We are delighted to announce the newest addition to our Board, Anthony Carey. Anthony's impressive track record on Boards combined with his wealth of experience in the financial services sectors promise to bring invaluable insights and guidance to Pulse as we continue to scale up our business.
Anthony Carey commented: “I am excited to have the opportunity to join the Board and work with the team at Pulse Market. The company is well positioned for success as it continues its journey on bringing innovative solutions to effectively manage the challenges of supply chain vendors whilst also assisting clients in addressing their “outside in” Sustainable Scope 3 data efforts.”
Anthony Carey's career has spanned three decades in international banking. He has held prominent roles at Statestreet and JPMorgan in both “C suite”and board director positions. With a strong foundation in Executive and Independent Non-Executive capacities, he has contributed his expertise across various European jurisdictions.
Furthermore, Anthony's commitment to the industry is demonstrated by his past involvement as a board member and Chairperson of the Dublin Funds Industry Association (now Irish Funds). He is also a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a member of both Institute Of Directors In Ireland and the Irish Funds Directors Association.
Pulse Market CEO, Michael O’Shea added: “I'm thrilled to welcome Anthony Carey to the Pulse Market Board, a pivotal moment in our journey. Anthony's remarkable leadership experience as COO at State Street EMEA adds invaluable financial and strategic expertise essential to advancing our venture. With him on board, we're poised to drive innovation in procurement and supplier management software, all while championing responsible business practices."
Here is a snapshot of Anthony Carey's impressive career:
Anthony Carey's extensive background in banking, fintech, and various board roles makes him a valuable addition to our team. His knowledge and leadership will play a crucial role in Pulse Market's continued success.
We're looking forward to working with Anthony and appreciate the fresh insights and expertise he brings to our team. Meet the rest of the team.
For every successful procurement project, there are as many or more unsuccessful projects that run into common pitfalls. The critical success factor to engage suppliers effectively is to identify and avoid common mistakes early on in the process. In this article we identify 5 mistakes to avoid and why it matters.
Consider this scenario - you've been asked by your boss to put work out to tender which involves engaging existing suppliers and reaching out to new possibilities. As procurement is not your day job so you want to move forward quickly and get on with your day to day job. Yes? However, you know taking your time and doing it correctly will save you a lot of headaches further down the line. That’s why understanding and mitigating common supplier engagement blunders is paramount for your procurement success.
Let's explore the 5 mistakes to avoid when engaging suppliers; recognising them can help ensure you stay on track and reward the contract to the supplier that is right for your business (and avoid bumpy relationships down the line).
When asking for proposals or information, it's important to provide the right amount of detail. Too little information can lead to an inadequate solution, while too much detail can limit creativity. Striking the right balance allows solution providers to showcase their abilities while also encouraging innovation.
Leaving the specification process solely to technical staff can result in overlooked usability and process flow elements. User satisfaction is crucial for a successful solution. So involving users from various departments ensures better buy-in from all stakeholders for the final choice.
Don't just focus on the product or service solution itself. Instead evaluate the implementation and support aspects as well. Without skilled implementers or proper support, the project could face delays or not meet expectations. Building strong relationships with suppliers is key to long-term success.
Don't base your decision solely on the initial price. Consider the overall cost of ownership over several years, including hardware, maintenance, and training expenses. Understanding the TCO is essential for making an informed purchase decision.
Don't overlook future needs and technological advancements. Make sure the product or service solution can adapt to changes and integrate emerging technologies. Scalability is crucial for staying competitive and avoiding costly re-implementation.
By recognising these common mistakes and taking proactive steps to address them, businesses can improve their procurement processes and make better decisions that align with their long-term goals and provide maximum value.
Discover our Procurement Platform designed by procurement professionals - loved by buyers and suppliers. Book a Pulse Procurement demo today here
Circular economy is the hottest topic in sustainability right now. So what is the circular economy?
Unlike the dominant linear economy of a ‘take, make, consume and bin’ the circular economy revolves around three principles:
Circularity is mostly touched on in conversations with nods of the heads agreeing that it is the right thing to do. Today, not enough businesses are embracing the circular economy.
The good news is there are businesses leading the way. Organisations like Lenovo computers, Volvo cars, Ikea and Adidas are leaving behind the destructive linear economy and embracing the circular economy to reduce consumption of raw materials, carbon emissions and reduce waste.
A faster transition requires a systematic shift in the way businesses think and design products following the three principles outlined above. It also requires a fundamental shift in the way individuals consume products and services to influence change. According to European Parliament every European consumes and average of 14 tonnes of raw materials per annum and produces 5 tonnes of waste.*
*https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/video/x_V007-0034
Businesses are held back from making the shift either because they don’t know where to begin or fear the short term costs to shift business operations and processes.
Instead, now is the time to think differently - look to the long term savings for the business and of course the safety of the people and our planet.
From the all important environmental perspective it reduces resource extraction, lowers levels of pollution and minimises wastage.
For the businesses embracing the circular economy they are experiencing numerous benefits such as:
However, achieving a circular economy requires collaborative efforts from governments, businesses, and individuals. A company can’t work on its own to achieve a circular economy. Achieving a successful transition to a circular economy requires collaborative efforts from governments, businesses and individuals. By considering each third –party partnership carefully and ensuring suppliers share the same sustainability goals they can work together to transition faster. That’s where your procurement team can play an influential role as they armed with the knowledge and tools to select suppliers that meet sustainability standards.
Are you ready to ignite your career and fuel our growth? We are thrilled to say we are hiring a Head of Sales, who will lead our business to dizzying new heights. As Pulse Market continues to expand, we're looking for a dynamic leader who is ready to shape their own future and the future of Pulse Market.
Pulse Market is an early-stage tech startup that has already attracted serious investment and talent. Our organisation is growing rapidly, with a talented team spanning across Europe, from Dublin to Budapest. With the addition of our new Head of Sales, we are poised to accelerate our growth and reach new horizons.
As a senior member of Pulse, you'll experience an exciting opportunity to create, shape, and head up your own team, driving Pulse’s commercial success. We're looking for someone who thrives on challenges and is determined to push the boundaries to create a truly global enterprise.
The Head of Sales position at Pulse Market is more than just a job. It's a chance to make a significant impact on a rapidly expanding SAAS platform with the opportunity of equity participation.
Joining Pulse Market means joining an ambitious and supportive team. We embrace change and evolution, constantly pushing ourselves to be better. Our focus is on building a solution that not only makes our clients' experiences great but also brings joy. We believe in the power of collaboration, and together, we strive to exceed expectations and create a positive impact.
At Pulse Market, we're not just building a company; we're building a community. We love what we do, and we enjoy bringing others on our journey. As our new Head of Sales, you'll be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are passionate about their work and are excited to make a difference.
So, are you ready to take the leap and join our incredible team? Are you prepared to embrace challenges, drive sales, and play a vital role in our growth story? If you're looking for a thrilling opportunity to shape the future of a fast-growing startup, we want to hear from you!
Apply today, and let's embark on this exciting journey together.
Download the Head of Sales Job Description now and apply today by emailing a covering letter and CV to Sarah at jobs@pulsemarket.com
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 5.5 million businesses that drive innovation and job creation in the UK economy. But they also have a significant impact on supply chain carbon emissions, making them a target for accountability under Scope 3 regulation.
To address their own indirect carbon emissions, Tier 1 organisations are turning to their suppliers - the majority are SMEs - to account and report their carbon emissions. Consquently winning business in a net-zero emissions world presents challenges for smaller businesses, but it's not impossible to overcome, in fact it can present opportunities. In fact SMEs are getting higher up the prefered supplier list because they can demonstrate sustainability credentials unlike their larger competitors.
In this blog, we'll share 4 key considerations for SMEs and procurement professionals eager to bid for business and win by showcasing their sustainability efforts.
The first step for SMEs competing for tenders in a net-zero world is to understand the tender requirements. Governments and large private sector organisations are increasingly prioritising sustainability and emissions reduction in their procurement processes. This means that companies completing an RFP should evidence a clear understanding of the tender requirements and how they align with sustainability goals.
To compete effectively in a net-zero world, companies of all sizes should integrate sustainability into their corporate strategy and demonstrate how it aligns with their brand and cultural values. Begin by developing a clear plan with sustainability targets and a plan to achieve them. For those struggling with resource can work with industry associations and sustainability consultants who can help tailor the sustainability plan for the business and differentiate it from competitors. Another factor in the strategy should be to complete sustainability certifications or access partnerships with sustainability-focused organisations to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
Innovation drives sustainability, and SMEs can leverage their agility and flexibility to develop and implement innovative sustainable solutions - faster than monolithic organisations. Developing products, services, and business models that prioritise sustainability can be a strong differentiator. SMEs can collaborate with your industry peers and suppliers to drive change or government bodies and universities to access resources for research and development.
Technology is critical for enabling sustainability. SMEs can leverage it to reduce their carbon footprint and compete for tenders with an element of carbon emission accounting. Adopting energy-efficient technologies, implementing smart building systems, or using data analytics to optimize energy consumption are examples. Highlight your switch to virtual meetings and remote work that reduces travel emissions while also consider renewable energy sources can power operations.
By understanding requirements, building a sustainability strategy, focusing on innovation, and leveraging technology, SMEs can compete effectively for net-zero tenders. SMEs can help contribute to the transition to a net-zero economy while driving innovation and job creation
In conclusion, SMEs face unique challenges in competing for tenders in a business world focussing on driving down Scope 3 emissions. By gaining a closer understanding of the tender requirements, integrating sustainability into your corporate strategy, focusing on innovation, and leveraging technology, you can position your organisation as leaders in sustainability and compete effectively for tenders.
With the right approach, SMEs can contribute to the global transition to a net-zero economy while also benefiting from faster growth by attracting new customers who admire businesses with strong sustainable credentials.
Takeaway Tip: Learn more about Scope 1, 2 and 3 in the Scope of Sustainability
How Pulse Market can help:
We’ll help you track and manage Scope 3 data, decarbonise your value chain, and develop a transition plan that balances reaching your net zero goals while remaining a profitable, successful business.
Book a demo to discover more about our Procurement or Sustainability Solutions.
Attention sustainability consultants! Are you passionate about making a positive impact on businesses and the environment?
Join our discovery call with Gavin Tweedie Co-Founder of Net Zero Nation on 11 of May. It's an opportunity to share ideas with your peers and identify ways to engage SMES and maximise your impact on people and the planet.
Together, we'll discuss principles and barriers, ignite passion and action, and explore sustainability reporting, supply chain management, and data gathering. We'll also delve into collaboration, SMEs vs. large enterprises, and best practices for growing your business.
Expect to gain insights into successes and trends, and connect with like-minded consultants. Let's reduce carbon footprints and accelerate clients' sustainability journey. We can do more together than apart. Join us now!
Sustainability consultants who are passionate about making a positive impact on businesses and the environment.
Event Details
📅 Date: 3pm on Thursday, 11 May 2023 on Teams.
Spaces are limited - so get your meeting link now by emailing sarah.shannon@pulsemarket.com
The acronym buzzing around at our recent event, in Edinburgh, was V.U.C.A. If you are unfamiliar with V.U.C.A it stands for Volatile - Uncertain - Complex - Ambiguous. Which fits the turbulent times we are experiencing day to day. In today’s pressurised environment a new breed of procurement leader is emerging. Procurement leaders that are spearheading a new approach to procurement to help navigate an uncertain business world.
This innovative breed of procurement professional is evolving alongside advances in RFx technology and smarter processes. They are using tech to free themselves from mind numbing tasks to focus on the strategic side of the role — allowing them greater influence with stakeholders and enhanced career prospects. The technology also enhances the ability to breakdown complex procurement decisions and make informed tactical purchasing decisions during a time of economic uncertainty.
Today, procurement professionals even view a period of economic uncertainty as an opportunity. A time to broaden their roles and discover new thinking and innovative technology to make the job more interesting.
As a result, roles such as 'Procurement Leader' are becoming more sought after by graduates, who are seeking these roles instead of falling into them.
Discover the exciting new way for procurement professionals to do business and thrive during a period of V.U.C.A.
