Cirque Du Soleil brochure — April 2019 by Business Chief Canada

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Photo © Cirque du Soleil – Sép7imo Día

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: BREAKING THE SILOS WITH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WRIT TEN BY

SOPHIE CHAPM AN PRODUCED BY

ARRON R A MPLING

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With her team of costumers and operational buyers, Fulya Oguz reveals to Business Chief how Cirque du Soleil manages unique procurement on its digital transformation journey

hat we do is very unique,” reveals Fulya Oguz Operational Procurement Manager, Supply Chain at Cirque

du Soleil. “On a day-to-day basis I might be talking with an operational buyer about a lift 04

that will pull up a 25-ton tent in one corner of the world, and then move on to discussing the lingerie required for our Zumanity show.” The Canadian entertainment company was established in Montreal, Quebec, in 1984. In the past 35 years the business has expanded on a global-scale, having offered shows to more than - 200mn viewers globally across 450 cities. Due to the colorful nature of the performances, the procurement team is often required to source non-conventional products in order to achieve the high-quality productions promised in its reputation. “Our goal is to invoke imagination, provoke fantasies, and evoke emotions. In order to enable that

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“ Operationally we have to be efficient and operationally we have to be on time” — Fulya Oguz, Operational Procurement Manager, Supply Chain at Cirque du Soleil

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘BEAUTIFUL, INTRICATE COSTUME DESIGNS AND MATERIALS OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’ 07 we buy extremely specialized and

is to ensure all internal business units

unique, custom-made products,” says

are supported with solid contracts,

Fulya.

efficient procurement processes, and

Fulya manages the operational pro-

good risk management. For Cirque du

curement team within the company’s

Soleil, efficiency is important in ensuring

supply chain operations, which focuses

all the customer-facing aspects of the

on strategic sourcing, travel manage-

company function perfectly. “Operation-

ment, customs and logistics. “My team

ally we have to be efficient and we have

consists of project managers and oper-

to be on time,” Fulya explains. The live

ational buyers that specialize in different

shows require reliable equipment and

commodities. Essentially, my team sup-

bold sets and costumes, and without

ports all the Cirque units, including

efficiency from the procurement team

studios, buildings, IT, touring shows,

these may not be readily available.

production and of course costumes

Innovation is a key driving force behind

workshops,” she states. Her mandate

functions. With growth influencing operw w w.c i rque duso l eil. com

ations, the team is introducing new

do we have to do it even more efficient-

technologies to manage procurement

ly and effectively,” explains Fulya. With

and ensure vital efficiency. “As our

growing demand, the team is focusing

President Daniel Lamarre has said ‘At

on introducing new, creative solutions:

Cirque du Soleil we don’t talk about

“It’s a creativity-driven business. We try

diversity, we live it every day with diff-

to acquire the best and brightest talent

erent nationalities influencing our

in the field of procurement, while capit-

growth.’ I think it is very important as

alizing on the highest technological

we’re a worldwide company and our

advancement and tools available.”

global presence has increased con-

In order to introduce new technolo-

siderably over the years. And, of

gies, Cirque du Soleil began by ques-

course, this growth influences and

tioning how it conducted business. By

impacts all of its business units and

addressing what could be eliminated

their operations. So, everything we

from everyday operations, it could then

E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE

Fulya Oguz Fulya Oguz joined Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group in May 2011 as the Operational and Costume Procurement Manager. Fulya leverages her more than 20 years of industry knowledge and experience to lead the charge on countless projects across the world. As a leader within the rapidly growing company, she manages critical relationships throughout all internal divisions of the business, in support of operational procurement. Fulya helps support many of Cirqueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest shows, handling pivotal enterprise processes for negotiation, budgeting, purchasing, inventory logistics, operation management and vendor intelligence. Having worked within the IT, retail and online spaces like Oracle, Ice.com and Diamond.com, she brings a unique and vital business and technological perspective to Cirqueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continued growth.

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decide where to start investing. “To

also found that the solutions enabled

support our supply chain transformation,

statistic tracking, analysis and trace-

we invested in an e-sourcing cloud

ability, while connecting different

platform, shortly followed by an e-pro-

departments. “We can invite different

curement cloud platform. The e-sourc-

partners within the same tool – it breaks

ing platform was introduced with the

the silos. Everyone can participate,”

intention of streamlining our communi-

Fulya continues.

cations. As a buyer, we receive requests

Innovation is not the only priority for

in all forms – from emails to verbal.”

Fulya, with Cirque du Soleil also ensuring

Cirque du Soleil has been able to process

it sources its products in the most sust-

an increased volume without increasing

ainable ways. “As a citizen of the world

the team. The cloud has enabled time-

we have to value sustainable methods

efficient operations, allowing Cirque

and watch our footprint. We have to

du Soleil to communicate globally and

integrate these principles in our procur-

shorten its response time. The team

ement practices,” says Fulya. “Today

1984

Year founded

4,500

Approximate number of employees

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“ As a citizen of the world we have to value sustainable methods and watch our footprint.We have to integrate these principles in our procurement practices” — Fulya Oguz, Operational Procurement Manager, Supply Chain at Cirque du Soleil

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CLICK TO WATCH : ‘A BOOST OF ENERGY WITH...VOLTA | OFFICIAL 2018 CIRQUE DU SOLEIL SHOW TRAILER’ 14 we have performances all over the world and we have to showcase unique products, meaning the fabrics and props we use are not readily available or reachable.” In 2017, the company transported fabrics from France to Canada on the Avontuur sailboat. The successful journey emitted zero carbon as the engineless boat required no fuel. This led to the firm committing to making at least five journeys through this method by 2020 in order to reduce its environmental damage when acquiring its specialized materials. When creating the LUZIA show, the firm used 6,000 litres

of water per performance. In order to offset the huge quantities used, Cirque du Soleil would ensure that every liter would be recycled during the duration of a stay in a given city. “When we say sustainability and the environment are very important to Cirque, we really mean it,” Fulya adds. Since joining the company eight years ago, Fulya has helped transform the operational procurement team. As she continues to break the silos and be a part in ensuring the company’s shows

are staged on time, the head of the operational department aims to ensure the solutions – allowing this to happen – are implemented across the world. “In regards to technology, we have already decided what we’re going to use and we’re working on it. The next step is making sure the cloud platforms are accessible all over the world,” states Fulya. “That’s an extraordinary responsibility in a magical environment.”

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Cirque du Soleil www.cirquedusoleil.com