Lotfi Ben Alaya, professor at the Higher Institute of Commercial Studies of Carthage, stated that the purchasing function within companies now requires specialized skills aimed at developing professional knowledge and behavior, as well as building an integrated career path.
He stressed that purchases represent between 70% and 80% of the overall costs of companies.
Speaking to Express FM on Thursday, April 23, he noted that financial balance and profitability necessarily depend on effective procurement management, adding that around 75% of small and medium-sized enterprises face financial difficulties, mainly due to accumulated inefficiencies and poor purchasing practices.
He explained that the role of the buyer is no longer limited to seeking the lowest prices, but has become a key driver of sustainability and innovation within companies.
He also emphasized that suppliers are no longer seen as adversaries, but as strategic partners contributing to improved procurement quality and overall performance.
Ben Alaya further highlighted the importance of procurement in implementing corporate social and environmental responsibility standards, particularly for Tunisian export-oriented companies, as these criteria have become essential for accessing international markets.
He added that these transformations will be at the heart of an event held Thursday at the headquarters of the Arab Institute of Business Leaders, organized by “TuniPages” under the theme “Purchasing and Buyers,” where discussions will focus on the future development of the procurement sector, as well as the possibility of creating an “Association of Responsible Buyers in Tunisia.”
