Satellite Solutions Category Procurement Intelligence Report

Several macro changes in the dynamics of overall Networking as well as Satellite Solutions procurement trends are poised to change the business practices and procurement thumb rules. The cut-throat competition in the category is compelling suppliers to go aggressive on their pricing structure and increase their spend on sales and marketing activities. As a result, most suppliers are feeling a pressure on their margins and trying to offer higher margin value added services to have a better control on their profitability.

New locations and vendors are emerging as cost effective suppliers of Satellite Solutions, offering an opportunity to widen the supplier base and gain further negotiation leverage with incumbent suppliers.

Stringency in the regulatory norms pertaining to data protection and cybersecurity has increased compliance and security burden on suppliers. These additional costs have a potential to drive marginal increase in prices across the key geographies.

Category managers need to take note of the potential of these developments and reassess the changes required in their procurement practices.

The report discusses in detail the best practices that have served well the category managers responsible for Satellite Solutions procurement.

For example, Needs of buyers can vary depending on the industry where buyers operate. For instance, buyers from the financial services industry give high importance to regulatory compliance and data security, whereas buyers from the e-commerce industry prioritize high throughput, low response time, and high scalability. Hence, service providers with a strong knowledge of the security, compliance, and governance needs of buyers' industries and a proven track record of performance with respect to these aspects should be prioritized.

It is important for category managers to track and measure the performance of suppliers against a defined set of KPIs that are agreed upon by both parties. Buyers should engage with providers that offer mobile applications and online dashboards to monitor essential performance parameters of the products and services procured.

Transferring to a new supplier can be often costly and can further get exacerbated by instances of vendor lock-ins. Buyers must scrutinize the offerings of service providers for any possibilities of vendor lock-ins and demand client testimonials from service providers to assess such possibilities. Watch out for products/services that are priced excessively low, as they can often result in costly lock-ins.

Satellite Solutions procurement managers also need to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks that can arise in the supply chain or contracts for Satellite Solutions procurement. Some examples include: