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Marcell Vollmer

CEO at Prospitalia Group

Frankfurt (Main), Germany

In my role as Partner and Director at BCG I am advising C-Level Executives & Executive Teams on the full range of digital transformation, innovation, new business models, restructuring and reorganization with focus on procurement, supply chain and operations globally.

As Chief Innovation Officer I focused on supporting customers and partners to define and execute digital transformation strategies globally. As a proponent of the power of process mining to create the "superfluid enterprise" and deliver extraordinary experiences, I evangelized in my role the market as an influencer. Like Celonis customers, I was previously in charge of shared services and business process transformation.
In my previous role as Chief Digital Officer I was a 'Digital Ambassador' by SAP's Digital Transformation Office to help SAP customers to define and drive digital transformation strategies in all industries globally.
As the former Chief Procurement Officer at SAP, I’m sensitive to the complexities surrounding the intersection of technology, compliance, and supplier networks that today’s procurement leaders face.
I implemented a global category management organization, procurement shared services and a hybrid model with Ariba for goods, Fieldglass for professional services, and Concur for travel.

As Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of SAP Ariba, my focus was to help companies eliminate procurement and supply chain complexity through simple, smart, and open software solutions.

Marcell Vollmer Points
Academic 5
Author 304
Influencer 1184
Speaker 34
Entrepreneur 5
Total 1532

Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.

Thought Leader Profile

Portfolio Mix

Company Information

Company Type: Company

Areas of Expertise

AI 30.25
Digital Transformation 32.29
Supply Chain 36.17
Procurement 35.43
Social 31.62
Innovation 30.91
IoT 31.39
Sustainability 30.69
Future of Work 31.92
Management 31.48
Big Data 30.65
Blockchain 30.29
Leadership 30.46
Predictive Analytics 30.01
Change Management 32.74
Open Innovation
Analytics 30.28
Risk Management 30.24
Customer Experience 30.43
Culture 30.13
ERP 30.06
CRM 30.20
Diversity and Inclusion 30.15
Marketing 30.05
Sales 30.19
RPA 30.53
COVID19 31.74
Emerging Technology 30.35
Digital Disruption 30.53
Ecosystems 30.14
Digital Twins 31.57
Payroll 31.40

Industry Experience

Publications

1 Academic Whitepaper
White Paper: How to build a Shared Service Center. SAP internal Paper.
Marcell Vollmer
January 01, 2006

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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement

87 Article/Blogs
Global Procurement Survey 2020 – Procurement post-COVID19
LinkedIn
July 18, 2020
New survey from the Endowed Chair of Procurement at the University of Mannheim: 564 attended the CPO Survey 2020, 106 procurement executives contributed - more than 2,123 have been invited to join. Respondents reveal most procurement organizations have a digitalization strategy and are increasingly investing in digital technologies, but in their digital transformation journey they are merely midway towards the desired target state.

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Tags: AI, IoT, COVID19

Procurement empowered by cognitive and intelligent applications
LinkedIn
May 28, 2020
Across all industries, procurement leaders are seeking significant and measurable productivity gains. New technology, based on machine learning and artificial intelligence, is driving the digital transformation of the procurement function to deliver value, driving supplier innovations, perform risk management, securing a sustainable supply chain and of course: managing budgets

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Tags: AI, Innovation, Procurement

Process Mining: A beginner's guide
LinkedIn
May 26, 2020
With the increasing importance that the field of process mining gains day after another, many business leaders and technology enthusiasts want to understand what this technology is, what it can offer and how businesses can benefit from it.

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Tags: AI, Future of Work, RPA

7 Technologies to Disrupt Your Supply Chain
LinkedIn
May 11, 2020
Meeting customer expectations and being prepared for the unknown is key for both: the future of a company and any crisis situation, as we have recently seen with the Coronavirus. In the digital economy, leading companies know they need to think outside the box to be successful, to increase productivity by automation and to use the right technology early to stay ahead of competition. Embracing new technologies to unleash the power of their supply chains is one core component of the success to keep manufacturing running from planning to sourcing to production to delivery.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, COVID19

What is Glocalization and how are disruptive technologies impacting supply chains?
LinkedIn
April 26, 2020
Nearly 75 percent of companies report supply chain disruptions in some capacity due to coronavirus-related transportation restrictions, and more than 80 percent believe that their organization will experience some impact because of COVID-19 disruptions. "The story the data tells is that companies are faced with a lengthy recovery to normal operations in the wake of the virus outbreak," said Thomas W. Derry, Chief Executive Officer of ISM [1].

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Tags: Digital Transformation, IoT, Supply Chain

The Road to Successful Digital Transformation: 5 Steps to Do It Right
LinkedIn
April 23, 2020
The word “digital transformation” gets thrown around a lot these days. For the last couple of years, almost every big company has been reinventing their business processes, culture, and customer experiences by embracing digital technologies.

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Tags: Big Data, Digital Transformation, Future of Work

COVID-19: How to protect your supply chain in times of COVIDー19?
LinkedIn
April 06, 2020
As the #COVIDー19 outbreak spreads across the globe, companies of all sizes and industries must grapple with one unexpected supply chain issue after another, from keeping the production and logistics running to mitigating delayed deliveries or replace suppliers no longer able to deliver right now until leading a suddenly virtual workforce as offices are closed. The globalization has led to complex supply chains with multiple steps from raw material extraction to manufacturing of semi-finished goods to assembly to shipping to wholesale and finally to retail or the end consumer.