Download our PDF to discover Pulse RFx for procurement
The concept of Procurement with Purpose is rapidly gaining traction among CEOs in the business world. It represents a shift away from traditional procurement strategies, where cost and efficiency are the only factors driving decision-making. Instead, it focuses on making sure that the products and services purchased directly contribute to the company’s overall purpose and values more fitting for a decarbonised and fairer economy. In other words, it has an eye to long-term value creation for the company, its stakeholders and the planet.
In these tough economic times that we’re all experiencing it can be difficult for CEO’s and their boards to make decisions about which projects are worth pursuing. Every department striving to protect their role puts forward a case to protect their projects. Here, your highly skilled and knowledgeable procurement team can be an integral part of ensuring that project decisions are informed and have a high return on investment (ROI).
Procurement professionals apply their skills to fully evaluate projects based on multiple factors such as cash flow, pricing structures, quality of products or services offered, supply availability, and more. Additionally, they can ensure that any agreements reached with third parties will not create unnecessary financial burdens in the future.
Overall, Procurement with Purpose encourages companies to go beyond simply meeting their short-term goals to ride an economic storm. Instead, procurement professionals focus on cultivating long-term relationships with the suppliers who share their values and objectives while also creating meaningful value in all aspects of their activities. Yes, this does mean investing more time upfront into researching potential partners prior to entering into an agreement. This means you can be confident that the procurement team are getting the best deal possible for your organisation while simultaneously contributing positively towards achieving shared goals. That’s why we’d strongly recommend CEOs and CFOs talk to their experienced procurement team. The procurement team are at the core of your business – interacting with every department - so they fully understand how to effectively manage stakeholders through collaborative planning and communication strategies.
Ultimately, by adopting a ‘Procurement with Purpose’ approach CEOs can ensure that every investment made is one that adds real value over time rather than just being focused purely on minimising costs during economic slumps.
Discover more about procurement best practice by booking a demo or visiting Procurement best practice
Read more about modernising Procurement in Fixing the broken procurement system
Too often, carrying out due diligence around vendors is seen as nothing more than a tick box on a list of things to do. But in today’s business environment where every business is linked to the global supply chain disruptions and other problems can originate from the weakest link in your supply chain.
It is possible to eliminate vulnerabilities, mitigate new risks, and make informed decisions when you manage vendors properly. In doing so your business has clarity over which vendors to work with (and which to stop working with). In other words, VRM should be an essential part of any organisation's risk management strategy.
Before you can begin reaping the benefits of Vendor Risk Management, your organisation needs to take ownership of the process. Here's how to get started:
1. Define what you want to measure.
The first step in taking ownership of VRM is to define what risks you want to measure.
Do you want to measure cyber security risks? Legal risks? Regulatory risks? Privacy risks? IT risks? Business continuity risks?
All of the above? Once you've identified the types of risks you want to measure, you can begin to capture the information you need to make informed decisions about your vendors.
2. Take ownership for VRM.
The next step is to take ownership for VRM within your business. This means making sure you have the right expertise and resources in place to manage vendor risk effectively. Answer the questions below to
If the answer is no to any of the questions, now is the time to make changes and safeguard the business.
3. Set realistic goals.
Once you've taken ownership for VRM, it's important to set realistic goals for the process.
Whatever your goal may be, make sure it's something that's achievable and that everyone in your business buy into it.
4. Build trust and understanding.
Finally, remember that Vendor Risk Managment is not a one-off exercise - it's an ongoing process. This means building trust and understanding with your vendors so that they become partners in your Vendor Risk Management strategy.
When everyone is working together towards a common goal, you are more likely to achieve success and do business better.
Find out more and book a meeting about VRM today
As proud sponsors of the Causeway Exchange Business Seminar we'd like to introduce the incredible panel. The panel is a perfect blend of Irish and Scottish thought leaders from across the greener world, procurement and financial services.
Host and Panelists
Host:
Russell Dalgleish, Pulse Market Ambassador
Host: Russell Dalgleish: Scottish Serial Entrepreneur, Investor and Global Network Builder
Russell is founding Managing Partner of the advisory group, Exolta Capital Partners. He has enjoyed the benefits of a highly successful international career in the technology sector and now focuses his efforts on supporting owners and boards of companies to devise and implement international growth strategies. He is a regular speaker and conference host and has spoken at conferences from Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi - and now with Causeway in Edinburgh!
