Howard Spencer

If you lead procurement and need to secure budget this year, read this. Procurement leaders face rising pressure to modernize, especially with AI. But approval often stalls due to unclear ROI, poor internal alignment, or legacy resistance. This guide gives CPOs and procurement leaders a clear playbook to: 🔹 Define problems in executive language 🔹 Map ROI and risk in real business terms 🔹 Build alignment across IT, finance, and legal 📘 Download The CPO’s Guide to Technology Investment Approval now: https://hubs.la/Q03yLYm90

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Everyone thinks procurement is just sourcing, negotiating, and signing contracts. That’s the tip of the iceberg. Under the surface? Chaos. Missed deadlines. Supplier delays. ERP headaches. Budget pressure. Compliance checks. Vendor disputes. Endless emails. Every day is a test of resilience, problem-solving, and risk management. Here’s the truth for leaders: procurement isn’t a cost center. It’s a risk radar, a crisis navigator, and a deal-maker. Every overlooked detail can ripple across your entire business. The best teams don’t just manage contracts—they make the invisible visible. Support them, streamline processes, and watch your projects sail smoother. #Procurement #SupplyChain #Leadership #CPO #Negotiation #RiskManagement #Resilience #Strategy #Compliance #DigitalTransformation

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Dallas-Fort Worth is again expected to be the nation’s hottest real estate market for investment and development. D-FW led the field in a scorecard of metro areas that property executives expect to prosper in 2026. It’s the second straight year that North Texas has topped the PriceWaterhouse Coopers and the Urban Land Institute’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate report.

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If your procurement team feels like firefighters, you’re doing it wrong. Prevention beats panic, every single time. Procurement teams spend way too much time firefighting instead of strategizing. Last-minute approvals, scrambling for supplier documents, tail spend emergencies, or pulling all-nighters before audits. (Let’s be real, it’s not strategy, it’s survival. 😅) The fix is prevention, not more firefighting 👇 ✅ Clean workflows & clear approval paths ✅ Standardized onboarding checklists ✅ Proactive supplier performance reviews ✅ Automated dashboards & reporting ✅ Early alignment with stakeholders When procurement shifts from firefighting to prevention, teams stop being crisis managers and start being value creators. That’s how you move from “saving the day” to shaping the future. 👉 Which one describes your team more right now: firefighters or strategists? Repost 🔁 or follow us for daily procurement ideas that make an impact. PS: Stop wasting hours on theory. With Procurement Tactics, your team learns through practical, role-based training that delivers real strategic value.

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Tech investments are transforming the Texas economy, often via companies from California in search of lower taxes and fewer regulations on land use and labor. “In the end, it’s all about the cost of doing business, and the cost of doing business is just lower in Texas,” said John Diamond, an economist at Rice University in Houston. Having dinner in downtown Austin “is like being in Silicon Valley circa 2005” because of the young and educated tech workers there, said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at consulting firm RSM, who lives in the state capital. 🔗 Read more: https://on.wsj.com/3XDdGo7

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Stop guessing, start strategizing! Master Your Procurement Budget with This 7-Phase Framework Phase 1-2: Foundation & Planning - Analyze historical spending, set clear goals, and categorize expenses strategically Phase 3-4: Market Intelligence & Risk Management - Evaluate vendors, understand market conditions, and build contingency plans Phase 5-6: Execution & Performance - Plan negotiations, invest in technology, develop your team, and ensure compliance Phase 7: Communication & Review - Foster collaboration, monitor progress, and document everything Perfect for procurement professionals looking to create more strategic, data-driven budgets that align with business objectives and drive real value. #Procurement #Budgeting #SupplyChain #Finance #BusinessStrategy

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🔍 The difference between procurement and acquisition isn’t just a matter of terminology. It shapes who owns decisions, how fast your teams move, and how much risk you take on. 🔹Businesses use procurement to buy what they need and keep daily operations running. 🔹Governments use acquisition to manage the full life cycle of programs, projects, or services. 🔹Finance teams use acquisitions when they buy companies or major assets. Different goals. Different rules. Different speed. Mix them up, and you get confusion, missed steps, and endless approval ping-pong. Nail the terminology, and your processes run cleaner and faster. 🔗 Here’s the full article to dispel all the confusion: https://hubs.la/Q03YC1Ml0 #Procurement #Acquisition