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Tags: Supply Chain, Risk Management, COVID19

How to make it simple to explain AI, ML, DL together with Data Science, Data Analysis & Analytics and Data Mining?
LinkedIn
March 23, 2020
Beginning of 2018 I have shared a blog on explaining #ArtificialIntelligence (AI), #MachineLearning (#ML) and Deep Learning (DL) together with Data Science. Today I like to expand the definition by adding Data Analysis as part of Data Science, Data Analytics and Data Mining.

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Tags: AI, Big Data, IoT

What keeps the world of business rolling…?
LinkedIn
February 01, 2020
Thirty years into my professional career, the one thing that I count on to keep me going is my cup of coffee. It’s a part of my routine, and I don’t go a day without it.

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Tags: Sustainability, Supply Chain

What is Procurement all about?
LinkedIn
January 23, 2020
How can source-to-pay as process be defined and is it part of a (digital) supply chain?

Emerging technologies available today automate more and more activities of enterprise business processes. The source-to-pay process is one core process for enterprises to generate value and is an integrated part of every supply chain. Chief procurement officers are driving the digital transformation for their procurement functions – as all other functions do too – and define the future value proposition globally. Procurement is not seen as a front runner in driving the digital transformation, as surveys show from the last three consecutive years 2017[1], 2018[2] and 2019[3].

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Tags: Emerging Technology, Supply Chain, Procurement

Artificial Intelligence in Procurement – From Insight to Action
Dr. Marcell Vollmer
December 23, 2019
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to have a more profound impact on humanity than electricity or fire, according to Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai. In the manufacturing business heavy investments are being made in AI. It is predicted to affect every step within the supply chain process in future, enabling more efficient procurement activities than ever before. Numerous vendors already claim to operate with this intelligent technology. But the reigning buzzword is not always understood, used and promoted correctly, which leads to confusion both by buyers and sellers. This calls for a clarification of the terminologies around AI, before taking a look at how this impacts procurement.

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Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, Procurement

The Future of Robotics Process Automation (RPA)
Dr. Marcell Vollmer
November 30, 2019
We’re just at the beginning of the 4th industrial wave. The next level of automation will be unlocked when machine learning capabilities and artificial intelligence become smart enough to deploy RPA intelligently.

But to look at automation as the be-all and end-all is to miss the bigger picture–one where automation is only a single part of achieving process excellence. It’s a part that needs to be orchestrated in the context of that broader vision, alongside other tools that deliver what RPA alone cannot: visibility, intelligent optimization and a direct impact on overarching business outcomes.

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Tags: AI, Digital Disruption, Digital Transformation

How to build an engage with a community on Social Media?
LinkedIn
November 27, 2019

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Entrepreneurship, Social

How to engage on #‪SocialMedia‬
LinkedIn
November 27, 2019
Can you remember the time without Social Media? I still can and at the time I was born, television was becoming color and the phone was getting a keyboard. Social Media is everywhere today and can be very demanding, and time-consuming. The importance is shifting from sharing pictures and stories to Social Selling. Top influencers are making millions and an entire industry has been created. At the same time generations are shifting their interest - from MySpace to Facebook to Instagram.

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Tags: Social, Marketing, Sales

What is the key to success for a digital transformation strategy?
LinkedIn
October 31, 2019

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Tags: Change Management, Digital Transformation, Future of Work

The way to Digital Supply Chain
linkedin
August 01, 2019
Since the turn of the millennium, the internet has occupied an indispensable position. This is accompanied by a change in the purchasing behavior. With the change in purchasing habits in both the private and commercial sectors, companies must adapt to new challenges. Logistics in particular is becoming more important, as ever faster order processing is expected. In the following, the functions and the previous development of logistics tasks will be examined in more detail.

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Tags: ERP, CRM, Supply Chain

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/way-digital-supply-chain-dr-marcell-vollmer/
LinkedIn
August 01, 2019

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Tags: Business Strategy, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain

The Concept Behind Digital Platforms: Sharing Economies
linkedin
July 26, 2019
The main idea behind online platforms is to serve users with interactions between each other. The corresponding ecosystems are based on dynamic cooperation of different participants in the sense of a common added value. Thus, Platform Economies are - according to these two ideas - economies based on digital platforms which use algorithms to link buyers and sellers online. This means today's dominant economic model 'capitalism' will change. Digital Transformation paves the way for Platform Economies which are taking an increasing part in today’s business models - especially in a constantly expanding digital sphere.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Ecosystems

The evolution of global trade from 17. Century until today
linkedin
July 25, 2019
After the collapse of the Ming Dynasty, the western world experienced the heyday of trade and commerce in the 17th century. Trade and industry flourished above all in England and the United Netherlands. The urban bourgeoisie played a major role in this change and promoted political power as well as military safeguarding of trade. Several setbacks, such as epidemics and various major fires, did not prevent London from growing and becoming the largest city in Europe. In addition, London had a favorable location and was well connected to local transport such as waterways. Furthermore, the rich coal deposits led to a growing city.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, Procurement, Management

Global Procurement Survey 2019 – What will the future of procurement look like?
LinkedIn
April 26, 2019
New survey with 466 respondents reveals companies see need and high impact of digital transformation, but are still not adapting technology to automate and use machine intelligence.

