Why is e-procurement so difficult?
According to recent research, the biggest barriers to adopting e-procurement solutions are the perceived expenses and a preference for legacy systems. Zycus conducted a study in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), which showed that procurement professionals see technology as a useful business tool which is able to improve effectiveness, personal performance and productivity. The study also found that the mean driver for companies to implement e-procurement system is a desire to improve internal visibility and integration. According to the research, the main challenges to adopting e-procurement systems are issues in change management, the demand for a user-friendly environment, staff preferences for legacy systems, a lack of time to learn the new system, perceived loss of control, and high costs.
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Shipping- safer than ever
According to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) third annual Safety and Shipping Review 2015, last year was the safest year in shipping in the last 10 years. The report analyzed shipping losses of over 100 gross tonnes. According to the research, losses declined by 32% in the past year and were below the 10-year loss average of 127. Moreover, since 2005, shipping losses have declined by 50%. Two maritime regions incurred a third of 2014’s total losses: More than a third of total losses in 2014 were in two maritime regions: South China, Indo China, Indonesia and the Philippines (17 ships) and Japan, Korea and North China (12 ships).
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Slave labour in seafood supply chain
The Associated Press conducted a one year investigation in Benjina, Thailand, during which more than 40 former and current slaves were interviewed. The investgation found that a number of workers on fish boats were paid very little or not paid at all. The seafood, caught by slave workers, is delivered to a number of factories, fish markets, and cold storage plants. The tainted produce is then mixed up with other fish at a number of sites in Thailand, and then shipped to the US.
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