{"id":2272,"date":"2020-10-03T05:21:22","date_gmt":"2020-10-03T05:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/?page_id=2272"},"modified":"2026-05-12T13:23:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T13:23:24","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2272\" class=\"elementor elementor-2272\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d7cb6e7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d7cb6e7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated elementor-element elementor-element-a165c93\" data-id=\"a165c93\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a75adba elementor-icon-list--layout-inline elementor-list-item-link-inline breadcrumbs-last elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"a75adba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items elementor-inline-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Home<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ressourcen<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Blogs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff8a44e elementor-hidden-phone elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ff8a44e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated elementor-element elementor-element-c263067 mr-home-feature-post\" data-id=\"c263067\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-767709f elementor-grid-1 elementor-grid-tablet-1 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"767709f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:39,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43380 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-4-how-to-conduct-a-supplier-evaluation\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tEpisode 4 : How to Conduct a Supplier Evaluation\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The What: What Is a Supplier Evaluation? A supplier evaluation is a structured way of assessing whether a supplier can\u00a0actually deliver\u00a0what\u00a0they&#8217;re\u00a0promising, consistently, without creating risk elsewhere in the business. Most procurement teams pick suppliers based<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-4-how-to-conduct-a-supplier-evaluation\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated elementor-element elementor-element-e96947a elementor-hidden-phone\" data-id=\"e96947a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d2b77d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4d2b77d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Post<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bd52ef elementor-grid-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-none elementor-grid-tablet-1 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"1bd52ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;classic_columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.classic\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-classic elementor-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43197 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/you-fixed-strategic-sourcing-your-tail-spend-is-still-on-fire\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tYou Fixed Strategic Sourcing. Your Tail Spend Is Still on Fire.\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Your procurement team negotiated strong contracts this year. Savings were logged.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/you-fixed-strategic-sourcing-your-tail-spend-is-still-on-fire\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43185 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/merlin-release-notes-version-22-0-may-2026\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tMeRLIN Release Notes Version 22.0 May 2026\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Introduction We are pleased to announce that\u00a0MeRLIN\u00a0version 22.0 is now live.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/merlin-release-notes-version-22-0-may-2026\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43292 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/the-sourcing-decision-your-ai-made-yesterday-who-signed-off-on-it\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe Sourcing Decision Your AI Made Yesterday. Who Signed Off On It?\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>AI is already deciding who makes your shortlist. The EU AI<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/the-sourcing-decision-your-ai-made-yesterday-who-signed-off-on-it\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4448d80 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4448d80\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated elementor-element elementor-element-4618d52a\" data-id=\"4618d52a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f722b79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6f722b79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Get the Latest from MeRLIN<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23d04693 elementor-button-align-stretch elementor-widget elementor-widget-form\" data-id=\"23d04693\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;button_width&quot;:&quot;30&quot;,&quot;step_next_label&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;step_previous_label&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;step_type&quot;:&quot;number_text&quot;,&quot;step_icon_shape&quot;:&quot;circle&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"elementor-form\" method=\"post\" name=\"New Form\" action=\"\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"2272\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"23d04693\"\/>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-form-fields-wrapper elementor-labels-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-email elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-email elementor-col-70 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field-label elementor-screen-only\">Email<\/label><input size=\"1\" type=\"email\" name=\"form_fields[email]\" id=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-md  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Your email\" required=\"required\" aria-required=\"true\">\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-type-submit elementor-col-30 e-form__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"elementor-button elementor-size-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Subscribe<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"trp-form-language\" value=\"de\"\/><\/form>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cbf1b80 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cbf1b80\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated elementor-element elementor-element-f4f5fe8\" data-id=\"f4f5fe8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a89c1f2 elementor-grid-3 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"a89c1f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:56,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43380 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-4-how-to-conduct-a-supplier-evaluation\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tEpisode 4 : How to Conduct a Supplier Evaluation\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The What: What Is a Supplier Evaluation? A supplier evaluation is a structured way of<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-4-how-to-conduct-a-supplier-evaluation\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tJanani Sankaran\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJuly 1, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43371 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-3-how-to-implement-category-management-in-procurement-a-step-by-step-guide\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tEpisode 3: How to Implement Category Management in Procurement: A Step-by-Step Guide\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The What: What is Category Management? Category Management is a strategic procurement approach that groups\u00a0similar<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-3-how-to-implement-category-management-in-procurement-a-step-by-step-guide\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tJanani Sankaran\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 22, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43300 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/your-procurement-ai-is-already-non-compliant-you-just-have-not-been-asked-to-prove-it-yet\/\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Procurement-AI-Is-Already-Non-Compliant-option1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Procurement-AI-Is-Already-Non-Compliant-option1.jpg 980w, https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Procurement-AI-Is-Already-Non-Compliant-option1-300x106.jpg 300w, https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Procurement-AI-Is-Already-Non-Compliant-option1-768x270.jpg 768w, https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Procurement-AI-Is-Already-Non-Compliant-option1-18x6.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" style=\"width:100%;height:35.2%;max-width:980px;\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Merlin<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/your-procurement-ai-is-already-non-compliant-you-just-have-not-been-asked-to-prove-it-yet\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tYour Procurement AI Is Already Non-Compliant. You Just Have Not Been Asked to Prove It Yet.\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The EU AI Act is not a future obligation. It is a present one. In<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/your-procurement-ai-is-already-non-compliant-you-just-have-not-been-asked-to-prove-it-yet\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tPavithra Gunasekaran\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 16, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43359 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-2-how-to-run-a-competitive-rfq-process-without-endless-emails\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tEpisode 2: How to Run a Competitive RFQ Process Without Endless Emails\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The What: What is an RFQ Process? An RFQ (Request for Quotation) is a structured<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-2-how-to-run-a-competitive-rfq-process-without-endless-emails\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tJanani Sankaran\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 11, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43349 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-1-how-to-reduce-direct-material-costs-in-discrete-manufacturing\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tEpisode 1: How to Reduce Direct Material Costs in Discrete Manufacturing\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The What: What is direct material cost? Direct material cost = all physical components and<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/episode-1-how-to-reduce-direct-material-costs-in-discrete-manufacturing\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tJanani Sankaran\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMay 29, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-43292 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-merlin entry\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/the-sourcing-decision-your-ai-made-yesterday-who-signed-off-on-it\/\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Sourcing-Decision-option3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Sourcing-Decision-option3.jpg 980w, https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Sourcing-Decision-option3-300x106.jpg 300w, https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Sourcing-Decision-option3-768x270.jpg 768w, https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Main-banner-Sourcing-Decision-option3-18x6.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" style=\"width:100%;height:35.2%;max-width:980px;\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Merlin<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/the-sourcing-decision-your-ai-made-yesterday-who-signed-off-on-it\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tThe Sourcing Decision Your AI Made Yesterday. Who Signed Off On It?\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>AI is already deciding who makes your shortlist. The EU AI Act wants to know<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/blog\/the-sourcing-decision-your-ai-made-yesterday-who-signed-off-on-it\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-author\">\n\t\t\tPavithra Gunasekaran\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMay 15, 2026\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-pagination\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Paginierung\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"page-numbers prev\">&laquo; Previous<\/span>\n<span aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>1<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/2\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>2<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/3\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>3<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/4\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>4<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/5\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>5<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/6\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>6<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/7\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>7<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/8\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>8<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/9\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>9<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/10\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>10<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/11\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>11<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/12\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>12<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/13\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>13<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/14\/\"><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Seite<\/span>14<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers next\" href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2272\/page\/2\/\">Next &raquo;<\/a>\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-49da688 factsheet-fold-section elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"49da688\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated elementor-element elementor-element-e405103\" data-id=\"e405103\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f02926 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9f02926\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Factsheet<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-624a403 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"624a403\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gewinnen Sie wichtige Erkenntnisse aus Ihren Beschaffungsdaten und -trends, die Ihnen neue M\u00f6glichkeiten f\u00fcr Einsparungen und Wachstum er\u00f6ffnen.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11b39dd pum-3914 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"11b39dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/de\/maximize-procurement-value-with-strategic-sourcing-solution\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-sm\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Factsheet lesen<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated elementor-element elementor-element-a7e0dda\" data-id=\"a7e0dda\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6d2942 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a6d2942\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"643\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/merlinsourcing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/factsheet-merlin.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"MeRLIN Strategic Sourcing Solution Factsheet\" style=\"width:100%;height:94.56%;max-width:643px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home Resources Blogs Related Post Get the Latest from MeRLIN Factsheet Uncover meaningful insights from your sourcing data and trends that translates to new opportunities for savings and growth. Read Factsheet<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2272","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.4 (Yoast SEO v21.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Blog - MeRLIN | Best Strategic Sourcing Software<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read the latest articles and insights on strategic sourcing, supply chain, analytics etc. from the MeRLIN blog. 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