Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka utmaningar och möjligheter återförsäljare i modebranschen i Sverige upplever med inköp via digitala möten samt dess inverkan på inköpsbeslutet. Studien ämnar också undersöka hur relationen mellan leverantör och återförsäljare påverkar inköpsbeslutet vid inköp via digitala möten. Studien har sin teoretiska utgångspunkt i van Weeles (2014) modell över inköpsprocessen och Dwyer, Shurr och Ohs(1987) modell över relationer mellan köpare och säljare. En kvalitativ studie har genomförts där data har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med tio återförsäljare i modebranschen. Datan har sedan analyserats med en tematisk analys. Resultatet visar att inköp via digitala möten har orsakat en större osäkerhet hos återförsäljare vid inköpsbeslutet. Den största utmaningen vid inköp via digitala möten är att mildra osäkerheten. Det finns möjligheterför återförsäljare att tids- och kostnadseffektivisera sin verksamhet med hjälp av inköp via digitala möten. Relationen mellan leverantör och återförsäljare har en betydande roll underinköp via digitala möten, där ett förtroende parterna emellan kan mildra osäkerheten. / The purpose of this study is to investigate what challenges and opportunities retailers in the fashion industry in Sweden experience with purchasing via digital meetings and its impact on the purchasing decision. The study also intends to investigate how the relationship between supplier and retailer affects the purchasing decision when purchasing via digital meetings. The theoretical basis of this study is van Weele's (2014) model of the purchasing process and Dwyer, Shurr and Oh's (1987) model of buyer-seller relationships. A qualitative study has been carried out where data has been collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 retailers in the fashion industry. The data has then been analyzed with a thematic analysis. The results show that purchases via digital meetings have caused greater uncertainty among retailers in the purchasing decision. The biggest challenge when purchasing via digital meetings is to mitigate uncertainty. There are opportunities for retailers to streamline their operations in terms of time and cost with the help of purchasing via digital meetings. The relationship between supplier and retailer has a significant role in purchasing via digital meetings, where trust between the parties can alleviate uncertainty.

Siemens Energy is a global company which is active in energy technology and offers different types of gas turbines and steam turbines among other types of services. This study was conducted at Siemens Energy in Finspång. The importance of the purchasing function within a company and its profitability has increased and it is thereby important for a company to take advantage of it. Siemens Energy strives to have a transparent supply chain that forms a competitive advantage and provides value along every step in order to create value for the company and its customers. To be able to provide a product to the customer, a project group is assigned at Siemens Energy consisting of different types of roles and areas of responsibility. Multiple functions are involved to manage a project from beginning to end. Budget, lead time and different types of specifications are determined at the beginning of a project and follow through the rest of the project. For big and complex flows, good communication between different functions is essential for information regarding, for example, deviations to reach out to the concerned parties. Siemens Energy describes that an overview of how different functions work with the information flow in the purchasing process from construction to goods receiving is missing and requests a flowchart and suggestions for improvements. Therefore, the aim of this study is to create a flowchart over the information flow and to identify and present suggestions for improvements. A theoretical model, Business Process Management, was used to structure the work in this study. The first step in the model is to create a flowchart of the current state regarding the information flow in the different functions. Interviews with 18 people in different roles were conducted to understand the current state. The second step in the model is to identify areas of improvement so that measures can be performed. Activities in the flowchart were divided into value added activities, non-value added activities and non-value added but necessary activities according to the Lean philosophy. Activities which were considered non-value added activities could be categorized into different types of wastes according to the Lean philosophy in order to be addressed using time reduction theory. The third step in the model is to present a new map of the measured activities. Finally, the activities were analysed qualitatively to gain insight into whether the impact on time, cost and quality would be positive, negative, or unchanged. The results from the flowchart and the actions of the measured activities resulted in suggestions for improvements. Further, it was described which of the activities Siemens Energy should focus on improving to increase the quality of the information flow in the purchasing process and decrease cost and time spent. How the implementation should be conducted was not a part of this study which leaves room for further studies in the future that can be carried out at Siemens Energy.

