Supplier cost sharing remains a critical priority for OEM organizations, but for many teams, progress is limited less by intent and more by execution. Administrative burden, duplicative processes, and fragmented ownership across functions often become the real constraints.
These challenges sit at the center of MAPconnected’s newly launched Purchasing & Cost Sharing Xchange Group, a peer benchmarking forum for senior OEM leaders responsible for purchasing, supplier negotiations, cost recovery, and cost-sharing governance. Additional context on the group’s launch and purpose is available in the full press release published by Warranty News.
Across purchasing, warranty, finance, legal, and executive teams, leaders are navigating similar questions. How can cost-sharing programs remain disciplined without becoming overly complex? Where do governance requirements unintentionally create friction for suppliers and internal teams? And how can organizations simplify day-to-day execution while preserving accountability?
The Xchange Group was created to provide a closed-door environment where OEM leaders can compare approaches, pressure-test assumptions, and learn how peers are reducing administrative complexity in real operating environments. A key focus is identifying practical ways to streamline supplier interactions, reduce manual work, and improve usability across portals, submissions, and feedback mechanisms.
The group’s first session, Reducing Supplier Administrative Burden, will take place on February 17 and will be hosted by Jim Holloway, former General Manager of Purchasing at Toyota Motor North America, bringing practical, real-world perspective to a challenge many OEM organizations are actively working through. OEM leaders interested in participating can learn more about the session and register through MAPconnected.
As cost pressures increase and organizational complexity grows, OEM leaders are re-evaluating not just what cost-sharing frameworks exist, but how they operate in practice. Peer benchmarking and shared learning are increasingly essential to reducing friction, strengthening supplier engagement, and driving more effective outcomes.
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