Communication - Key to Supply Chain

When it comes to cooperating with staff in other departments, many procurement professionals admit it is very difficult. If communication is limited, so is the ability of the procurement department to influence the end to end procurement process.

Steps To Improving Communications For Supply Chain Success

Don’t be scared to over-communicate, make sure they are regularly updated even if it’s just a quick summary email. With suppliers it’s also important to regularly asses how you can improve your relationship from both sides, and offer constructive feedback to the supplier as well as asking for it yourself. This way, you are giving the stakeholders some influence and aren’t taking the decision out of their hands, making them feel they have status. When it comes to the communication method itself, you should assess which method best suits the situation and will deliver the optimum results for supply chain success.

Use The Right Communication Tool

This may sound like an obvious basic principle, but it’s vital to make sure the ‘narrative’ of the proposal comes across so stakeholders understand and are excited by what you are proposing. Consider the stakeholders you are addressing and tailor it to show how you will tackle their own individual concerns. Often with stakeholders, it’s more beneficial to give them a call or pay a quick visit than to send less direct communication such as emails.

With the right steps taken and changes applied it is possible to turn around poor communication and ensure supply chain success.If you are interested in learning more about communications in procurement and supply, then you may be interested in the CIPS Diploma in Procurement and Supply. The qualification is designed to equip an aspiring procurement professional with the skills and knowledge to perform in a junior role and progress in their procurement career.

Thankyou!

Trisha Dhawe