Webinar recording: Insolvency, what now? - Recognize early warning signals, protect supply chains, remain capable of acting

The risk of supplier defaults has changed fundamentally. Rising energy costs, high interest rates, weakening demand and geopolitical uncertainties are putting even established mid-sized companies in difficulties - with consequences for Procurement and supply chains. In the webinar "Insolvency, what now?", Jana Maass (Tacto) shows how to respond to these risks in a structured way: Identify early indicators, analyze affected suppliers and items in a targeted manner - and derive measures at the touch of a button. Concrete practical examples will show how dangerous the topic is when underestimated - and how Tacto helps to ensure delivery capability and the ability to act.

Initial situation - When supplier insolvencies become a real stress test

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Insolvencies affect companies more frequently today - and more severely. It becomes particularly problematic when strategically important suppliers are affected: Not only do individual orders come to a standstill, but entire production lines, projects and customer relationships come under pressure. Contractual penalties, quality risks and additional costs are often the result - especially if there are no structured contingency plans in place.

For Procurement , this means recognizing risks at an early stage, making a valid assessment and taking targeted countermeasures - before an emergency occurs.

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Understanding supplier insolvency - and recognizing it early

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• Classify insolvency proceedings correctly
  Anyone who is familiar with the process - from liquidity bottlenecks to provisional proceedings to restructuring or liquidation - can better assess the impact on their own processes.
• Observe financial early warning signs
  Conspicuous payment terms, rising dunning rates or requests for advance payment are the first signs of dwindling liquidity.
• Take operational signals seriously
  Frequent delivery delays, partial deliveries, quality defects or material substitutions often indicate underlying problems.
• Creating transparency about market & environmental risks
  Geopolitical tensions, slumps in demand or regulatory pressure can undermine the supplier's business model - often before the figures show it.
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From the field - tangible insights

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• Specific cases of insolvency show how quickly financial risks can affect operational processes and supply chains.
• The examples make it clear: without forward-looking risk analysis, there is a risk of supply bottlenecks and high follow-up costs.
  
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Making risks visible and controllable

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Without structured mechanisms for risk assessment, companies remain vulnerable to shock effects. What is needed today:

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• Transparency regarding risk factors at supplier and product level - such as payment terms, dependencies, quality or ESG obligations.
• Standardized evaluation logics to automatically identify early indicators and make them comparable.
• Structured escalation management that prepares operational measures from the first warning to the activation of alternatives.

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Conclusion

‍Supplierinsolvencies are becoming a real risk - with consequences for material flow, quality and project deadlines. Recognizing indicators, assessing risks in a structured manner and preparing escalation paths ensures the ability to act even in an emergency. Digital transparency with Tacto helps to derive concrete measures from early warning signs - and turns risk management into an active control instrument in Procurement.

Jana Maass (Tacto) shows how companies can be prepared for supplier insolvencies - with a focus on early indicators, clear escalation paths and structured risk analyses. Practical examples illustrate how quickly operational problems can arise from financial difficulties - and why purchasing teams today need to actively monitor processes, partners and products. With Tacto, risks can be identified, evaluated and managed at an early stage - before they jeopardize the supply chain.