During the past two decades, procurement is consistently evolving from a clerical back office function to a strategic business function. Procurement organizations are largely globalized to engage with the global supply base. The source-to-pay process is highly integrated in centralized IT and ERP systems. Mature technologies, like cloud, central master data base, or an integrated IT landscape are widely adapted. Emerging technologies, like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Chatbots or Blockchain are only at a small number of procurement organizations implemented.

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Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, Procurement

Going beyond the knowledge of new technologies – It’s time to act!
linkedin
January 03, 2019
Digital technologies are sweeping the business landscapes, with many labels – digital analytics, automation, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0, just to name a few. Yet, these technological transformations are not a future vision; they surround and impact us today. Knowing and understanding this development is one thing. Getting your arms around the emerging technologies and thus, creating value is a whole new step, which has become the defining business challenge and competitive advantage of our time. Companies in the McKinsey Global Survey on digital strategy expect a significant risk to their revenues from digitization in the years ahead if they take no action to respond. What’s more, they become vulnerable to those competitors, who adapt successfully. Advanced technologies are essential to modern enterprises, and it’s fair to say that every large company is working with them to some extent.

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Tags: Analytics, Digital Transformation

Artificial intelligence, blockchain poised to reshape procurement
linkedin
December 11, 2018
Traditionally, procurement professionals have dedicated themselves to sourcing, purchasing, contracting and payments. In recent years, though, their role has begun evolving from a tactical emphasis to a strategic one, as digital networks and cloud-based technologies take on many formerly manual processes. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain are transforming the role of procurement and turbocharging the value it delivers.

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Tags: AI, Blockchain, Digital Transformation, Procurement

Artificial Intelligence - How will AI change our world and what rules do we need?
linkedin
December 03, 2018
The smartphone has changed our lives fundamentally. Our professional and private world are more interconnected than ever before. Today, an iPhone already enables the use of and communication with artificial intelligence, such as Siri, Google search or even the automatic alert, at what time you have to leave for the next appointment, taking into account the current traffic situation, are just a few examples. We already carry AI with us every day, for our professional and private lives.

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Tags: AI, Blockchain, Digital Transformation

#DigitalTransformation – Next stop…the future
LinkedIn
November 06, 2018
Procurement organizations are on the brink of change – and the future is bright. In the coming years, they will automate most transactional activities, freeing up resources to focus on strategic efforts that drive value to the business. As a result, the cost to run the function will decrease, while the actual value derived from it will grow.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Innovation, Procurement

Big Data + Cognitive Technologies = Supply Chain Excellence
linkedin
October 12, 2018
When it comes to getting – and staying ahead in the digitalizing economy, leading companies know they need to think outside the box. And they are embracing new tools to unleash the power of Big Data and power ever greater and sophisticated capabilities across the organization that can take them to new heights.

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Tags: Big Data

Men vs. Machinery – How to ensure ethical AI?
Marcell Vollmer
September 13, 2018
AI is a powerful tool that can be used to construct more intelligent ways of operating. But it can also be used to act in ethical ways that not only lead to doing well, but doing good. To making an impact on our businesses AND the world around us. It’s an incredible opportunity. And as wielders of the power of AI, a responsibility....

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Tags: Digital Transformation

Digital Transformation Ensures Tight Integration between Procurement and the Supply Chain
LinkedIn
August 27, 2018
In a world of disruptions, digitization, shorter innovation cycles and individualized products, companies are focusing on value creation, end-users’ experience and driving digital transformation throughout the entire organization. Supply chain management (SCM) spans the range of processes involving customer demand, sourcing, production and fulfillment with an eye toward creating value by building a competitive infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, matching supply with demand and measuring performance. Procurement entails providing all goods and services needed at every step of the supply chain, including manufacturing.

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Tags: Digital Transformation

Digital Transformation Ensures Tight Integration between Procurement and the Supply Chain
Marcell Vollmer
August 27, 2018
In a world of disruptions, digitization, shorter innovation cycles and individualized products, companies are focusing on value creation, end-users’ experience and driving digital transformation throughout the entire organization. Supply chain management (SCM) spans the range of processes involving customer demand, sourcing, production and fulfillment with an eye toward creating value by building a competitive infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, matching supply with demand and measuring performance. Procurement entails providing all goods and services needed at every step of the supply chain, including manufacturing.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Supply Chain

What is Industry 5.0?
Marcell Vollmer
August 23, 2018
Most companies are still trying to get into the definition and realization of Industry 4.0, but there is already talk about the next industrial revolution: Industry 5.0.

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Tags: Procurement

Predictive Procurement – What are we waiting for?
Marcell Vollmer
August 21, 2018
Predictive analytics is on everyone's lips. However, when you look at the actual usage at companies, you will realize that it does not go beyond a common buzzword. So why do businesses struggle with the actual application of predictive analytics?

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Tags: Procurement, Predictive Analytics

How to Future-Proof Supply Chains
Marcell Vollmer
August 01, 2018
With today's technology, there's no excuse for not innovating and envisioning how to make things better. Innovation knows many different drivers. However, where technology meets innovation is the birthplace of new ideas.

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Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain

What is 'Procurement with Purpose'?
Marcell Vollmer
July 29, 2018
“Purpose” is no longer something that’s nice to have for any business; it has become a must-have strategic imperative that should be high on every company’s agenda if they want to be perceived as relevant, admired, and innovative by their customers, employees, investors, partners, communities, and public entities. Consumers demanding full transparency on the provenance of goods and services they are buying.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Social, Sustainability, Procurement

Painting the picture of intelligent procurement
Marcell Vollmer
July 02, 2018
For those of you who have had the fortune of visiting Istanbul’s grand bazaar, you are familiar with its buzz and excitement. For those that haven’t, let me paint a picture. Imagine walking through gates into a hive of excitement, exchange, and commerce.

