Don’t Purchase Software to Automate Your Procurement Efforts

I wouldn’t recommend purchasing a software platform for your procurement team.

You may be wondering why I would make this recommendation since I am in the software business.

Let me share some of the issues I have encountered with prospective clients and clients who went ahead without fully evaluating their current processes.

  • An accurate workflow of the basic procurement process for common spend categories doesn’t exist
  • Each division has their own process and/or system in place
  • The company has a hefty investment in a system-wide platform that includes a procurement tool, although it isn’t being used
  • Supplier databases are filled with inaccurate contact and email information
  • “Effective” workaround methods exist, and we all know how people love change
  • Each major internal group has their own contract approval process
  • Procurement has a reputation for slowing down the purchasing process
  • Stakeholders are reluctant to support a new system because they barely have time to do their current job and don’t want to learn how to use a new system
  • IT doesn’t want the perceived headache of supporting additional tools

Ok enough doom and gloom.

The good news is that a tool that is intuitive can be rapidly deployed and adoption rates accelerate based on positive user feedback.

Best-in-breed tools can bolt on to existing systems and provide for a seamless exchange of information.

What if you could easily, yes easily, implement a tool that would allow any process to be automated?

This is such a key step that I have changed my entire approach to procurement automation.

Documenting the current process will help you eliminate obvious redundancies. You can also eliminate steps that are no longer required due to business and technology changes.

This process will also identify weaknesses in current data sets. One client found that more than 50% of their supplier email addresses bounced.

Their system had many limitations that made it easier to leave inactive email addresses rather than archive them. As you can imagine, cleaning this data took months but in the end it was worth it.

With a clean process to work from, automation will move very quickly.

Then you will be a position to implement a procurement tool or platform and see immediate results.

Curious?

If a process you are using now is causing pain, take the first step.

Six months from now you will wonder how you managed.

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