“Added value: global networks,” was the topic of the 52nd BME Purchasing and Logistics Symposium last week in Berlin from November 8th to 10th in Berlin. Although it was not possible to achieve the attendance figures of the 50th jubilee symposium, Dr. Silvius Grobosch, BME e.V. Federal Board of Directors member, did not see this as “any reason to be disappointed.”
NEWTRON was once again an exhibitor and was also able to draw a positive conclusion. Exchanging ideas with our customers is particularly important to us, which is why we traditionally host a customer dinner on the eve of the first day of the symposium. Some of our customers come to Berlin just to attend the dinner.
Others, such as Martin Kinauer, head of purchasing at E. Hawle Armaturenwerke GmbH, also take part in the expert conferences and workshops on the following days. “The BME symposium is THE place to meet for purchasing,” Martin Kinauer told me. “There are almost no opportunities during day-to-day business to exchange ideas with so many colleagues and partners, such as with NEWTRON, on three consecutive days”
Focus on the entire value chain
Of course we also come to Berlin every year to inform potential customers about our solutions. The bottom line of the discussions at our booth: Purchasers are looking for suppliers who understand how to combine different software solutions and integrate ERP as well as SAP in an optimal way. Suppliers that grasp the challenges facing companies and can quickly implement comprehensive solutions.
Global networks, the motto of the symposium, was also a frequent topic of our discussions. BME envisages great opportunities in the global connection of people and things and takes the stand: “We are much stronger united than alone.” This means that purchasing and those responsible for the supply chain must strike a new balance and ensure they are fully prepared when it comes to personnel, organization and technology. More on this topic on the BME website at: www.bme.de/en
Networking with SupplyOn and NEWTRON
Stronger united than alone also applies to us: With NEWTRON and SupplyOn, customers can rely on many years of know-how and solutions in the purchasing of non-production material and catalogue goods as well as a global supplier network. At symposiums such as this, I personally value the intensive exchange of ideas, not just with purchasing but also with colleagues from NEWTRON and SupplyOn.
It is also interesting to see which case studies and strategies are being presented. Michael Schmidt, CPO of the Jokey Group, winner of the BME Innovation Prize, makes it clear: “We medium-sized businesses can achieve a lot!” and “Digitalization and lowering the process costs – that has benefited us enormously!” The efficiency provided by a web-based supplier portal is amazing. And that’s exactly what our customers tell us too: Through savings in process costs, the purchasers are able to turn their attention to more important things, such as strategic purchasing.