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Tags: AI, Innovation, Procurement

Aided by digital transformation, the Chief Procurement Officer stands poised to become the Chief Purpose Officer
Marcell Vollmer
June 18, 2018
How does a chief procurement officer measure success?

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Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, Procurement

Procurement Goes Big with Data
Marcell Vollmer
June 13, 2018

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Tags: Big Data, Procurement

Procurement Goes Big with Data
LinkedIn
June 13, 2018
Information is the new global currency. It promises to reshape procurement and the way that buying and selling gets done.

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Tags: Big Data, Procurement

Procurement’s AI Evolution Is More Human Than We Think
LinkedIn
June 12, 2018
It seems that there is always a study or analyst op-ed that warns us of the jobs that will be overtaken by artificial intelligence (AI). Oxford University predicted that nearly half of all positions will likely be automated by 2033.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning Change the Game for Procurement
Marcell Vollmer
June 11, 2018

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Tags: AI, Procurement

Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning Change the Game for Procurement
LinkedIn
June 11, 2018
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning are everywhere, and they are ushering in momentous change, altering the way we shop for and consume goods and services in our personal lives.

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Tags: Procurement

When Ignorance becomes a Risk
Marcell Vollmer
June 02, 2018

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Tags: Innovation, Procurement, Risk Management

When Ignorance becomes a Risk
LinkedIn
June 02, 2018
Companies today are exposed to an environment that is characterized by increasing complexity and thus by a clear risk reduction. Product, market and technology cycles are becoming shorter and shorter, resulting in significantly reduced time-to-market times and high pressure on return on investment (ROI). Procurement plays a decisive role in the generation of competitive advantages, and it is also confronted with many different risks.

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Tags: Procurement

Will Procurement and Digital Manufacturing become one?
Marcell Vollmer
May 24, 2018

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Tags: Procurement, Supply Chain

Will Procurement and Digital Manufacturing become one?
LinkedIn
May 24, 2018
Can a cracked smartphone shed light on the convergence of procurement networks and digital manufacturing?

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Tags: Procurement

Business Happens When Supply meets Demand - How will the future of Buying look like?
Marcell Vollmer
May 06, 2018

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Tags: Procurement, Supply Chain

Business Happens When Supply meets Demand - How will the future of Buying look like?
LinkedIn
May 06, 2018
Wikipedia describes business as any activity of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling goods or services. It could be a company, corporation, partnership or any other formal entity, ranging from a street peddler to Apple, Coco-Cola or popular brands of the sharing economy.

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Tags: Procurement

What is a “Digital Twin” and how can Business Network collaboration accelerate?
Marcell Vollmer
May 01, 2018

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Tags: Big Data, IoT, Digital Twins

What is a “Digital Twin” and how can Business Network collaboration accelerate?
LinkedIn
May 01, 2018
The concept of a Digital Twin moves manufacturers and operators closer to the ultimate goal of
- selling outcomes(results)
- instead of products (machines)

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Digital Twins

How to deliver value with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - watch this video
LinkedIn
April 19, 2018
Watch this video and get a real use case how machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) work. Have you ever asked yourself, how to measure marketing spend and how often your ads are really recognized by people watching TV?

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Tags: AI, Digital Transformation

CPO Survey 2018 - Digital Procurement Takes Flight
LinkedIn
April 10, 2018
For the last 20 years, procurement has slowly been transforming from a tactical, manual process to a strategic digital function. But things are about to take off. According to the results of a new global survey, leading procurement organizations see digitization as the future.

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Tags: Procurement

How to fight Human Trafficking?
LinkedIn
April 09, 2018
What’s the difference between a wildly successful business that builds momentum and grows year over year or one that fizzles out within a year or two? If you say lack of profits or financial funding, you only understand a tiny part of the answer.

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Tags: Social, Supply Chain

How to succeed with digital transformation of procurement and the supply chain?
LinkedIn
April 07, 2018
From cloud computing and robotics to drones and self-driving cars, it seems as though the entire business world has embraced digital technologies.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, Procurement

How to make it simple to explain AI, ML, DL and Data Science?
LinkedIn
March 24, 2018
Even the most complex topics can be segregated in easy to consume buckets. Let me try to explain them and let's start with the evolution:

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Tags: AI, Digital Transformation

Artificial Intelligence: What’s Now and Next in IoT-Driven Supply Chain Innovation
LinkedIn
March 22, 2018
Like most people, coffee is one of the most important rituals in my morning routine. There’s something about the aroma and taste that kick-starts my ability to have a great day. So imagine my surprise when I found out that a favorite coffee shop was closed before I had to jump on an early-morning flight home.

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Tags: AI, Innovation, Supply Chain

What does the future hold for technology? Some movies have been surprisingly accurate!
LinkedIn
March 16, 2018
Adjusting current business models to capitalize on trends in technology is essential for any company to survive. Many of today’s market leaders, from Google and Apple to eBay and Alibaba, deliver technologies that could only have been dreamt of years ago.

