Table of contents
How to align procurement strategy with the organization
The procurement strategy will need to be tailored to the specific needs and requirements of an organization and the sector and environment in which it operates.
FREE WHITE PAPER
Reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with the Kraljic Matrix
How to arrive at a procurement strategy?
Procurement strategy varies from company to company and depends on an organization’s size and business, culture and leadership, among other factors. A large multinational company will have a very different procurement strategy than a small, local business.
How can organizations ensure that their procurement strategy is tailored to their specific needs? Here are some important steps:
- Understand your organization’s needs and requirements: Take the time to understand your organization’s needs and requirements, including the products and services needed, the budget available, and the risks to be managed.
- Analyze the industry: Understand your industry’s specific challenges and opportunities, including regulations, the competitive landscape and supplier availability.
- Work with stakeholders: Involve them in the procurement process, including employees, customers and suppliers. This should help ensure that the procurement strategy is consistent with the organization’s objectives.
- Use data and technology: Use data-driven analytics and technology to support the procurement process. This can help make better decisions, identify cost savings opportunities and mitigate risk.
Kraljic Matrix
A procurement strategy is thus based on a thorough analysis of the existing situation at a company and its desired development/future expectations and of the environment: customers, suppliers/supply market, regulations and also the society in which the organization operates.
Usually this analysis takes place in a limited or partial way. Finally, a historical situation has arisen that is a given for many, e.g., the existence/non-existence of a purchasing department, the extent of its responsibilities, the way it works with suppliers, etc.
The analysis that does get done should be based on all relevant data/data and interviews. In short, the procurement strategy must be tailored to the specific needs of the organization and the sector in which it operates. In order to develop a procurement strategy that helps the organization be successful.
Free whitepaper
Project Procurement in the Machine Building Sector
What does a procurement strategy include?
A procurement strategy leads to choices regarding topics such as:
- The budgeting (funding) of the procurement organization.
- the building of the procurement organization itself, the training and supervision of employees after they start, etc.
- the delineation of responsibilities between the purchasing department and surrounding departments and idem for individual functions
- the division of total purchasing into manageable categories, both indirect and direct purchasing categories, using in part the Kraljic matrix for this purpose
- the distribution of these categories among officers within the organization, e.g. IT procurement is done by IT itself, but the direct procurement categories are divided among the procurement staff
- the supplier policy per category (single or multi vendor) and if multi vendor how do the suppliers relate to each other (and why?)
- financial and authorization policies (payment terms, authorization levels, 3-way matching of invoices, etc.)
- how to select, contract and manage suppliers
- the processes to be used and how they will be designed, documented, kept up to date and how employees will work smoothly with them (be trained in them)
- what tools (including templates for contracts, RFQs, RFIs) and applications are needed for this, how are they selected, implemented and funded
- procurement targets and to whom those targets are assigned
If you want to evaluate your procurement strategy and see how it compares to best practices, Xentys can help. Xentys offers a range of procurement services, including strategic sourcing, procurement process optimization and supplier relationship management. Contact xentys today for more information.
Find a buyer through xentys
At xentys, your experienced procurement recruitment agency, we are happy to help you find the right professional for your procurement team. Send a message today and strengthen your purchasing department.
News
Sustainable Procurement: A Necessity for the Dutch Market
In today’s business world, sustainable procurement has changed from a “nice to have” to an absolute “must have. This concept, which seeks to meet a company’s needs for goods or services while minimizing its impact on the environment, is indispensable for companies seeking to increase their acceptance with current and
The Future in Procurement: Creating Value Across the Supply Chain
Recent years have highlighted the indispensable role of procurement in value creation. As we look ahead to the trends of 2024 and beyond, we see that procurement can make an even more critical contribution. The world experienced significant turmoil between 2020 and 2023: supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, technological advances,
Procurement versus Purchasing: The Key Differences Explained
In today’s business environment, it is essential to make a clear distinction between procurement and purchasing. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent two different financial systems with their own objectives and processes. Understanding this distinction is crucial to a company’s success, especially in a market like the
Procurement in 2024: Five Essential Strategies for Maximum Savings
In a world where the procurement industry is evolving faster than ever before, xentys is at the forefront of supporting professionals and organizations in the Netherlands in this transformation. Inspired by Simfoni’s recent webinar“Rethinking Procurement: Capturing & Realizing Savings in 2024,” we share five crucial insights that not only shape
