The global financial and economic crisis appears to have pulled out of its low point. An economic turnaround is expected in 2010. Now is when the decision is made as to who will capitalise on the opportunities of the coming recovery phase and who can lay the foundation for the years of future success. What purchasing departments can learn from the very successful purchasing organisations, including which best practices they can purposefully adopt and how they can benefit from the implementation and regular utilisation of these best practices, was identified in detail by Arthur D. Little in cooperation with the University of St. Gallen and the German Federal Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (BME) with the 2009 PVE study.