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Want to Take Your Procurement Work to the Next Level? It’s Time to Think Strategically, Not Traditionally! If you’re working in procurement or looking to improve your team’s performance, the first step is understanding Strategic Procurement. It's not just about sending out RFQs and calling it a day — it's a comprehensive process aimed at selecting the most suitable supplier and building a long-term partnership. 💡 Before approving any new service, ask yourself: Will this add real value to the customer? Can the company actually utilize it effectively? Is it financially sustainable? Do we have the right technology to implement it? And most importantly — do we really need to do it? If you're not actively working on innovation, you’ll find yourself stuck in the same repetitive routine — and that means missing out on genuine opportunities for growth and improvement. 🧠 Want accurate supplier evaluations? Involve End Users and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) early in the assessment process, and make sure your evaluation criteria are flexible to adapt to each unique case. 📌 Use the right tools at the right time: RFI (Request for Information) 👉 To understand suppliers’ capabilities. RFP (Request for Proposal) 👉 To receive detailed proposals. RFQ (Request for Quotation) 👉 When you know exactly what you want and need clear pricing. 🤝 Transparency and continuous communication with suppliers and stakeholders are the foundation of successful procurement processes. ⏱ Utilize Bid Management Tools to save time, minimize errors, and enhance collaboration within your procurement team. 🎯 Finally, maintain ongoing supplier relationships, conduct regular performance evaluations, and work together on joint solutions to overcome challenges. ✅ When you implement this approach, you'll realize that procurement isn't just about numbers and contracts — it’s a strategic pillar of your company’s growth and sustainability.

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If you think procurement is just about sending purchase orders and requesting quotes, you’re missing out on a golden opportunity to elevate your business. Let’s dive into why procurement is so much more than a checkbox activity and how you can harness its full potential: 1. Involve Your Procurement Team Early Don’t wait until budgets and specifications are set in stone. Engage your procurement team from the get-go! They have a knack for spotting risks, uncovering smarter alternatives, and suggesting the perfect timing for purchases. 2. Tap Into Their Market Insights Curious about rising prices or lengthening lead times? Your procurement experts have their finger on the pulse of market trends. Leverage their knowledge to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions. 3. Encourage Them to Challenge Ideas When your procurement team questions your proposals, remember—they’re not being difficult; they’re protecting your bottom line. Their insights can drive the entire project toward success. 4. Foster Collaboration Over Last-Minute Requests Instead of sidelining your procurement team with urgent requests, make them your partners. Working collaboratively will lead to better deals and healthier supplier relationships, avoiding the pitfalls of hasty decisions. 5. Prioritize More Than Just the Bottom Line Price is important, but your procurement strategy should encompass quality, service, sustainability, and security of supply. A broader focus will enhance your overall business performance. Think of your procurement team as both a pressure valve and a radar system. When leveraged wisely, they won’t just save you money—they’ll help your business thrive. Embrace them as strategic allies, and watch how they transform your operations!

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Metro Houston home sales are up 1.2% year-to-date, with inventory reaching levels not seen since 2007. Prices remain stable, giving buyers more options and stronger footing in the market. 📈 Read the full report: https://ow.ly/V3yE50Wa5bL

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Crow Holdings Development's team in Houston has teamed up with CBRE to lease a new industrial development, Rushcreek Business Park, in Houston. “We know the Houston market well, and the North Houston industrial submarket in particular, having delivered two successful projects there already,” said Cory Driskill, Managing Director of Crow Holdings Development. “As the metro continues to expand outward in all directions, this location takes on infill characteristics and offers companies direct access to major population and business centers as well as robust labor pools.” Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/ggVF3Jqg CBRE's press release here: https://lnkd.in/gyDStZUN

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