Changing Dimensions of Purchasing Job in Beverage Manufacturing and Preparation of Staff for Supporting the Digital Industry Age

The research objectives were 1) to study the changing dimensions in the purchasing
job due to the beverage manufacturing industry changing in the digital age and 2) to study
the preparation of purchasing staff in the beverage manufacturing industry for supporting the
digital industry age. It was qualitative research study on the beverage manufacturers in
Thailand, having 461 factories. Fifteen informants were specifically chosen from five
selective factories. The structured interview was conducted, in which the questions
were verified by three experts. The inductive analysis was used. The results were that
1) changing dimensions included (1.1) working processes: new working processes would
arise; e-Procurement, e-Auction, e-Contract, (1.2) technologies: new technologies would
occurred; web applications, mobile applications, online communication or meeting, cloud
computing and storage, inter of things, and (1.3) staff: new skills and positive attitudes about
changing would be required and that 2) preparation of purchasing staff included (2.1) skills:
relevant skills would be needed; digital literacy, logical thinking, creativity, problem-solving,
communication, (2.2) languages: foreign languages would be required; English, Chinese, and
(2.3) attitudes: positive attitudes would be beneficial; positive thinking, learning new things,
coexistence, teamwork. Therefore, the companies should provide support; training, new
technologies, communication, and culture development.