Panel
1 Joanne Murphy, COO of Chartered Institute of Banking
Joanne Murphy is the Chief Operating Officer of the Chartered Banker Institute, delivering the Institute’s business wide transformation and people strategy. As Deputy CEO, Joanne leads the strategic review and annual business planning activity at the Institute. Joanne’s remit includes driving our professional inclusion agenda, and she has executive responsibility across a variety of business function including Learning, Professional Standards, Membership, Business Support, Finance, People, Innovation and Marketing.
Joanne was instrumental in development and launching of the Institute new Principles of Responsible Banking Academy in October 2022 and holds professional membership of the CIPD and Chartered Banker Institute.’
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-murphy-mba-mcbi-33753437/
Website: https://www.charteredbanker.com/the-institute.html
2 Tabi Jayne, Director and Interim CEO for Net Zero Nation
Tabitha Jayne is co-founder, director and Interim CEO for Net Zero Nation, a Scottish not-for-profit focused on mitigating climate change by mass mobilising SMEs on their journey to Net Zero.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabithajayne/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/net-zero-nation
3 Richard Carr - Group Environment Director WebHelp
Richard Carr, a Glasgow based professional with extensive experience within the ESG, Sustainability and FM sectors. As Group Environment Director for Webhelp his responsibilities include designing and delivering a strategy that will contribute to the global net-zero ambition. In a previous role as Head of Property and Environment, his responsibilities included leading a global team of colleagues in the transformation towards low carbon, energy efficient properties and services.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-carr-1b318689/
Website: https://webhelp.com/
4 Andrew Morrison - Founder & Director AB Bid
Andrew established AM Bid in 2014 and has successfully grown it to a £1m+ business. Prior to that he led most of the British Gas bid function managing 5 national bid teams. His 17 years in bidding were preceded with a 12-year career in social housing. Andrew has won a string of awards including from the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Institute of Directors, British Chambers of Commerce and APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals). In May 2022 Andrew was named by APMP as the Global Bid & Proposal Thought Leader of the Year. Andrew was the first bidding professional in the world to be given LinkedIn Live broadcasting rights and, since July 2020, he has delivered over 110 bidding best practice and work-winning live broadcasts. AM Bid has recently launched Ultimate Tender Coach – a digital bid writing training and support program that equips people to write their own bids.
Andrew’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmorrisonbidding/
AM Bid website: https://www.ambid.co.uk/
Ultimate Tender Coach website: https://www.ultimatetendercoach.com/
5 Paul Murphy ClimeAction
Solutions Lead at Climeaction
In 2021 Paul joined Leading Edge Group to establish their company Climeaction, a whole operations decarbonisation solution for business. An energy and process engineer by education, Paul has previously held senior positions in global consulting organisations and is a non-executive Director of Renewable Gas Forum Ireland (RGFI). Paul has extensive global experience in industrial energy efficiency and decarbonisation of manufacturing organisations, being a key advisor to some of the world’s largest companies across 5 continents in the Food & Dairy, Beverages, Manufacturing and Life Science sectors. Paul has a passion for supporting SME business decarbonisation. When they say “Climate Action Solutions for All” they mean it. Paul and his team work with companies of all scales, providing the same level of service and expertise regardless of size and have worked with over 250 companies in the past 12 months on climate action. Their mission is to enable true decarbonisation of business, and this requires solutions at all levels of the supply chain and across all business functions.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-murphy-climeaction/
Website: https://www.climeaction.com/
6 Neil Stevenson Procurement Manager at Aegon Asset Management
Neil works for Aegon Asset Management as Procurement & Vendor Manager. Neil has over 30 years’ experience in the financial and manufacturing sectors designing and managing supply chains across the globe. Neil is passionate about promoting the ESG agenda in sourcing decisions within the Aegon group and wider finance community .
Aegon
7 Craig Dick, Third Party Sustainability Lead, abrdn
Craig has worked in sustainability since graduating from university in 2016. Craig has worked in the built environment sector working for a global market leader in sustainability and delivering environmental sustainability outcomes on live development and construction projects throughout the UK. He recently joined the financial services sector to help deliver a sustainable procurement programme for abrdn which aligns with the firm’s corporate sustainability objectives.
