That indirect spend is a complex area, with a great deal of opportunity to reduce costs and increase value is well known. But a discussion at today’s Procurement Leaders Masterclass in Vienna put the focus on what could be seen as a secondary benefit of thinking more strategically about these categories of spend.

How do we measure success in indirect procurement? Is it cost savings? Value creation? Both? Neither? Should CPOs be focusing on the bottom line or the top?

Surprising it may be, but a huge number of multinational organisations continue to struggle to manage their indirect spend in a professional manner and, as a result, opportunities to save millions are being routinely ignored.