The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Qatar Branch recently held its annual general meeting (AGM) where two experts from KPMG Qatar discussed the challenges in the field of procurement and how it can improve the bottom line.
The AGM brought together CIPS members and other senior procurement staff in Qatar, including KPMG head of Management Consulting Kenan Nouwailati and associate director for Operations Consulting Ramzi Sinokrot, who briefed the delegates on procurement cost optimisation — a hot topic for procurement departments in both the public and private sectors in Qatar.
On the current challenges, Nouwailati said: “Over the recent years, organisations in Qatar have faced a number of financial challenges, including the new-norm of lower oil prices, supply chain constraints, and having a limited (albeit developing) local supplier base.
“Almost all organisations in every sector in Qatar have the potential to tackle these challenges and achieve significant cost savings, enhancing their procurement department’s performance.”
Nouwailati and Sinokrot demonstrated some of the ways by which organisations can enhance their procurement maturity by running spend transparency and analytics and identifying and implementing strategic sourcing opportunities.
On this, Sinokrot said: “By automating processes using digital technology, including KPMG’s value-based analytics tool ‘KREO’ and category management solution P365D, procurement departments can not only identify ways to improve the business’ bottom line but also save considerable time traditionally used to manually carry out this work.”
During the AGM, CIPS voted for a new Qatar Branch Committee that will carry forward the agenda of galvanising the procurement community in Qatar and promoting best practice.
Sam Achampong, head of CIPS Mena, said: “This year promises to be an excellent year for CIPS in Qatar, as we welcome on board new committee members who are willing, passionate, and enthusiastic to see the industry develop in the country. I am sure that our new committee will bring in new ideas and energy while ensuring that the best professional standards are upheld in the country.”
Dignitaries from CIPS during the annual general meeting held recently in Doha.
