Buying consortium: Definition, benefits & tips
First things first: A purchasing cooperation is the strategic merger of legally independent companies in order to gain market power by pooling their demand. The aim is to achieve better purchasing conditions (prices, delivery times, quality), which would often be unattainable for a single company - especially in the SME sector. Buying together means reducing costs and strengthening competitiveness in the long term. [...]
Global Sourcing: Definition, Methods and Benefits
The most important thing first: Global sourcing is the strategic development of worldwide procurement markets in order to achieve competitive advantages through cost optimisation, technological leadership and capacity assurance. In a volatile market environment, the strategy is currently shifting from pure „cost-cutting“ towards „resilience“: companies now place greater importance on supply security and ESG compliance (sustainability) than on the pure purchase price. Global Sourcing: Key Facts at a glance [...]
Procurement Consulting: Achieving Sustainable Savings
Companies that rely on professional procurement consulting achieve average cost reductions of between 5% and 15% while simultaneously minimising risk. The decisive lever today is no longer aggressive price pressure, but rather holistic process optimisation, the digital transformation of purchasing, and the strategic integration of ESG criteria. External consultancy transforms purchasing from a pure [...]
Research Grant 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Businesses
The most important points in brief: The Research Allowance 2026 marks the highest point of tax-based innovation funding in Germany to date and offers companies legally secure access to substantial liquidity. With a tax base increased to €12 million and the new 20 %-overhead lump sum, businesses can now receive up to €4.2 million per year directly back from the tax office. This funding acts [...]
Maverick Buying: Definition, Risks and Strategies
The most important thing in a nutshell Maverick buying refers to the procurement of goods or services outside of defined purchasing processes and framework agreements. For companies, this results in massive financial losses (often 10-20 % higher purchase prices) and uncontrollable compliance risks. The solution lies in the transformation of purchasing into an internal service provider: through e-procurement, intuitive guided buying and transparent communication [...]
Savings potentials in purchasing: 7 ways to more profit
Das Wichtigste in Kürze: Um die Profitabilität nachhaltig zu steigern, müssen Unternehmen gezielt Einsparpotenziale im Einkauf identifizieren und ausschöpfen. Ein optimierter Einkauf ist der effizienteste Hebel für das EBIT: Durch die Kombination aus digitalisierten Prozessen, strategischer Bedarfsbündelung und einer konsequenten TCO-Betrachtung lassen sich die Beschaffungskosten oft um 10 % bis 25 % senken – eine […]
Funding programmes 2026 for businesses: An overview of all grants
The most important thing first: The 2026 funding programmes are heavily focused on the „Dual Transformation“: digitalisation (AI focus) and decarbonisation. Companies can receive non-repayable grants of up to 80 % for strategic consulting and up to €690,000 for technological innovations (ZIM). The golden rule for 2026: applications must be submitted strictly before the project start, as retroactive funding [...]
Bundling in Purchasing: The Practical Guide to Better Purchasing Conditions
The most important thing first: strategic bundling in procurement is one of the strongest levers for cost reduction. By aggregating volumes, companies achieve price savings of between 5 %and 15 % , reduce administrative effort, and gain massive negotiating power over suppliers. Success depends on data quality and the willingness for internal standardisation. […]
Optimising purchasing processes: increasing efficiency and reducing costs
Anyone looking to optimise their purchasing processes sustainably today faces the challenge of combining agility with cost-efficiency. In an era of volatile markets, modern procurement is far more than just pure goods acquisition – it is a central lever for corporate returns and operational resilience. The most important thing first: Companies can significantly reduce their procurement costs by [...]
Procurement Consulting: Tips for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Das Wichtigste in Kürze: Eine spezialisierte Unternehmensberatung im Einkauf ermöglicht es mittelständischen Unternehmen, ihre Gesamtkosten (TCO) nachhaltig um 5 % bis 15 % zu senken. In einem volatilen Marktumfeld wandelt sie den Einkauf von einer rein administrativen Stelle zu einem strategischen Werttreiber, der Lieferketten absichert und die Umsatzrendite direkt steigert. Durch professionelle Hebelwirkung wird der […]