Investments into sourcing operations are paying off substantially for retailers, grocers and restaurants, according to an industry survey of procurement executives and practitioners, conducted by Intesource. Sixty-two percent of the procurement and sourcing professionals surveyed report their sourcing strategy has a direct and positive impact on company margins, profitability, working capital and cash flow.

Organizations that closely integrate their purchasing and logistics functions deliver better business results, according to a new study from the Global Supply Chain Institute at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. But the study, involving more than 180 supply chain professionals, also shows that many firms fail to capitalize on this opportunity and have supply chains where purchasing and logistics operate in "silos" with little cohesion.