Sammanfattning Industri 4.0 tyder på den senaste fasen av industrialiseringen och fokuserar på digitalisering, automatisering och datautbyte. Den fjärde industriella revolutionen, Industri 4.0, bygger på tidigare industriella revolutioner och använder sig av olika teknologier såsom IoT, Big Data Analytics och Cloud Services. Inom inköpsprocessen innebär Industri 4.0 ett behov att effektivisera och uppnå flexibla processer för att möta ökade krav på innovation och kvalitet. Syftet med arbetet är att identifiera och analysera användningen av Industri 4.0-teknologier i inköpsprocessen för att förbättra effektiviteten. Forskningsfrågorna fokuserar på vilka teknologier som används i inköpsprocessen och på vilket sätt de används samt att analysera deras roll i att förbättra effektiviteten. Arbetet begränsas till inköpsprocessen inom supply chain management och använder en strukturerad litteraturgenomgång som metod. Användningen av IoT, CPS, Big Data-analys, Blockchain och Cloud Services automatiserar och effektiviserar inköpsaktiviteter. IoT används för realtidsövervakning och automatiserad påfyllning av lager. CPS samordnar både digitala och fysiska komponenter i syfte att förbättra spårbarhet och beslutsfattande. Big Data-analys förutser efterfrågan samt utvärderar leverantörers prestationer. Blockchain säkerställer transparenta och säkra transaktioner med hjälp av smarta kontrakt. Cloud Services hanterar realtidsdata och förbättrar kommunikation och samarbete i leveranskedjan. Dessa teknologier spelar en central roll för effektiviseringen i inköpsprocessen där manuella lager minskar, leverantörsförhandlingar effektiviseras och efterfrågeprognoser, spårbarhet och beslutsfattande förbättras. Det ökar i sin tur transparensen, säkerställer transaktioner och underlättar strategiska beslut, vilket leder till förbättrad effektivitet, resursförvaltning och konkurrenskraft. Syfte  Syftet med arbetet är att sammanställa information om Industri 4.0-teknologier med hjälp av systematisk litteraturgenomgång för att identifiera användningen av teknologierna i inköpsprocessen samt analysera vilken roll dessa teknologier spelar för att förbättra effektiviteten. Metod  En systematisk litteraturgenomgång genomfördes för att samla in relevant data som i sin tur användes för att analysera och besvara forskningsfrågorna. / Abstract Industry 4.0 signifies the latest phase of industrialization, focusing on digitalization, automation, and data exchange, utilizing different technologies to increase productivity and competitiveness. This work aims to identify and analyze the use of Industry 4.0 technologies in the procurement process to improve efficiency. The research questions focus on which technologies are used and their role in improving efficiency, limited to the procurement process within supply chain management, using a structured literature review as a method. The use of IoT, CPS, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain, and Cloud Services automates procurement activities. IoT is used for real-time monitoring and automated inventory replenishment. CPS coordinates both digital and physical components in order to improve traceability and decision-making. Big Data Analytics forecasts demand as well as evaluates supplier performance. Blockchain ensures transparent and secure transactions with the help of smart contracts. Cloud Services manage real-time data and improve communication and collaboration in the supply chain. These technologies play a central role in effectiveness for the procurement process where manual inventories decrease, supplier negotiations become more efficient and demand forecasts, traceability, and decision-making improve. This, in turn, increases transparency, ensures transactions, and facilitates strategic decisions, leading to improved efficiency, resource management, and competitiveness. Purpose  The purpose of the work is to compile information on Industry 4.0 technologies using a systematic literature review to identify the use of technologies in the purchasing process and analyze what role these technologies play in improving efficiency. Methodology  A systematic literature review was conducted to gather relevant data which in turn was used to analyze and answer the research questions.