For some time now we’ve been carpet bombed with lofty tomes from so-called ‘Thought Leaders’ about the impending Digital Era, and the impact of AI and advanced analytics on business. Being of a more practical nature, and recognising that a digitized supply chain will add a large amount of value to businesses and their customers, we are instead asking ourselves: “But is business prepared and ready for the challenges this transformation will bring?”
Across all industry sectors our clients express a real desire to become more ‘digitally savvy’. Their enthusiasm knows no bounds in some instances, as they seek our help and support in building and executing their strategies. In our opinion, Procurement and Supply Chain professionals will play a big part in such transformations, so finding and attracting the right Talent is essential. But in the increasingly complex world of business and Talent, inevitably there are complications. Why? Because there are two distinct types of organisations to contend with, both of which have very different drivers. Firstly, there are those long-standing organisations with legacy systems, operations and deeply entrenched, almost institutionalised, cultures. Such companies are looking to make a significant leap forward by embracing all things digital. Secondly, you have newer, younger companies with less heritage (or baggage) who are confident in the digital world and are more agile and adaptive in their approach.
So what does this mean from a Talent perspective? Unsurprisingly, high calibre digital Talent that can lead/manage digital transformation is exceptionally hard to find (and when you can find them, they are in very high demand!) You then have the added complexity of identifying which candidates are able to work in which types of environment. At Norman Broadbent Group we are able to help clients confront these challenges. For example, within the Supply Chain & Procurement space, we collaborate with colleagues in our Research & Insight Practice to help a client understand the Talent Landscape. By conducting a thorough ‘deep-dive’ into the various relevant Talent pools, we can help a client understand where the Talent is, how much it will cost, whether their EVP is compelling, how to engage with it, and, ultimately, whether to hire. By conducting early-stage due-diligence to de-risk any hiring process we can help ensure every hire – from a single appointment through to team-build – is a success.
If you would like to find out more about how we can help you, or discuss a specific assignment, please do not hesitate to contact James Peskett on +44 (0) 207 484 0000 or via james.peskett@normanbroadbent.com for an initial confidential discussion.