What does a commodity specialist do?

A Purchaser is responsible for buying goods and services from distribution centers to sell to customers or other companies. They conduct data analysis and research current market trends to identify public demands and generate resources that would increase the company's revenues and profitability. They also ensure the adequacy of supply inventories for deliveries, respond to customers' inquiries and concerns, and recommend products according to their needs and budget requirements. A Purchaser must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in documenting purchase transactions and negotiating contracts with suppliers and vendors.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, commodity specialist responsibilities require skills like "supplier performance," "chain management," "on-time delivery," and "continuous improvement." Meanwhile a typical purchaser has skills in areas such as "pos," "expedite," "computer system," and "vendor relations." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

A purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection. Purchasing agents should also be proficient in interpreting and evaluating data, researching on best marketing sources and alternatives, issuing required documentation for suppliers, as well as managing customer queries as needed. Being a purchasing agent requires critical-thinking skills in assessing concerns and providing solutions should there be any possible negotiation conflicts.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that commodity specialist responsibilities requires skills like "commodities," "chain management," "continuous improvement," and "supplier selection." But a purchasing agent might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "corrective action," "delivery dates," and "pos."

The role of buyers/planners is to ensure that office materials and equipment are well-supplied within their organization. They decide and purchase the materials needed for use or resale by their organization. They are responsible for evaluating prospective suppliers based on their cost, product quality, and delivery times. They are also the ones who negotiate contracts specifying the payment terms, price, and delivery schedules. Most employers prefer their buyer to have earned a bachelor's degree with a major in operations management or business management.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, commodity specialists are more likely to have skills like "chain management," "continuous improvement," "supplier selection," and "lean six sigma." But a planner/buyer is more likely to have skills like "supply chain," "customer service," "kanban," and "strong analytical."

Senior Purchasing Agents are experienced employees in the company's purchasing department. They oversee the purchase requisitions of the employees. They validate requests, ensure that the requestors followed company guidelines, check the availability of the items with the chosen supplier, and forward the purchase order to the supplier. Upon fulfillment of the request, Senior Purchasing Agents check the deliveries, ensure that the items are complete and correct, forward the items to the requestor, and process the payment for the supplier. Senior Purchasing agents also prepare reports, spot trends in employee or department purchases, and create recommendations based on observations. They are also expected to form good working relationships with suppliers.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between commodity specialists and senior purchasing agents, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a commodity specialist might have more use for skills like "chain management," "commodity strategies," "supplier management," and "product development." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of senior purchasing agents require skills like "project management," "customer service," "price analysis," and "contract management. "