Friday, September 26, 2025
IFPSM Summit 2025 in Xiamen: Purchasing associations networking gathering looks to the future
Source: shutterstock.com / Songquan Deng
More than 2,000 participants from 25 member associations, over 150 presentations and discussion forums, as well as large showrooms from AI companies: this year's summit of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM) in Xiamen, China, provided exciting insights into the development of procurement as a whole and the rapid development in China.
Global changes, technical developments, bureaucratic and organisational challenges are shaping the world of procurement around the globe. The focus is particularly on the use of digitalisation and AI, as Chinese companies, especially the big players in the industry, are investing a lot of money in platforms and processes. The goals are to increase the transparency and efficiency of processes, boost resilience and create added value for companies through successful purchasing.
In his keynote speech at the summit's opening plenary session, BME CEO Dr Lars Kleeberg emphasised the importance and challenges of procurement as a pioneer and shaper of the necessary changes in the future. According to Kleeberg, it is crucial to establish stable networks, particularly with China and the ASEAN region, in the area of supplier management and in overcoming the practical challenges of purchasing and supply management.
"The Summit 2025 and the IFPSM network behind it show how important global exchange and networking are. At the same time, it provides our BME community with lively and direct access to the various procurement regions and regional purchasing networks in 42 countries around the world," said Kleeberg.
Sustainability is a key factor
The speakers at the summit made it clear that ESG issues and sustainability are also defined as key success factors in the purchasing activities of Chinese companies. Modern technologies such as digitalisation and AI play a decisive role in the implementation of the defined goals. Among others, Yan Haiqing, Senior Director of Digital Transformation of Global Supply Chains (Lenovo Group), presented how his company aims to achieve resilient and sustainable supply chain excellence with the help of AI acceleration.
Other important topics at the three-day event included innovations in purchasing, data generation as well as data quality, talent management and KPIs.
The accompanying "6th National Supply Chain Contest" organised by the Chinese purchasing association CFLP also underscored the dynamism of the world's second-largest economy. As part of the competition, more than 200 teams from Chinese companies nationwide competed in a multi-stage business simulation. At the end of the congress, the team that had managed to develop and manage its virtual company best in the various rounds of the game was crowned the winner.
Networking takes center stage
Olaf Holzgrefe, Head of International at BME, emphasised in Xiamen the importance of collaboration on speed and flexibility in supply chain management. Overall, the IFPSM Summit 2025 showed that networking and the exchange of experiences are crucial components for economic success.
The challenges facing procurement are similar around the globe. However, there are some major regional differences in terms of prioritisation and maturity. Among other things, it became clear that development in the Asian region is currently progressing rapidly. It is therefore important to achieve win-win situations through cooperation.
Save the date: 60th Purchasing and Logistics Symposium
The international development of purchasing will also be a topic at the 60th Symposium on Purchasing and Logistics from 12 to 13 November in Berlin. Make a note of the following programme highlights:
Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 5.45 p.m. to 6.15 p.m.
- Technical conference 4 Supply Chain4Excellence, panel discussion
Global procurement and a new era: sourcing strategies between innovation and constant change
Moderator: Olaf Holzgrefe, BME e.V.
Speaker: Dipl. Ing. (FH) Thomas Lohwasser, Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
Thursday, 13 November 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- Morning Special 2
Global sourcing in practice: Effects of geopolitical change on product group strategy – hands-on tips from your colleagues' practical experience
Moderator: Lisa Immensack, BME e.V.
Speakers:
Ann-Christin Freytag, Gabler Thermoform Technology
Albrecht Knobloch, Armaturenfabrik Franz Schneider GmbH + Co. KG
Registration and further information on the 60th Purchasing and Logistics Symposium can be found here.