For the fifth year in a row, Supply Value investigated the most important trends and priorities within the purchasing discipline. The results of the trend research can help purchasing professionals to set priorities and determine focus areas for the coming year.

Just like in previous years, an online survey has been drawn up to analyze the trends. This online survey was distributed internationally in collaboration with IFPSM and VIB. In total, 189 purchasing professionals from more than 20 countries contributed to our purchasing trend research.

In the online survey, we asked the respondents to score 29 issues related to purchasing on the basis of a five-point scale (where 1 stands for very little focus and where 5 stands for a lot of focus). The results show that purchasing professionals currently focus on:

1. Cost savings through the purchasing function
2. Alignment between purchasing and the organization and strategy
3. Total Cost of Ownership.

The largest focus areas for the coming year are according to purchasing professionals

1. Cost savings through the purchasing function
2. Value creation with the purchase function
3. Alignment between purchasing and the organization and strategy.

With each purchasing trend, we have formulated concrete recommendations in the report.

The survey was completed by different types of respondents. Certain characteristics of the respondents and their organizations may influence the trends. That is why this year, the survey examined how the trends differ per type of respondent. For example, do respondents who work at a strategic level have different procurement trends than respondents working at an operational level?