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Tags: Digital Transformation

Will there be a procurement function in 2025?
LinkedIn
March 11, 2018
There are those who believe that robots, artificial intelligence and machine learning will eventually replace it. I am personally not among them. Commerce is, after all, a social function driven by business partners. Technology will make business more personal, contextual, intelligent and efficient in the years ahead.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Going digital? Key factors to consider when evaluating software solutions
LinkedIn
February 26, 2018
As previously discrete procurement activities converge onto unified, cloud-based networks — tying together sourcing, purchasing, payment and contract-management functions — many professionals in the field are no longer asking when or whether to embrace such systems, but which ones?

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

How will Blockchain impact Procurement and Supply Chain?
LinkedIn
February 22, 2018
Blockchain is a very fast emerging technology mainly used in the financial services industry and mostly known for Bitcoins or crypto currencies. Blockchain might disrupt entire industry as well as core processes in companies, incl. finance, procurement and supply chain.

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Tags: Blockchain, Supply Chain, Procurement

Will Machine Learning Save Procurement Millions a Year?
LinkedIn
February 14, 2018
When it comes to automating processes, procurement organizations are no slouches. Long ago, chief procurement officers automated administration, payroll processing, material-resource needs calculation, invoice generation, and material flow tracking.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, Payroll

Procurement 2018 in a Word: Intelligent
LinkedIn
November 10, 2017
What might change for Procurement and Supply Chain in 2018? After attending the latest procurement conferences, reading reports from advisory and consulting companies as well as speaking to leading analysts some trends can be summarized with Procurement is going digital, getting smarter and driving change.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Big Data in Procurement: Large amounts of data bring great potential for procurement & supply chain
LinkedIn
October 30, 2017
After years of technological innovation and the massive IT investment in recent years, businesses are now sitting on a mountain of data. This unmanageable mass of unstructured data on production, marketing, sales, HR, finance and operations, as well as many other internal processes, is complemented by transaction data for suppliers, customers and partners

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Tags: Big Data, Digital Transformation, Procurement

The Journey to Value for Procurement and Supply Chain
LinkedIn
October 08, 2017
Earning – indeed deserving – a seat at the strategy table has long been the cornerstone of business value creation. Procurement is at its best when it is brought in early and can help drive markets to meet demand. Relevance requires presence, and presence demands a unique contribution.

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Tags: Supply Chain, Procurement

Big Data and Procurement
LinkedIn
September 04, 2017
The amount of data is exploding - approx. 90% of the data that exists in the world today was created in the last two years alone. Procurement systems capture a vast amount of data, including sourcing information, weather reports, manufacturing and delivery data, supplier data, purchasing data, catalogue data, and more.

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Tags: Big Data, Procurement

The digital transformation journey of Procurement – one prediction?
LinkedIn
July 14, 2017
Digital transformation remains a top priority for C-level executives, but more and more also for all lines of businesses, like procurement. How will digitalization impact the procurement function and how to adapt technology trends, such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Internet of Things/Industry 4.0 and Big Data with Predicative Analytics for business networks?

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

What is the Digital Economy?
LinkedIn
July 08, 2017
What is the impact for Procurement and Supply Chain in the Digital World?
Top disruptive digital trends in technology
hyper-connectivity,
super computing,
cloud computing,

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, Procurement

Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Procurement’s Next Big Thing or Next Big Hype?
LinkedIn
May 25, 2017
There are two schools of thought when it comes to robots and automation in the workplace: Some people warn of soaring unemployment rates, and others foresee a future workforce of more productive, engaged, and motivated talent.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement, RPA

The Future of Procurement in a Word: Intelligent
LinkedIn
May 18, 2017
The digitization of business is taking hold. From machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to blockchain, cloud and networks, digital technologies are opening the door to new, more efficient and intelligent ways of operating. And nowhere is this more evident than in procurement.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Predicting the Future with Procurement - Conclusion of the CPO Survey 2017
LinkedIn
April 19, 2017
The world has gone digital. We are more connected and do things in faster, more efficient, intelligent and productive ways than ever. And not just in our personal lives. Digitalization is presenting new opportunities for businesses to predict and respond more effectively to customer and market demands

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Procurement Goes Digital. Driven by new technologies, insights and talent, the function becomes more efficient and strategic than ever
LinkedIn
April 11, 2017
To understand the priorities and challenges that global companies are facing on their path to become digital, SAP Ariba, in cooperation with the University of Applied Science Würzburg/Schweinfurt, conducted a global survey amongst 650 leaders in procurement, finance and supply chain functions from organisations in North America and Europe between December 2016 and February 2017

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Predicting the Future with Procurement
LinkedIn
April 10, 2017
For years, companies have been collecting and analyzing massive amounts of information - everything from structured data on production, marketing, sales, HR, finance, facilities and operations to transaction-level data on suppliers, customers and partners. But big data is changing the game.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Digital Road to 2020: Why Business Networks Are More Than Technology
LinkedIn
March 02, 2017
If we reflect on the volume of changes over the last couple decades, it becomes apparent that the desire to increase business and process efficiency is a primary driver. The evolution of new technology is simply an enabler, starting with a singular approach through innovations (such as smartphones, tablets, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems) and later elevated into new business models realized by the likes of Uber and Airbnb.

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Tags: Digital Transformation

Procurement and Gender Diversity: Building Leadership That Matters
LinkedIn
February 23, 2017
Procurement is often viewed as a numbers game. A delicate mix of costs, vendor performance ratings, and operational efficiencies is calculated and used to meet the precise needs of the corporate strategy. However, math alone does not forge the best supplier relationships.

