according to Dr. Jones Mathew, who is a Professor at the Great Lakes Institute of Management in Gurgaon, India. He was one of the 100 renowned African and international experts who shared their experience and insights with the more than 500 delegates…

Read More