Shoulder to shoulder:
How partnering as equals opens up new prospects for supplier management

Integrated, forward-looking supplier management is the beating heart of any company that operates globally. While standalone solutions exist, they rarely support the entire process. Challenges range from the need to establish a flexible digital supply chain, to environmental and social issues, right through to regulatory changes and new competitors in the global market.

As one of the largest global trading and service companies, we have a great responsibility toward customers and suppliers, especially when it comes to strategic issues such as digitization. For example, to enable efficient development for the future, all of our 150,000 products and services are available worldwide via a dedicated omnichannel system. This logistical challenge calls for perfectly coordinated interaction between suppliers, Materials Services’ 260 operating sites, and 24/7 access for our customers via their channel of choice.

In addition, optimal control of the flows of goods is a cornerstone of outstanding supplier management. Our logistics experts from thyssenkrupp Schulte have taken a major step toward the future with their time-slot management tool. The solution enables time-efficient and therefore cost-saving loading and unloading for suppliers and customers alike.

But it’s not just sophisticated control and future-proof systems that make our supplier relationships a reliable factor. Peculiarly in fiercely contested markets, establishing strategic partnerships is important not only to thrive, but simply to survive. Thanks to our international orientation, Materials Services can respond quickly and effectively to specific cultural and social features in the partner network, thus promoting shared growth.