8 skills of a successful purchasing manager

Check out eight skills that a purchasing manager needs to develop to successfully perform their activities and be successful in the market.

Just like any profession, a purchasing manager needs to know how to develop a series of skills to be able to do a good job. This position has gained more and more prominence in recent years, becoming a vital position for many businesses and companies.

A good purchasing manager needs to adapt to an increasingly dynamic market, knowing how to identify good opportunities, both financial and in terms of commercial relationships, for his company.

If you already work or want to work in this area, we will help you! Check out eight skills that a purchasing manager needs to have to be successful in their career.

1. Act ethically

This concept is broad, but it is still essential. A good purchasing manager must always act ethically in his/her activities. Since he/she is often dealing with the selection of new suppliers , sales contracts and business deals, the professional must always seek the best opportunities for the company, and not for himself/herself.

The details of each negotiation must be clear and transparent, demonstrating that acquisitions were always made with the company's needs in mind, and for products or services of good quality and good value for money.

Furthermore, it is necessary to always comply with the company's compliance rules, avoiding personal "gifts" and "rewards" as incentives for a contract or business to be carried out. In this sense, under no circumstances should the manager demand payments or favors for himself in order for an agreement to be completed.

2. Know how to negotiate and relate

Because they are constantly in contact with suppliers, the purchasing manager needs to master the art of negotiating. After all, this position exists so that the company can find good products or services on the market at the best price. Therefore, it is necessary to know the correct way to negotiate in order to obtain more affordable quotes.

To do this, you need to be persuasive, communicative, and show empathy and friendliness to build a good relationship with the sales team, thus achieving more affordable prices and delivery conditions. But at the same time, you need to be firm and know what is best for the company as a whole.

3. Be organized

On a daily basis, a purchasing manager deals with several vendors, quotes, documents, spreadsheets and stocks. Without good organization and planning of your activities, the chances of getting lost in the activities or missing out on good opportunities increase.

Therefore, professionals in this area need to be able to organize their routine, priorities and tasks, in order to be as productive as possible. Imagine if the company had to stop its activities because the purchasing manager forgot to check the stock, or forgot to finalize the purchase of materials for the month. This could harm the entire company. That is why organization is essential.

4. Know how to use metrics and indicators

A good purchasing manager does not only master negotiation and sales skills . After contracts are signed, it is necessary to monitor the performance of suppliers. To know if they are meeting deadlines and other requirements and if products and services are being delivered at a satisfactory level.

To do this, it is necessary to determine and use metrics and performance indicators to know which processes are being performed correctly and which need to be improved. In addition, the indicators can help to manage the cash available to make future acquisitions.

5. Know the products you are buying

In addition to knowing their suppliers well, a good purchasing manager needs to seek to understand the products that need to be purchased. This way, in addition to being able to more easily verify the quality of the items being purchased, they will not fall for the idle talk of a malicious salesperson.

6. Be proactive

One mistake that some purchasing managers make after building a good portfolio of suppliers and developing good relationships with them is to become complacent. By doing this, the professional fails to find good opportunities that can benefit their company. The sales market is very dynamic, and a good manager must always be looking for better deals.

7. Always be evolving

In addition to seeking better business opportunities, a good purchasing manager always looks for ways to improve his or her work. Always seek to evolve, whether through courses, lectures or trade shows. In addition to improving your skills, making you even more valuable to the company, you will have the chance to make new business contacts at these events.

8. Know how to adapt

In some circumstances, the budget allocated for purchases may drop drastically. Or, if business is going well, demand for new products may increase rapidly. In both cases, you need to know how to adapt and “dance to the music”. Always have extra suppliers or an action plan prepared in case of an emergency situation;