For decades the mantra of Procurement & Supply was commoditise, rationalise, standardise and consolidate. Homogeneity and normalisation facilitated auctions and global competition between ever larger suppliers.

Leverage drove category strategies and shaped sourcing functions. It worked wonderfully well as free-trade boomed, interest rates fell and global connectivity exploded. Local became an alien place; proximity an empty word; and familiarity a scornful term. The world was exciting; it was fun; and it wasn’t hard to look cool whilst having a great time.

Warren Buffet memorably said, “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked”. The tide has now turned and we may ask ourselves: How useful today are the concepts, strategies, skills and structures we have come to rely on?

SWISSUES-3, simply entitled ‘Local’, is on Wednesday 16th March, from 15:50 CET.

SWISSUES is a new, online format. Participants can contribute live on-screen, as in a meeting; or they can listen-in like a webinar. There are no plenary presentations; we go straight into a discussion that is not recorded.

SWISSUES is a partnership with CIPS Switzerland that is open to a global audience and is free. To receive updates and reminders to future SWISSUES and other CIPS Switzerland events, subscribe at https://www.forvm.online/newsletter/