Conference programme to be announced
8:30
9:30
Opening of the Conference and opening addresses
FROM ADAPTATION TO TRANSFORMATION
FROM ADAPTATION TO TRANSFORMATION
9.40
Jochen Friedrichs
What it takes to outperform in procurement these days – CEO perspective
MoreWe experience unprecedented volatility in our markets. We have to adapt – from calendar-oriented volatility to market cycle management, the number one success factor of the past “process optimisation” fails vs “on spot optimisation of timing” and on top – for the first time in history, procurement forecasts become a major influence for sales forecasts. Procurement can develop into an even more significant driver for overall business success if it is ready to deliver on the needed transformation. The transformation can be successful with the right people, the perfect steering and a transformational mindset.
10.25
Tine Kračun
Economic trends and European strategic autonomy
MoreThe COVID-19 pandemic has overturned global economic flows. Globalisation has made trade more effortless, and the role of countries decreased. But COVID-19 and everything that followed made procurement more difficult. What does this mean for Europe’s strategic autonomy in light of the slowdown in the expansion of integration? What are the alternatives, and what does this mean for international trade, where the regional purchasing routes are strengthened? Today, all those involved in international trade must be able to answer these questions.
10.55
Marjana Dermelj
A transition model to a circular and low-carbon economy
MoreThe Model of Systemic Transition to a Circular, Regenerative and Low-Carbon Economy is a cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach with which we in Slovenia want to overcome operations within individual silos and in a way of segmented thinking within existing disciplines or work.
The implementation of the system transition model in Slovenia is taking place in the years 2021–2025.
11.20
Tatjana Orhini Valjavec
Green public procurement – An opportunity for tenderers and example to consumers
MoreIn Slovenia, green public procurement has been mandatory for all contracting authorities since 2012. How can one know which products are more environment-friendly? Why are these decisions important for the environment, the quality of living and working, and how do they affect market supply? From an environmental perspective, purchasing a product has more long-term consequences and impacts transcending mere economic ones. The EU countries have, therefore, adopted the Green Agreement, which includes a plan for drafting legislation and guidelines for green public procurement.
11:45
Coffee break
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
12.15
Panel Discussion: The gap between reality and expectations
Srečko Bukovec, Purchasing Association of Slovenia
13:00
Eva Kutnjak in Samo Krančan
On the way to sustainable products
MoreThe lecture will present Danfoss’ path towards achieving carbon neutrality and the involvement of our suppliers in this process. The first part of the lecture offers a look at the real example of LCA analysis on the best-selling product, followed by the involvement of suppliers in achieving the goal – carbon neutral products by 2030.
13.25
Joint lunch
TRANSFORMATION OF PROCUREMENT
TRANSFORMATION OF PROCUREMENT
14.25
Nenad Filipović
After the pandemic
MoreThe pandemic brought many opportunities for strategic insights and the improvement of business models. The lecture will focus on five insights. First, we should ask ourselves why and how companies must prepare on time for the changes in a business environment that await us in the coming period. The second insight focuses on why and how to ensure an appropriate approach to strategic risks in business models. The third insight is intended to boost the strategic agility of a company. The fourth insight offers an identification on how to exploit the potential of (digital) technology to create added value for customers. With the last insight, we are introduced to the purpose and the way business leaders utilise corporate culture and their own leadership style as an underlying company transformation driver.
15.10
Draško Jelavić
Importance of a procurement strategy in challenging times
MoreIn the presentation you will be reminded of the importance of procurement strategies at all levels. Managing procurement stakeholders, identifying business needs and wants, external and internal challenges remain the key in procurement. It will ensure that you efficiently perform your job and meet overall expectations. Increasing automation for generating procurement strategies will make strategic work available for many of the companies. An exciting strategic perspective will be revealed leveraging on insights from the best-in-class procurement organizations.
15.40
Vlado Prosenik
Electronic negotiations
MoreA neverending search for costsaving in procurement is self-evident. Electronic negotiations also help us along the way. After conducting electronic negotiations, a customer representative stated, “It was like watching a Formula 1 race!” Was he asleep, or was it so tense? Can purchasers enjoy their coffees during intensive negotiations? When and why are e-negotiations a highly effective way of purchasing negotiations? How to prepare the ground for the effective conduct of electronic negotiations? When are e-negotiations ineffective? Myths about electronic negotiation. The lecture will also focus on examples of good and bad practices.
16:00
Coffee break and socialising
16.20
Marko Budler
Lean and resilient – procurement in times of disruption, localization and sustainability
MoreWondering why, until when and if ever, will we be able to sell a used Volvo with more income than a new one?
Sorry, we don’t know. But we know this about trends: “If we could predict them, they wouldn’t happen.”