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Tags: Procurement, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion

A Real-Life Case of How will 'Internet of Things'? (IoT) change Procurement in the future?
LinkedIn
February 16, 2017
Everybody talks about how disruptive trends, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), is impacting supply chains and procurement processes. However, the real discussion is how these two areas of the business can realize new levels of efficiency with this technology.

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Tags: IoT

Are Business Networks the future?
LinkedIn
February 12, 2017
More than twenty years ago, the idea that the Internet was a viable tool for business was largely viewed as a crazy idea. 2017, few companies can imagine doing things any other way. Business Networks aren’t just connecting buyers and suppliers to collaborate around commerce, they’re actually creating it.

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Tags: Digital Transformation

Millennials Getting Into Tech - Are they woefully misunderstood?
LinkedIn
February 06, 2017
Different Strokes: Don’t Paint Millennials with a Broad Brush
“I’m just a soul whose intentions are good/Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood” - Eric Burdon & The Animals

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Tags: Digital Transformation

How prepared are your Organization for any Supply Chain Disruptions?
LinkedIn
February 01, 2017
Driven by demand for lower manufacturing costs and access to specialist capabilities and technologies, most supply-chain operations rely on a complex mix of large and small businesses.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain

Erfolgreiche Führung von Shared Services
LinkedIn
December 26, 2016
Ich freue mich, dass wir nach Gründung des Arbeitskreises Shared Services der Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft im Jahr 2011 nach harter Arbeit in diesem Jahr die zusammenfassende Publikation herausgeben können: "Erfolgreiche Führung von Shared Services"

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Tags: Digital Transformation

Work SMARTER in Procurement, not harder (but also much FASTER)
LinkedIn
December 21, 2016
SAP Ariba just hit a major milestone for our industry and it will definitely transform your business processes beyond anything else imaginable!

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Procurement Without Bias: Taking Supplier Diversity Beyond A Spending Goal
LinkedIn
December 04, 2016
Supplier diversity is quickly evolving from a corporate social responsibility initiative to a strategic enabler. Increasingly, companies are realizing the competitive potential of supplier diversity programs – from greater market share among emerging customer segments and stronger stock performance to faster innovation cycles and entry into untapped markets. In fact, according to DiversityInc.’s 2016 ranking, many of the world’s largest companies – including Accenture, AT&T, and Walmart – are heavily investing in the power of minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, LGBT-owned, and SBA-defined small-business vendors.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

What does the coffee market teach us about procurement's future?
LinkedIn
November 26, 2016
Procurement has gone digital and there’s no turning back. Our digital way of life is reinventing how business is done, from operational processes to customer engagement. Look as far as the local coffee shop.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

‘Predictive Procurement’ - How Big Data will Change the Game
LinkedIn
November 16, 2016
The act of collecting and analyzing data isn’t new for years, companies have been amassing large quantities of information - everything from structured data on production, marketing, sales, HR, finance, facilities and operations to transaction-level data on suppliers, customers and partners.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Business Networks: What a Difference Two Decades Makes
LinkedIn
October 24, 2016
Twenty years ago, the idea that the Internet was a viable tool for business was largely viewed as a joke. Today, few companies can imagine doing things any other way. Business networks aren’t just connecting buyers and suppliers to collaborate around commerce, they’re actually creating it.

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Tags: Digital Transformation

Future of Procurement - People are our most valuable asset
LinkedIn
September 14, 2016
A digital transformation is taking hold around the world, and new business models are transforming entire industries. Uber and Didicar, for instance, disrupting the taxi business with a totally new way of hailing rides - and now driverless cars. Airbnb is upending the accommodation industry by offering millions of beds globally.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

The Future of Procurement – What to do today?
LinkedIn
July 25, 2016
In my first article The Future of Procurement - One Perspective I discussed how procurement goes digital and concluded that the CPO might evolve to a Chief Value Officer to create impact and drive measurable value for a company.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

The Future of Procurement - One Perspective
LinkedIn
June 23, 2016
Disruptive trends in technology are changing the function as we know it today. Procurement is fast evolving into a more strategic and value generating function. This blog is designed to spark a lively discussion among those who are driving this transition about where things are headed.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

EMEA Shared Services Survey in cooperation with the School of Management and Innovation (Steinbeis-University Berlin)
Marcell Vollmer
November 01, 2007

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Tags: Innovation, Management

Shared Services Organization. Future Trends: Multi-function and Automation
Vollmer, M./ Neukirchen, R./ Fischer, B.
July 01, 2007

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Tags: Innovation, IoT

Controlling Toolbox for successful Change Management
Neuenkirchen, R./ Vollmer, M.
February 01, 2007

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Tags: Innovation, Management, Change Management

3 Books
Erfolgreiche Führung von Shared Services
Fischer, T. /Vollmer, M.
March 17, 2017
Herausgeber: Fischer, Thomas M., Vollmer, Marcell (Hrsg.)

