In 2024, the retail landscape is witnessing a significant evolution, as businesses recalibrate their strategies to adapt to a new consumer reality. The focus has shifted back to bricks and mortar, underscoring a renewed emphasis on creating physical experiences that resonate with consumers and drive engagement. The pivot back to physical retail is not merely […]

In the intricate dance of supply and demand that defines the consumer markets, 2024 stands out as a year where cost optimisation strategies take a deeply personal turn. Companies and consumers alike are navigating a landscape shaped by economic pressures, where every dollar and cent are scrutinised under the lens of value and necessity. The […]

The Asian consumer market is a tapestry of diversity and complexity, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for companies operating in the region. In 2024, businesses are navigating a landscape marked by significant geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts, where the ability to adapt and innovate is not just beneficial but necessary for survival and growth. One of […]

2021 was a strong year for the Singapore Procurement job market, with more activity than we had seen for a few years. Driving this trend were several key factors, notably the lifting of hiring freezes from 2020 and pent-up demand, increased business confidence in general, and rapidly changing dynamics in the business and supply chain environment...

The Rise of Global Sourcing Hubs in Singapore In recent years our Singapore Procurement & Sourcing market report, has often mentioned the decline in the number and size of global and regionally centralised corporate procurement hubs, which previously had been positioned locally to strategically procure raw materials, goods, and services on a significant scale. There […]

Food, Beverage and Nutrition sectors in the Asia-Pacific region have learned a key lesson this pandemic year: Businesses should always be prepared to confront uncertainty with technology. Even if we set aside the unique challenges presented by COVID, market conditions now change too quickly and too often for any static business plan or traditional set […]

In my 15 years recruiting in the Procurement space, I have always found this market to be more resilient than other functions in an economic downturn. While almost every sector was hampered by COVID-19 during 2020, the Procurement jobs market was indeed impacted, but comparatively fared better overall than the general employment market. I put […]

Human capital: the key to sustainable ASEAN value chains The agricultural sector is the backbone of many ASEAN countries and a key source of income for their populations. But the industry faces challenges, specifically a lack of coherent food standards, safety regulations, and sustainability initiatives. Sustainability, in particular, has increasingly become an issue due to […]

With the global economy teetering on the brink of a recession the likes of which we haven’t seen in nearly a century, companies around the world find themselves doing everything they can to set themselves up for a soft landing. The economic fallout of the pandemic is only beginning, and it could last for years. Business leaders […]

In grocery stores worldwide, shoppers are finding empty shelves where hand sanitiser, toilet paper, and canned goods used to be. Specific fears related to COVID-19, as well as the extent of the outbreak, are heavily influencing purchasing decisions. A recent Nielsen report identifies six consumer behaviour thresholds that are directly tied to how far the virus has […]

As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, many countries are taking drastic action. Bans on public gatherings are now commonplace, with shopping malls closing down and strict quarantines enforced. Even in countries whose governments are thus far taking a more relaxed approach, people are widely adopting the practice of social distancing. While certain products are enjoying an upsurge […]

A unique and rewarding career, Procurement draws on and develops an extremely broad range of skills – resulting in teams of highly versatile, skilled, and ambitious individuals continually seeking new challenges and opportunities. In comparison with similar business functions, Procurement can fall short on opportunity at the executive level, inevitably leading to a surplus of […]