by Janice Marquardt | Jul 8, 2025 | Definitions, e-Auctions, Savings
On a call with a client today, they asked me how a “lump sum” bid is different from a “unit price” bid. This led to a larger discussion about risk vs. cost in a supply chain and this client team said to me, “You should write an article about this topic.” So here we...
by Janice Marquardt | Jun 24, 2025 | Creative Solutions, e-Auctions
When I tell people e-auctions are a negotiation tool in the toolbox, they often go straight to “e-auctions are a hammer.” But a hammer doesn’t have flexibility or grace, it can basically do one thing. I say e-auctions are a chainsaw. If that evokes a slightly visceral...
by Janice Marquardt | May 27, 2025 | Contracts, Processes
I frequently see companies early in their supply chain maturity journey using blanket purchase orders almost like a “light contract.” At first I found this somewhat odd, but for a company with a small supply chain, it makes sense. Blanket orders don’t require nearly...
by Janice Marquardt | Apr 29, 2025 | Supply Chain Career
I’ve been hesitant to write this week’s article because it feels scary and vulnerable. In the current U.S. political climate, “diversity” is an incendiary word. But it’s also something that comes up time and again in a supply chain – not just within the people...
by Janice Marquardt | Apr 22, 2025 | e-Auctions, Processes
The what-about-ism in e-auctions runs strong, and nowhere does it run stronger than the question “What about if an e-auction becomes a race to the bottom?” In the early 2000s, e-auctions often did become a race to the bottom. There was no Request for Proposal (RFP)...
