Supply Value has conducted research into key trends and developments in the field of procurement for the coming year in collaboration with several purchasing organization. In the study 551 respondents have participated. 51% of respondents are from Europe, 33% from North America and 11% from Asia. The Netherlands is the largest group with 32% of respondents, followed by the USA with 30% and Belgium with 11%. Purchasing Trends 2015 The top three purchasing trends for 2015 are: 1) More attention to supply chain optimization 2) More focus on cost reduction 3) More need for flexibility Trend 1: Supply Chain Optimization The purchasing trend "more attention to supply chain optimization" has risen from eighth place (score 3.8 on a scale of 1 to 5) in 2014 to first place (score 4.15) in 2015. Supply chain optimization is seen in today's market as the way to further to achieve improvements. To achieve supply chain optimization, organizations need to work better together. Organizations need to look at the entire value chain and ensure that information and knowledge within the chain is shared optimally. Trend 2: Cost Reduction The purchasing trend "more focus on cost savings" (no. 3 in 2014) is again seen in 2015 as one of the most important purchasing trends. This year, this trend has risen to location 2. Many organizations are looking for ways to improve their bottom line. Increasing sales is becoming increasingly difficult as the market growth in many markets is very limited. This look more and more organizations to be able to further reduce costs. Purchasing is seen as the ideal partner to realize cost savings. Trend 3: Flexibility The purchasing trend "more need for flexibility" (no. 1 in 2014) is also a major trend in 2015. However, this trend has dropped to number three for 2015. In the current market organizations are not keen on volume obligations for a long period due to a large uncertainty in market demand. Organizations look for ways to reduce their risk, but still be able to negotiate delivery guarantees. Recommendations for 2015 Based upon the top 3 trends for 2015, Supply Value recommends the following three actions in 2015: 1) Competence-based partner selection 2) Joint saving initiatives 3) Proactively share expectations For an explanation per recommendation please visit www.supplyvalue.nl/purchasing-trends-2015

1. Supply Value | www.supplyvalue.nl/purchasing-trends-2015
Purchasing Trends 2015

2. 2
Preparation
Identification of new
trends and developments
Distribution via
Research- and
Distribution partners and
contacts of Supply Value
Data collection and
analysis
Data collection via
online survey
551 respondents
Analysis of the data
Report distribution
Report and papers
Press release
Presentations
Evaluation
Research process

3. Asia
11%
North
America
33%
Europe
51%
Other
5%
3
Total respondents
551 complete responses
world wide
Respondents per
continent
51% Europe
33% North America
11% Asia
Respondents
Respondents per country
31% Netherlands
30% USA
11% Belgium
31%30%
11%
3.5%3%2.5%2% 2%
15%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35

4. Top 3 Purchasing Trends 2015
4
3. Flexibility
2. Cost reduction
1. Supply chain optimization
Top 3 Purchasing Trends 2015

5. 3. Cost reduction
2. Contractmanagement
1. Flexibility
Top 3 Purchasing Trends 2015 and 2014
5
3. Flexibility
2. Cost reduction
1. Supply chain optimization
Top 3 Purchasing Trends 2014 Top 3 Purchasing Trends 2015

6. Top 10 Purchasing Trends 2015
3,76
3,81
3,83
3,85
3,88
3,88
3,92
3,99
4,01
4,15
2,5 3 3,5 4 4,5
10. More focus on risk management
9. More focus on Total Cost of Ownership
8. Digitalization of the purchasing process (E-
procurement)
7. More need for transparency in the supply chain
6. Focus on efficiency
5. Increase of supplier involvement
4. More focus on contract management
3. More need for flexibility
2. More focus on cost reduction
1. More attention to supply chain optimization
Score 1-5
1: Very unimportant, 2:Unimportant, 3: Neutral, 4: Important, 5: Very important
2015 2014
6

7. Optimism for 2015
7
5
32
18
32
13
0
15
26
40
19
5
14
31
27
23
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
very
pessimistic
pessimistic
neutral
optimistic
very
optimistic
2015
2014
2013
% respondents (very) optimistic or (very) pessimistic for upcoming year

8. Importance of operational performance indicators
8
3,33
3,43
3,74
3,81
3,97
4,33
4,16
4,28
3,44
3,61
3,84
3,90
3,99
4,40
4,41
4,57
0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3 3,5 4 4,5 5
Quality of the product
Customer satisfaction
Delivery reliability
Operating expenses
Delivery speed
Handling of complaints
Volume flexibility
Confirmation of orders
Score 1-5
1: Very unimportant, 2:Unimportant, 3: Neutral
4: Important, 5: Very important
2015 2014

9. Stage in Keough’s Purchasing maturity model
9
7%
14%
55%
21%
3%4%
13%
56%
23%
4%5%
20%
36%
29%
10%
% respondents per purchasing maturity stage
2013 2014 2015

10. Supply Value’s recommendations for 2015
1. Competence-based partner selection
2. Joint saving initiatives
3. Proactively share expectations
For detail information per
recommendation, please
visit our website.
Click here.
10
3. Flexibility
2. Cost reduction
1. Supply chain optimization
Top 3 Purchasing Trends 2015

11. Contact
Ramon Abbenhuis
Consultant
+31(0)655833180
r.abbenhuis@supplyvalue.nl
Menno van Drunen
Managing partner
+31(0)624516244
m.drunen@supplyvalue.nl
11

12. About Supply Value
Supply Value makes organizations work smarter with suppliers. This allows them to make more
profit and create value at less cost and risk.
We do this by helping organizations to formulate and implement sourcing strategies, professionalize
the procurement function and optimizing the value chain.
For more information see www.supplyvalue.nl
Client
satisfaction
8.4
Netto
Promotor
Score
40%
ANNO
2007
Employee
satisfaction
8.6
100% Client
recommen-
dation

13. Research- and Distribution partners
Research partners:
Distribution partners:
13