Does Your eSourcing Platform Fit the Needs of Power and Casual Users?
How well your eSourcing platform works with power and casual users impacts the productivity gains and cost savings achieved.
If you want to know how well your tool works, review the individual RFP summary reports.
If most reports are in Excel that should tell you that the tool either can’t do the analysis easily or is too complex to use.
If your organization is like most, you have a variety of users in the procurement group.
Power users are not the problem. They know how to make the tool work even if it is not user friendly.
The real gains will come from casual and infrequent users adopting the tool.
I used to think that everything should be as easy as an iPhone – that was until I got this latest version. This has so much power that finding what you need is a guessing game.
If you have a linked account with a spouse or our kids, you probably have experienced some of the unusual settings.
My most unfavorite one is that anyone who is linked on your account can answer your phone, see your text and email messages if they are close by.
Good luck trying to figure out how to change that. We did finally find a technician who was able to help.
So, if your current solution frustrates anyone but your power users, here are some points to consider in evaluating a replacement tool:
- Intuitive event creation paths for different types of events – simple to complex
- Ability to set up creation paths that mimic the most common event types
- Common sense labeling for event steps (no acronyms allowed)
- Wild card search of all fields and formulas in past events
- Creation of new events by copying all or part of a past event
- One-step upload of an Excel spreadsheet into the bid template
- Hands on training during event creation in 1 or 2-hour blocks in any time zone
- Realtime phone and chat access with procurement professionals to answer functional questions especially if you are under a tight deadline or haven’t launched an event in months
- Short videos to help solve common challenges
There are many solutions available in the market.
You may not need the solution with the most power.
Most companies don’t.
A “light” version may work just fine for the majority of your events.
Understanding how each solution will help your casual users quickly set up and launch events should be at or near the top of your list.
If your implementation is taking a lot longer than expected, choosing a nimbler eSourcing solution that can be quickly integrated may be something to consider.
Your team should be able to launch events in weeks not months or years.
Increasing adoption is a simple goal unless your eSourcing platform is holding you back.
If you and your team are ready to move forward, reach out to me. In most cases, I can determine if I can help you in 30 minutes. At that point we can decide if further discussions are appropriate.
Whether they are or aren’t it will be an efficient use of your time.
Ask better questions, make changes and 2019 will be your best year ever.
Action Step: If you are uncertain where to start the process of change, a procurement professional like myself can provide guidance and expertise to help your organization achieve the results you want.
If you want to go explore this topic in greater detail, please contact me. I invite you to request 30-minute discovery conversation. In my experience the next step will be apparent at the end of the call. I never assume that what I have to offer will be right for everyone, so don’t expect a sales pitch. You can reach me at 973-936-9672.
If you would like to know more ways to reduce costs without changing the way you do business, simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
You Won’t Drift to Success©
Commit to taking the next step.
Until Next Time, I Wish You Great Success in Your Business and in Your Life
Mike Jeffries