Dateline: Sunday June 27 – FIFA World Cup Round of 16: Germany 4 England 1 Full Story on Lampard’s goal that never was. Replay of Lampard’s goal that never was.
Dateline: Monday June 28 – “FIFA president Sepp Blatter has long been on record as against using video replay to review calls. ‘We obviously will not open any debate. This is obviously not the place for this,’ FIFA director of communications Nicolas Maingot said Monday. Full Story
Dateline: Tuesday June 29 – “Upon further review, soccer’s governing body now agrees that something must be done about the blatant missed calls that have infuriated fans and players alike at the World Cup… ‘It is obvious that after the experience so far in this World Cup it would be nonsense to not reopen the file of technology at the business meeting of the International FA Board in July,’ said Sepp Blatter.” Full Story
Dateline: Wednesday June 30 – Anyone watching World Cup play from South Africa this weekend month should be aghast at the number of missed calls by the referees on possible goals and other potentially game-changing plays. FIFA’s knee-jerk reaction (above, on Monday) that defended the status quo was a complete denial of an existing technology to the detriment of its stakeholders (teams) and customers (fans). Their reversal on Tuesday was an acknowledgement that the technology exists and that rival leagues (like the NFL) are using it to their great advantage.
I am reminded of the early days of selling supply management solutions to the defenders of the status quo. I am reminded of implementing the solutions over the wishes of the defenders of the status quo. I am reminded of trying to train the defenders of the status quo. I am reminded of the generally poor adoption of supply management solutions at the average enterprise. These defenders of the status quo are denying technology to the detriment of their customers and stakeholders. Last decade, they seemed to win more than they lost. In this decade, they will be big losers.
People get ready, there’s a (visibility) train a-comin’
- Do you have spend visibility? If not, the technology exists. Rival companies are using it to their great advantage. I’ll say it again: spend visibility is the foundational element to operational excellence in procurement.
- Do you have visibility into sourcing processes and award decisions? If not, the technology exists. Rival companies are using it to their great advantage. I’ll say it again: eSourcing 2.0
- Do you have visibility into procurement contracting processes and how do you ensure that the final terms, clauses, and pricing in an executed contract are what was negotiated? If not, the technology exists. Rival companies are using it to their great advantage. I’ve said it before: procurement contracts are the culmination of the entirety of your sourcing efforts. Make those efforts pay off in full.
- Do you have visibility into your supplier’s mandatory certifications? Are they in force? If not, the technology exists. Rival companies are using it to their great advantage. I’ve said it before: supplier information management is one of the hottest, fastest growing areas in the supply management space. You should be thinking about and planning for this area.
- Do you have visibility into your off-contract spend? If not, the technology exists. Rival companies are using it to their great advantage. I’ve shown it before: eProcurement, the technology granddaddy, yields a big ROI for enterprises that can drive adoption and enable suppliers.
- Do you have visibility into how accounts payable can impact working capital and make you a hero to your CFO? If not, the technology exists. Rival companies are using it to their great advantage. I’ve said it before: ePayables presents a huge opportunity for the average enterprise (I have a serious ePayables itch that I’m getting ready to scratch in July).
For those of you struggling to make the case for automation and its by-product, visibility, keep pushing, let me know if I can help you directly. My upcoming research will be also be geared to help you, directly.
But for those of you dragging your heels at adopting the supply management solutions already deployed within your enterprise, “you don’t need no baggage, you just get on board,” or pack your bags and just get on out.
People get ready, there’s a (visibility) train a-comin’
Thanks for another great month, I’m getting ready for the next one. Keep spreading the word…. Now, Joss & Jeff, take us home!
