FAQs
Q. What is the Procurement Intelligence Unit?
A.The Procurement Intelligence Unit (PIU) delivers the fuel for procurement growth, providing the independent market intelligence and research necessary for smart operational and executive-level decision making.
Q. What are the objectives of the PIU?
A. The objective of the PIU is to be at the forefront of innovation in the profession, acting as the source for critical market information, trends and best practice, supporting our clients executive and operational decision making.
Q. What is 'procurement intelligence'?
A. Procurement Intelligence is defined as the skills, tools and practices used to help a business acquire an enhanced understanding of its commercial context to support better buying and sourcing decision-making.
Q. How does the PIU differ from its competitors?
A. The PIU brings a wealth of knowledge, understanding and strong corporate relations from within the procurement, sourcing and supply chain space. This experience enables the PIU to differentiate through its focus on real life examples of best practice, its smart categorisation of market intelligence from within a procurement context, its focus on new and existing concepts at both an executive and operational level, its pragmatic and concise content delivery and perhaps most importantly, by building a research agenda based on the needs of its clients.
Q. How is the PIU team structured and resourced?
A. The PIU management team as well as a team of in-house, client-facing analysts are based at the PIU's global headquarters in London. In addition to the in-house team, the PIU utilises offshore capabilities through an outsourced analyst team, who provide tactical and strategic support to the London team.
Q. Where does the PIU get its information from?
A. In addition to working with its subscriber base and the wider procurement community to conduct primary research, the PIU also gathers breaking procurement and industry news and strategic information by examining the procurement and supply chain press, global news sites, market research portals and search engines. All relevant information affecting procurement operations is consolidated, analysed and categorised through daily Insight pieces or longer term Strategy documents.
Q. How does the PIU deliver its content?
A. The PIU delivers its content through its fully categorised and searchable web portal in addition to a host of face-to-face and online events and activities focusing on key topics and concepts.
Q. What type of content does the PIU web portal deliver?
A. The web portal hosts daily market intelligence, trends and data through its 'Insight' section and Operational and Executive level reports, case studies and benchmarking exercises through its 'Strategy' section. This information is delivered through standard articles, presentations and reports, but also through multimedia content such as webinars, podcasts and video.
Q. What is shared research?
A. Shared research refers to research and information that provides value to more than one entity. Rather than multiple organisations undertaking market and topic research for essentially the same data, the PIU can conduct this research and share it back across the subscriber base, critically saving time, money and resource. Subscribers can also share their own experiences and approaches in return for the learnings from a broader group of peers across a range of topics and activities.
Q. Typically, what kind of information is classified as Insight?
A. Insight focuses on consolidating and analysing daily market occurrences and how they affect procurement operations. Typically this might include an examination of market issues affecting specific suppliers, companies, industries and regions, as well as focusing on specific economic and purchasing indicators.
Q. Typically, what kind of information is classified as Strategy?
A. Strategy focuses on detailed overviews and analyses of topics, concepts and markets. Typically this might include supplier market reports, regional or industry reports, executive level studies focusing on key topics and new concepts, as well as case studies examining real life examples of problem solving or best practice.
Q. Who can access PIU services?
A. Annual subscription to the PIU is currently open to corporate organisations only. A single, company-wide login is provided so that access is readily available across the entire procurement team and for any relevant stakeholders.
Q. Why can't I access PIU services?
A. You will need access to a corporate subscriber login to access PIU services. Simply contact the PIU to find out if your organisation is currently subscribed.