Purchasing managers in large companies and SMEs have not been happy over the past few years, marked by trade tensions between Europe, the United States and China, the Covid-19 pandemic, the surge in prices energy and raw materials, or the war in Ukraine. Their concern and their choices are reflected in the fourteenth annual study conducted by the company AgileBuyer for the National Purchasing Council and published on Tuesday, January 10.
Nearly nine out of ten departments were forced to renegotiate due to inflation. “Some suppliers are taking advantage of the situationnotes Olivier Wajnsztok, associate director of AgileBuyer. There is a logical inflation, especially on energy. But others are taking the opportunity to pass increases, such as some US software providers. » And they are unable to justify these increases, notes Alexandre Billard, purchasing boss of the laser specialist Lumibird. Agri-food, hotels and restaurants and leisure are the first victims of breaches and renegotiations of contracts, followed by aeronautics and defence.
The study also notes the insufficient coverage of companies for electricity and gas, even if 68% are covered for more than half of their consumption. Shortages, especially of metals and chemicals, are considered “criticism” by 59% of companies. They will stabilize for 50% of managers, but increase for 30%. A new risk has emerged: Taiwan. At the mercy of an invasion by China, the island is the leading supplier of electronic chips, vital in the automobile, aeronautics and defence. Only one in four companies have a plan to source elsewhere in the event of a crisis.
Increasingly unbalanced relationship with suppliers
Another phenomenon is confirmed: the desire to relocate purchases to Europe or France: 49% of departments plan to do so in 2023, first to secure supplies and then to reduce the carbon footprint. These figures climb to 83% in luxury fashion and 74% in automotive. And 65% of companies say that “Made in France” is a criterion for awarding the contract, a rate that is constantly increasing. More and more leaders nevertheless feel that they have difficulties obtaining supplies in France, less for reasons of cost than for the availability of goods.
The relationship with suppliers is increasingly unbalanced in favor of the latter: 85% of respondents believe that it will be unfavorable or unbalanced in 2023 (compared to 39% in 2021). This is particularly felt in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, heavy industry, construction and energy. This imbalance is mainly expressed by rising prices or the threat of breach of contract.
In this very uncertain context, especially for SMEs and mid-sized companies, cost reduction and their contribution to the company’s results are once again becoming the priority requests of managers in the purchasing departments, ensure two thirds of the managers of this central function. . A priority also underlined within local communities, which are big buyers. Mr. Wajnsztok notes that “The situation is, overall, more and more difficult” for companies. “They saw the performance of their purchasing department as a way to reduce costshe said. It is now a question of survival for them. »