However, we can shape trends, so Assist. Prof. Marko Budler, PhD, addresses good practices of Slovenian and global supply chains (in response to disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and “re-shoring” initiative), challenges and opportunities in “slack resources”, just-in-time system, inventory optimisation, user preferences, sustainability, etc., expectations of purchasers (raw material prices), OV management experts and data for other segments (clothing, technology, furniture, etc.), whether the “supply and labour pool” is empty, strategic locations and opportunities for re- / near-shoring and other purchasing and logistics strategies. The supply chain is as strong as its weakest link. Identify the latter with us and find out how developments in care also affect your business.16.50
Teja Breznik Alfirev
Agile delivers value
MoreThe role of the CPO, such as many other roles in companies, is in constant flux. From an operational role, it is becoming increasingly strategic. By presenting concrete tools and approaches, the lecture will focus on the aspect of HOW purchasing services can introduce building skills of continuous transformation and coaching leadership style into their daily work and thus build an agile culture.
17.20
Awarding Ceremony for Procurement Manager of the Year 2022
17.50
Socializing
20.00
Procurement conference Party
The organizer reserves the right to change the program.
EXCELLENCE IN PROCUREMENT
EXCELLENCE IN PROCUREMENT
09:00
Marko Derča
Excellence in procurement – sustainability and resilience
MoreEconomic developments in 2021 strongly indicate emerging top priorities for procurement directors. The supply market is becoming increasingly unpredictable, as evidenced by the shortages of some raw materials. This requires changes in the acquisition of categories, the assessment of suppliers and the associated risks. All this means that the required range of skills in procurement is expanding and thus generating requirements for additional competencies and talent development.
9.30
Nataša Cikač
Benefits of Supplier Relationship Management
MoreIn a very specific and unexpected situation in which we all found ourselves due to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, procurement, perhaps more than all other activities in the company, faced additional pressure to achieve the set goals. In the conditions of regular operations, procurement teams are continuously engaged in achieving cost savings, additional value through cooperation with suppliers and mitigating risks in the supply chain. But at a time when commodity flows are disrupted and shortages are a global problem, companies again need to find new strategies and business models. It is certain that innovation and finding alternatives are becoming increasingly important. Therefore, cooperation with strategic suppliers plays a key role in creating added value. Purchasing excellence becomes the ultimate task of every management to meet the needs of its customers and increase profits
9.50
Boštjan Špehonja
Cybercrime in procurement
MoreUndoubtedly, each one of us knows someone who has been a victim of an online scam. “Why did they find me, I don’t have any important information,” is usually a first response of the victims. The Internet has become a dangerous place. Alongside honest users also online scammers can be found who are becoming increasingly aggressive, intrusive, and resourceful. As a result, anyone who uses an electronic device and browses the web in both work and home environments is at risk. How to identify online scams, what are the types of cyberattacks on end-users and how safe are our companies from hacker attacks are just a few questions we are going to answer during the lecture.
10.10
Cristian Bolzon
Fusion of procurement with supply chain
MoreFor most of the critical commodity groups, procurement has become supply chain management. To compete in the actual arena, we must in fact make a flow down of the requirements of our customers to our tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers. When possible, we have to propose our customers what our innovative suppliers are capable to do. In other words, we are expected to influence the choices of our customers by proposing innovative solutions or the outcome of the partnership with our key vendors.
To do this we have to radically transform our function. A simple adaptation is not sufficient.
The primary target of the buyer is no longer the procurement cycle but the integration of the supply chain to exploit its creativity on products and processes, and the reduction of the time to market. Buyers and key suppliers become primary actors of the innovation proposed by sales people to our customers.10.30
Panel Discussion: What we have learned in the last two years
Srečko Bukovec, Purchasing Association of Slovenia
11.15
Break with snacksLEADERSHIP IN PROCUREMENT
12.00
Velimir Srića
How to motivate yourself and your colleagues in the new normality
MoreThe lecture focuses on the many challenges of the post-COVID world and their consequences on the behaviour and actions of managers and employees in conditions of the “new normal”. We are surrounded by depression, lethargy, and loss of motivation, so managers and employees everywhere, especially in procurement, face a key problem of how to motivate themselves and employees and develop a more successful, positive, winning and future-oriented business and organisational culture. The presentation is based on the author’s latest book EmpowerUs: From Crisis to Strategic Harmony published in the US with a foreword by Philip Kotler, “the father of modern marketing”.
12.45
Branko Žunec
Developing alliances at work
MoreThe lecture will focus on a definition of a great team, with which you will be able to check how great the current procurement teams in which you work are. You will also learn four steps to strengthen both the teams trust and speed gradually evolving into an alliance. In conclusion, each participant will leave with a useful tip enabling them to effectively develop allied relations within the team in the future as a team leader and to effectively develop allied relations with other associates as a team member.
13.30

Moderator
Peter Ribarič, MA
Peter Ribarič, M.A., is a finance officer and analyst with over 20 years of work experience. Among other things, he has served in various Slovenian companies as CFO, company director and board member. He is the CEO of Planet GV Ltd. Mr. Ribarič is also the co-author of the first Slovenian book on risk management and a graduate of the Faculty of Computer Science in the field of artificial intelligence.
The largest event for all procurement professionals
Join us!