You might wonder what good is a Logistics Procurement Consulting outsider going to bring to your procurement organization which has been well staffed and is performing well already. There are indeed many companies who have stellar procurement teams, including those managing indirect logistics category who deliver exceptional results for their organizations. Sometimes however, there are circumstances which require additional external support, when the current staff is overburdened with workload.
That’s where the beauty of external consulting benefits comes from. By virtue of being exposed to other companies who happen to have their procurement processes well-managed already, consulting companies can simply advise and share those best practices with other organizations who might be a little behind the curve. This cross-pollination of best-in-class procurement processes and strategies is what makes engaging with an external consulting firm worth it.
Working with an external consulting firm is advisable to companies who have recently gone through the process of divestiture, spin-off or a merger and acquisition. These major events can significantly affect the make-up of the company’s operations including logistics. Hiring an outside help in those circumstances is advisable also because the teams, who are left standing after the dust had settled after these large organizational shifts, might be lacking the motivation or expertise to effectively navigate through the new horizon. The support of an external consulting firm can bring in focus on the new priorities, support the tactical change management efforts and help in executing the newly formed strategy for managing a company’s outsourced logistics services.
Lastly, you might want to bring in a consulting company to simply validate that how you currently source external logistics services is up to par with the latest market standards. That will solidify the morale of your team and give you a pat on the back to go out and execute your procurement strategy with confidence and enthusiasm.