Wissenschaftliche Fundierung des Themas verbunden mit hohem Praxisbezug durch die Mitwirkung von 16 Unternehmensvertretern aus dem Arbeitskreis Shared Services
Wissenschaftliche und praktische Darstellung der Wertschöpfungssysteme, des Performance-Controllings und der Geschäftsentwicklung in Shared-Service-Organisationen
Eine Vielzahl an Erfolgsbeispielen zum Thema Shared Services aus führenden deutschen Unternehmen

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Tags: Supply Chain

Successful leadership of Shared Services / Original in German: Erfolgreiche Führung von Shared Services (ZfbF-Sonderheft)
Marcell Vollmer
March 10, 2017
Decentralized support processes are re-organized in shared service center. A shared service center offers administrative services like accounting, personnel administration, or information technology. Main objectives of the centralized services are cost reduction and quality improvement. Centralized process bundling of services will become a competence of the implemented shared services and is analyzed in the book with company examples across European enterprises, incl. SAP, Siemens, Linde, Bertelsmann, BASF, ...

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Tags: Business Strategy, Change Management, Digital Transformation

Die Auswirkung einer Post-Merger-Integration auf die Interaktionsbeziehung zwischen Geschäftsleitung und Betriebsrat. Eine Fallstudie am Beispiel der Integration zweier Unternehmen in einen Konzern
Marcell Vollmer
December 28, 2006
Diese Fallstudie befasst sich mit der Akquisition und anschließenden Integration von zwei Unternehmen in einen Konzern. Die empirische Grundlage der Untersuchung sind qualitative Interviews mit Betriebsratsmitgliedern und Personalverantwortlichen. Obwohl die Akteure zwei völlig unterschiedliche Verhandlungsstrategien wählten, folgten daraus keine Unterschiede im Zusammenhang mit den zentralen Entscheidungen auf Konzernebene und für den Verlauf des Integrationsprozesses. Der Autor kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass sich kein einheitliches Verlaufsmuster der Interaktionsdynamik herauskristallisiert hat. Die Einflussmöglichkeiten der Akteure, insbesondere die der Betriebsratsmitglieder, auf die Entscheidungen der Konzernführung im Verlauf der Integrationsphase waren sehr gering.

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Tags: Supply Chain, Future of Work

3 Book Chapters
Next Generation Shared Services – Automation as a Trend
VOLLMER, M./FISCHER, B./RÖDER, S.
August 28, 2018

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Tags: Procurement, Supply Chain

Strategisches IT-Management in Förderbanken
RÖDER, S./VOLLMER, M.
August 28, 2018

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Tags: Leadership, Management

Change Management und Shared Services – Einbindung der Stakeholder
Neuenkirchen, R./ Vollmer, M.
January 01, 2008

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Tags: Innovation, Management, Change Management

1 Industry Award
Digital Ambassador for SAP
SAP
October 18, 2018
Selected as 'Digital Ambassador' by SAP's Digital Transformation Office to help our customers to define and drive digital transformation strategies.

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Tags: Digital Transformation

3 Keynotes
Disruptive Trends in Technology: Dr. Marcell Vollmer
Operation HOPE
April 05, 2018

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Tags: Digital Disruption, Digital Transformation, Procurement

Disruptive Trends in Technology
Marcell Vollmer
April 05, 2018
Disruptive Trends in Technology

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Tags: Digital Transformation, IoT, Social

Ariba COO Marcell Vollmer on Procurement at SAP | Ariba LIVE 2015 Munich
SAP Ariba
June 16, 2015
Marcell Vollmer, Ariba's Chief Operating Officer, explores procurement at SAP and the transformation journey to improve the end user experience and compliance, enhance supplier relationships and ultimately save money. For more information, visit: http://www.ariba.com/

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Tags: Customer Experience, Procurement

11 Media Interviews
Episode 15: Marcell Vollmer Future Technologies
Dr. Marcell Vollmer
November 25, 2019
Forward Focused
Episodes Produced by Pypestream Digital LabsWebsite
Talking to thought leaders about the impact of technology on the future of business.

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Tags: Big Data, Digital Transformation, Leadership

Explore SAP’s digital supply chain
Dukascopy TV
June 06, 2019
Normal process of supply chain is about producing something and also get logistics done. But in the digital world, supply chain is about using IoT and Big Data to make everything connected. However, when referring to digital supply chain transformation, companies would ask ‘what are the process? Where to start now?’ These are definitely challenges for them. Dr. Marcell Vollmer, Chief Digital Officer of SAP Ariba

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Tags: Digital Transformation, IoT, Supply Chain

Exclusive podcast with SAP Ariba’s Marcell Vollmer!
CPO Strategy
May 17, 2019
This week we are joined exclusively by Procurement Influencer and SAP Ariba’s Chief Digital Officer, Dr. Marcell Vollmer.
Marcell examines the integral elements to a successful procurement transformation and how it aligns with, and helps steer, a company’s strategic aims.
A fantastic and inspiring listen.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Chief Digital Officer Role as Chief Value Officer
SAP Ariba
May 10, 2019
Hear Dion Hinchcliffe and Marcell Vollmer chat about the role of CDOs, and their thoughts on the opportunities for CFOs and CPOs in a digital transformation projects.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Dr. Marcell Vollmer, Chief Digital Officer, SAP Ariba
Regalix Inc.
December 04, 2018
In this episode of Deep Dive, our guest is Dr. Marcell Vollmer the Chief Digital Officer of Sap Ariba. We discuss the role of SAP Ariba in a company’s digital transformation journey, new business models that can emerge from taking advantage of the world’s biggest business network, and how procurement has moved from the back-office to become a strategic game changer.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, Procurement

An Interview with Dr. Marcell Vollmer
Enterprise Alliance
October 17, 2018

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Emerging Technology, Management

Transforming Procurement for the Future
SAP Ariba
July 17, 2018
SAP Ariba Chief Digital Officer, Marcell Vollmer, talks to Nicholas Evans about the role of Procurement and its evolution from a back-office function to a key driver of growth within organizations.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Procurement

Using Business Networks and Machine Learning to Evaluate Suppliers
SAP Ariba
July 17, 2018
Global Top 10 IoT, AI & Data Science Influencer Ronald van Loon interviews Marcell Vollmer, Chief Digital Officer at SAP Ariba. Watch this video to learn how CPOs can use business networks to increase transparency and evaluate suppliers.

