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3rd edition

2023
South Africa
Procurement survey

This 3rd edition of  the Oxalys South Africa Procurement Survey focuses on providing insights and strategies to enhance resilience in procurement practices, catering to the evolving needs of businesses. Key areas such as performance management, inclusivity, and digital transformation are investigated. This year’s edition also features a special section dedicated to public procurement, shedding light on its unique challenges and opportunities.

Whether you’re an industry professional, a government official, or a researcher, this survey offers valuable analysis, expert commentary, and practical recommendations to navigate the complexities of procurement effectively. Join us on a journey of knowledge, as this edition equips you with the tools and insights to thrive amidst uncertainty and drive sustainable procurement practices.​

2023 key figures

92% of Professionals confirm that Procurements impact on the economic performance of a business is either significant or game-changing

60% of respondents agree that Digitisation is a driver for Procurement to deliver more strategic value to their organization

54% of Public Sector respondents reported they experience irregular expenditure

Survey highlights

Due to the increase in fuel prices, rising interest rates and the impacts of load-shedding, reducing supply risks remains top of the agenda for procurement departments. Maintaining optimal supplier relations is key to achieving this and it also supports positive negotiations for better pricing.

Oxalys South Africa procurement survey 2022 – Figure 1:
How would you define the top procurement’s priority for 2023 in your organisation?

How would you define the top procurement’s priority for 2023 in your organisation? Fig1 - Oxalys South Africa Procurement Survey 2023

Many organisations remain steadfast in their approach to leverage their existing ERP solution to cater for their unique procurement processes. The challenge is that ERP systems remain rigid and often requires businesses to align their processes as defined by the system. 15% of the respondents however have identified more flexible and cost-effective solutions that can align and digitize their existing processes, while integrating with their ERP solution, to enable seamless workflows.

Oxalys South Africa procurement survey 2023 – Figure 14:
What are your top priorities for digital procurement in the next 2 years?

What are your top priorities for digital procurement in the next 2 years? - Figure 14 - Oxalys South Africa Procurement Survey 2023

Although improvement of security and alignment with internal policies remain a leading strategy for resilience, digitisation has leaped to the forefront of the CPO agenda in less than 12 months and is now the second-ranking strategy in deployment.
Localisation and inclusivity are still at the heart of procurement strategies, driving additional value in their organisations.

Oxalys South Africa procurement survey 2023 – Figure 3:
Which of these strategies are deployed in your organisation to deliver more strategic value from procurement?

Which of these strategies are deployed in your organisation to deliver more strategic value from procurement? - Figure 3 - Oxalys South Africa Procurement Survey 2023

What they say about the survey

Oxalys South Africa Procurement Survey 2023

Download the report (pdf)

Related content

About the survey

Launched in 2020 during the most unusual time, the annual South Africa Procurement Survey was the first-ever locally conducted survey designed to provide exclusive insights into procurement key priorities and challenges in South Africa.

Each year, this survey attracts over 200 respondents, investigating important topics such as risk management, localization and resilience, while providing a barometer of procurement strategies and practices as they evolve.

We thank all contributors whose individual insights have deepened the understanding of tomorrow’s procurement panorama . We also thank our partners, CIPS and Smart Procurement World, who played a large part in amplifying the echo of this joined initiative.

Oxalys | Anne-Emmanuelle Grene

Anne-Emmanuelle Grené
Head
Oxalys South Africa

Debbie Tagg, Chief Operations Officer - Smart Procurement World

Debbie Tagg
Chief Executive Officer
Commerce Edge

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