Unlocking True Supplier Value: In Conversation with Mark Perera

Beyond Cost Savings: How Supplier Engagement Unlocks True Business Value

In an era where 80% of company spend often goes to suppliers, strong supplier engagement isn’t just a ‘nice to have’—it’s a strategic imperative. In this conversation, Caitlyn Lewis, CEO of Supplier Day, speaks with Mark Perera, a leading procurement expert, to unpack why businesses need to think beyond cost-cutting and focus on building deep, value-driven supplier relationships.

Mark highlights the difference between transactional supplier management and true engagement—where collaboration, innovation, and operational efficiency take centre stage. They discuss how leading organisations are aligning their supplier ecosystems with their long-term business strategies, ensuring that suppliers are partners in driving new product development, sustainability initiatives, and profitability.

Key takeaways include:
✅ How supplier engagement accelerates innovation and commercialisation
✅ The importance of long-term supplier relationships for resilience and agility
✅ Why companies must move beyond short-term cost savings and focus on sustained value creation
✅ How organisations can measure the impact of supplier engagement on business performance

If procurement is to become a true enabler of business growth, companies must invest in supplier engagement the way they do with talent management—ensuring suppliers are aligned, motivated, and positioned to contribute to long-term success.

Listen to the full interview and discover how to turn your suppliers into a true competitive advantage.

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