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Tags: AI, Supply Chain, Procurement

IOT Recruiting Podcast - #5 Dr. Marcell Vollmer - SAP Ariba Chief Digital Officer
IoT Recruiting
March 24, 2018
Marcell Vollmer is responsible for defining and driving digital transformation for SAP Ariba customers globally. He is a thought leader in procurement, supply chain, finance, and shared services, Marcell’s expertise lies in defining digital transformation strategy. He makes Run Simple a reality for customers around the world by helping them achieve significant cost reductions in procurement.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, Procurement

Views from Business Leaders
SAP Nordic
May 09, 2017

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Leadership, Management

On Becoming a CPO and Procurement Transformation at SAP: An Interview with Dr. Marcell Vollmer (Part 1)
Spend Matters
March 27, 2017
At SAP Ariba LIVE last week, I had the chance to catch up with Dr. Marcell Vollmer, who, despite his degree, comes off as anything but an academic. The discussion quickly turned into an interview because I was most curious about his past role as an almost “accidental CPO” at SAP before he became the chief digital officer for SAP Ariba.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, Procurement

1 Panel
Reimagining Supplier Ecosystems
LinkedIn
September 02, 2020
It's with great pleasure that I can announce Dr. Marcell Vollmer will joining the Vizibl Collaborate 2020 speaker lineup.

I've really enjoyed collaborating with Marcell few years and excited to have him involved in the topic of "reimaging supplier ecosystems & partnerships" at Collaborate.

I hope you can join us on the 30th Sept for the virtual event. In addition to the great speakers like Marcell there will be lots of opportunities to network and speak the other attendees who are exploring the topic.

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Tags: Sustainability, Supply Chain, Ecosystems

1 Speaking Engagement
What’s the future of automotive? Disruptive technologies impacting and transforming the industry
Dr. Marcell Vollmer
May 20, 2019
What’s the future of automotive?
Disruptive technologies impacting and transforming the industry

Electric Cars, Autonomous Vehicles, Tesla, Automation, AI, IoT, Supply Chain

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Tags: Autonomous Vehicles, Digital Transformation, Emerging Technology

1 Video
Digital Transformation starts with Analytics and Culture
SAP Ariba
July 17, 2018
In this interview, Daniel Newman, Principal Analyst at Broadsuite Media Group, talks SAP Ariba Chief Digital Officer, Marcell Vollmer, about the characteristics of companies that are successful in digital transformation. He shares his insights on the consumerization of B2B and how players in the space can become experience focused and differentiate from the competition.

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Tags: Analytics, Digital Transformation, Culture

1 Whitepaper
Procurement 2025
SAP Ariba
January 15, 2018
The golden age of procurement is upon us.

Over the next 10 years, companies will face more opportunity and
disruption than ever before. Digital transformation is already helping
companies redefine their business models, operating processes, and
work – and this trend will accelerate as powerful technologies mature.
Given that up to 65% of the value of a company’s products or services is
derived from its suppliers1, procurement will play a leading role in
enabling this transformation.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Innovation, Procurement

Thinkers360 Credentials

15 Badges

Blog

1 Article/Blog
How will disruptive technologies change the future?
Thinkers360
August 21, 2018
100 years ago, nearly 40% of all US jobs were in agriculture. Today, the figure is less than 2%. The same dynamic happened in manufacturing, which in the 1950s dominated the jobs, but since then has consistently dropped as a mass employer. Technology made both trends happen then, and new, disruptive technology shows no evidence of slowing down these trends now. Digitalization is having disruptive effects on managerial, logistics and other supply chain functions. Automation in plants, artificial intelligence, connected devices in fulfilment centers, and areas like procurement, production planning and maintenance are transforming jobs. Procurement has a unique opportunity by focusing on value creating activities as automation will reduce transactional, bureaucratic tasks and free up resources. Currently more and more operational, tactical activities are getting automated in all back office functions. The impact for source-to-pay – procurement, operational procurement, accounts payable, finance and travel & expenses – is significant and will lead to less people needed to drive the purchasing activities, finance tasks. The future procurement function will be much smaller, but more strategic, as the strategic tasks are remaining. I like the saying: The future procurement, finance function will be powered by data, but driven by people. The CPO of the future needs to define an organization with a unique value proposition. The value contribution is and will be key, but with a smaller organization focused on the strategic tasks with category management, driving supplier innovations, highly integrated supply chain, risk management, compliance, sustainability, supplier management and analytics. As the procurement organization of the future owns the relationship with suppliers and can define standards for sustainability, CSR, diversity in the entire supply base, including the balance between global and local supplies. The focus is purpose, because consumers demand to know where the products they are buying come from. Supply chains are the biggest source of risk and opportunity in terms of finding solutions to today’s challenges and the demand from the consumers. The procurement function of the future must align goals and actions as well as understand how to work with suppliers best to find answers to the purposeful questions that really matter.

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Tags: Digital Transformation, Sustainability, Procurement

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