DAS Holding Brochure — 2018

Das Holding

Procurement proficiency in the Middle East

PROJECT PARTNERS

Generating procurement power in the Middle East Das Holding is building and developing its procurement proficiency, at the same time growing the profile of the industry in the region Written by DALE BENTON Produced by HEYKEL OUNI

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ROCUREMENT AS AN

industry in the Middle East is growing at an exponential rate. Historically, as a function, procurement across the region has significantly lagged behind many of the leading industries across the world but, as Sam Achampong, Regional Head – Middle East and North Africa (MENA), The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) believes, the tide is beginning to turn.

“A larger number of experienced professionals are being put at the top of procurement functions to start filtering down and embedding best practice across all their staff and all their functions and the way they do things,” he says. “That’s what’s happening exponentially across the Middle East and if it continues to happen then I firmly believe that the region will become the centre of excellence for procurement.”

One such example of this is Das Holding. In 2014, as part of the DAS Group of Companies, it embarked on a journey of centralising its procurement function and services within the Middle East. This journey was driven 123

by one clear vision – to become the leading UAE holding company and the preferred partner of choice for institutional investors, governments and multinational corporations.

Overseeing this journey is Christopher Bentley, Head of Procurement at Das Holding.

“I have a procurement mission,” he says, “to support Das Holding’ business vision by delivering a preferred, dynamic and strategically aligned procurement service. One that will work closely with the company’s business units to

optimise cost space and provide department charter, designed to a sustainable, competitive advantage analyse the market to find best practice in every aspect of its local business.” in order to deliver sustainable, compAs the company looks to build a etitive advantage through a process of mature, leading edge procurement continuous improvement. function, doing so in a market that is But how does this translate into the still growing in its proficiency and day to day operation? capabilities is not without its challenges.

“We adopt an adherence to a one Bentley recognises this and looks to team, no barriers policy,” says Bentley. break down the overarching vision to “One that will practically involve a global be the leading holdings company across supply base and be based on leading the UAE, recognising and extracting just edge technology, coordination of supply how procurement can support this. decisions and the application of global This saw the forming of a procurement supply chain processes.”

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LEADING GLOBAL EXCELLENCE IN PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY CIPS, THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF PROCUREMENT & SUPPLY, IS…

CIPS CLIENTS IN MENA INCLUDE:

THE PROFESSIONAL BODY A not-for-profit organisation that exists for the public good, promoting and developing high standards of skill, ability and integrity among procurement and supply chain professionals.

QUALITY GUARANTEED CIPS qualifications are recognised by regulators across the world, including the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, demonstrating that they meet specific quality standards.

THE GLOBAL STANDARD CIPS Global Standard in Procurement and Supply sets the benchmark for what good looks like in the profession.

A COMMERCIAL ORGANISATION CIPS helps businesses and governments around the world to excel in procurement and supply, supporting them to improve and deliver results and raise standards.

A GLOBAL COMMUNITY We are the world’s largest professional body dedicated to procurement and supply with a community of over 200,000 professionals in over 150 countries, and offices in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the USA.

WWW.CIPS.ORG | MENA.ENQUIRIES@CIPS.ORG

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All of which, of course, while ensuring the ongoing support of Das Holding’s business units.

This is where Bentley feels his particular way of working can truly generate added value along this journey.

“It would be easy to sit in a position at the top and bark out procedures and policies,” he says. “But I don’t work that way. I like to open myself up to our staff and I want procurement to work in a way that is able to look at key objectives, analyse our performance and understand where we can improve and grow. And I’m right there with 127

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them in the trenches.”

An organisation can only thrive and succeed through its workforce. Das Holding as an organisation is a firm believer in empowering its employees, empowered employees that will contribute to the exponential growth of the company.

Bentley is a firm believer in this, ensuring that all members of his team feel a part of the process by asking them simple questions. Where are we going? How are we going to get there?

What part will you play? How can you make a difference?

The value of this approach, for Bentley, “ I have a procurement is second to none. mission to support “Das Holding promotes a selfDas Holding’ business rewarding mentality, so that when an vision by delivering employee gets paid at the end of the a preferred, dyna mic month they can really see where they and str ategically earned that and how they played a key aligned procurement part in our growth,” he says. service. One that will “My door is always open, but I work closely with encourage them to push themselves, the company’s business and if there is an issue then we work units to optimised cost collab-oratively to locate and remove space and to provide that pain point, and to me the results a sustainable, competitive of this mentality and approach speak advantage in every aspect for themselves.” of its local business” This approach is one that Bentley – Christopher Bentley, Head of Procurement, DAS Holding practices, and does not just preach.

In 2017, he was awarded fellowship from CIPS, being fast-tracked as a result of the work he has done to grow the and more opportunities to grow, procurement profession.

Das Holding has been recognised “Receiving fellowship not only pushed as a reputable, market leader in the me to develop my own capabilities, it procurement space. exposed my procurement team to much In supply and procurement, you are more,” he says. “A whole new skills only as good as your suppliers and cabinet, one that has enabled us to grow vendors and the partners that you and develop our staff far beyond what work with. For Das Holding, this was we ever could achieve without it.” one of the very first things it looked to This was a process that worked both ensure in creating a reputable ways – as Bentley was exposed to more procurement function.

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Christopher Bentley, Head of Procurement, DAS Holding The company rates its suppliers through five different categories: Alliance Partner, Preferred, Approved, Conditional and Eliminate. This is decided through conversations with the procurement arm that discusses the business relationship, the value and the capabilities and efficiencies that partner can bring.

“So, you look at the business 129

relationship this supplier has with me and DAS,” says Bentley, “and then you break it down further. That supplier has to be the first choice for new business, so what can we do to enable that? This model allows us as a business to be wholly central, to have full control where possible in order to create an efficient procurement supplier model.”

For Bentley, this model “revolutionised” “ Das Holding promotes a selfthe way DAS operates through procure- rewarding mentality, so that ment overnight. It improved relationships when an employee gets paid at the end of the month they can and generated cost savings and truly enhanced the reputation that DAS was really see where they earned that and how they played a key already establishing. part in our growth” In the four years since Das Holding embarked on this journey, the company – Christopher Bentley, Head of Procurement, DAS Holding has already come a long way in its quest to be a procurement partner of Das Holding

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choice. Through the way it engages with its suppliers, Das Holding has played in a key role not only in the development of its own procurement, but supporting the development of the procurement industry across the region.

Das Holding works with suppliers through open, transparent communication. “We invite them into the office and we talk about a number of things,” says Bentley. “What’s going on in the market? What’s happening to the local economy? How are you

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using that to shape how you work as our partner?

“Increasing that transparency makes a better relationship. We are recognising their achievements, their attitudes and their capabilities as they grow our business and the wider market.”

It is this approach to suppliers, and to the procurement industry, that makes Das Holding a key player in the maturing market as recognised by Achampong of CIPS. “As a procurement player, Das

Holding really are an example of what procurement in this region can be,” he says. “In Chris, the company has hired an experienced and professional to setup a function, professionalise and grow the competency of that function and then instil best practice across the organisation.”

Achampong feels that it’s an exciting time for procurement across the Middle East.

“Expand that across the region and that’s exactly what’s happening,” he

continues. “Experienced leaders are working at the top of procurement functions and filtering down and embedding best practice across the industry.

“That’s really what’s happening exponentially across that region and if it continues to happen, it really will be a procurement centre of excellence in no time at all.”

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4th Floor, Dusit Thani Complex Offices Building P.O. Box 161 Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. T +971 2 414 1111 www.dasholding.me