The Importance of Humanity in a Machine-Orientated World
Technology has the power to support so much of what we do on a day-to-day basis enabling systems to thrive and processes to be more productive, and in the post-pandemic world, technology is shaping more and more of our lives. From remote working to AI systems that can predict cost and scheduling challenges across infrastructure, it can be argued that there is a modern gold rush as organisations seek to leverage emerging technologies to solve business challenges.
And in many areas, that approach is successful, but Lidiar Group’s Albina Bezdetko warns that in the rush to trial and test the latest technologies, the humanity that powers relationships must not be forgotten.
In my role, I use technology every day, we all do, and we rightly rely on technology to support the projects we work on for our clients. But there is one thing technology can’t support: human relationships. Alongside technological advancements, there is a growing recognition of the importance of fostering strong relationships and developing soft skills. The way we conduct business has fundamentally changed. The traditional view of procurement’s value has been increased to one which is more intricate and nuanced.
Pressures placed on global supply chains create uncertainties. This highlights the importance of procurement to focus on high-value activities to increase trust, reliability, and resilience in supply chains by restructuring the supply base, effectively managing supply chain risks and broadening value chains.
A Place for Tech and Space for Relationships
In pursuit of efficiency gains, striking a delicate balance between technology and human interactions is crucial for nurturing strong relationships. The focus should be on prioritising relationships while leveraging technology that ensures a strong user experience which is essential for success.
For example, by using automation and AI to handle administrative tasks, procurement professionals focus on their critical skills and strengths, nurturing relationships with others based on their real-world knowledge, experience and capability.
This strength helps to manage supply chain risks, as strong people skills such as effective communication, negotiation, active listening, coaching, advising skills, cultural awareness, and teamwork cannot be replaced by AI and systems.
Instead, humanity creates relationships based on time and trust as players in the supply chain are open to sharing and supporting each other.
It must not be underestimated that people and their involvement in the procurement process must be prioritised.
Learning From the Past for a Successful Future
The events of the last 2-3 years highlight the importance of effective change management as employees, suppliers, and, most importantly, customers, need guidance and support in uncertain and fearful situations.
The value procurement professionals bring to the change process is through exposure to up-to-date supply market and technology trends, supplier innovations, government legislation, external non-financial pressures, and key commercial, geopolitical, and economic topics. All supported by sharing knowledge and supporting those we know and trust.
We believe that this necessitates a shift in our approach to procurement and asks us about the future of procurement.
The automation of processes and support systems means that transactional tasks previously performed by people are being replaced, and this has a benefit as it allows us, as professionals, to focus on what we do well, adding value.
So the future of procurement will be one where humanity and relationships are the driving strategic force, underpinned by technology that adds value to systems and processes, improves productivity and frees up procurement professionals to examine trends, gain a deeper understanding of markets, stay abreast of emerging issues and geopolitical movements, and translate the world they see around them into practical, usable information that enriches project performance.
Are you ready to take the next step?
Lidiar Group possesses extensive expertise in developing trusting relationships, thereby greatly enhancing the success of any project. Early engagement gives our clients the capability to leverage our proficiency and experience in building strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders, critical to your project’s success. With our guidance, your organisation is best prepared to navigate complex relationship dynamics, establish effective communication channels, and foster collaborative partnerships.