The average modern business spends most of their IT budget on simply maintaining their network, leaving only a small amount available for upgrades and innovations. With the rate of advancements in technology, keeping up isn’t always easy. Many companies are turning to cloud computing for a cost-effective solution.
Since the début of the first Mac desktop in 1984, PCs have steadily gained favoritism among consumers over Macs. In 2004, there were about 55 times as many PCs sold than Apple computers. Macs begin to gain more acceptance around this time, but it wasn’t until the launch of the iPhone in 2007 when the…
Effective supply chain management is the backbone of a business but for many companies, it is also a challenge. A typical supply chain involves several entities – buyers, suppliers, distributors, and in the end, customers. Developing long-term relationships at each of these levels is the key to success.
“Vast amounts of money, combined with a secretive purchasing process, can be a formula for corruption.” Zachary Mehan, a communications assistant at the Transparency International Defence and Security Programme, made this statement in reference to government defence procurement, but it can easily refer to all sectors of the procurement industry.
The biggest challenges that government procurement agencies face at any level are corruption and discrimination. On a global level, transparency and fairness standards are even harder to agree upon. The World Trade Organization created the first Agreement on Government Procurement in 1981 to make a set of globally accepted rules for international procurement.
In recent years, boutique consulting firms have experienced increased success in the supply chain management field. While boutique firms aren’t necessarily small, they typically have a well-defined focus for more industry-specific knowledge and are often more cost-efficient than larger firms. Supply Chain Visions, Inc., one of the ’10 coolest SCM boutique consultants’ according to ARC…