How to Optimize Your Procurement Sourcing Systems

Finding the right tools and measures to optimize your procurement sourcing systems is a must. While optimization does rely heavily on procurement sourcing software, there are other ways to optimize the procurement management process. Once you’re able to implement some new measures, software, and tools, you should see an impact and improvement in efficiency, your bottom line, and even how well your team works together. Read on to learn more about how to optimize your procurement sourcing systems. 

Procurement Sourcing Systems: What Is Procurement Management?

Procurement management is but one stop in the entire supply chain. The entire procurement management process flow consists of sourcing, requisitioning, ordering, expediting, inspecting, and then reconciling. There is more to procurement management than simply sourcing the goods, however. An effective procurement manager has to closely watch spend, stay within budget lines at all times, and further ensure everything is completed by the deadline.

If you’re wondering, “why is procurement management important?” It is important when done well; it ensures quality goods and services and that everything will be delieverd on time. There are ethics in procurement management; those in the field must avoid conflict of interest, be transparent, be fair with others in business dealings, and be impartial.

Procurement Sourcing Systems: Optimization Without Computerization

One of the most important things you will do is find procurement sourcing tools, such as software, to help run analytics and fully optimize your procurement sourcing systems. However, there are other things you can do that go beyond automation that can also optimize your systems while following the objectives of procurement management. Some things you can do to help further optimize include:

  • Implement training and development programs to help employees thrive.
  • Maintain solid, transparent relationships with your suppliers. 
  • Expand your networks.
  • Still use negotiation practices during sourcing. 

Helping employees feel useful and needed is extremely important; not only does this help with collaborative efforts, but workers that take more pride in their work will also be more efficient. 

Procurement Sourcing Systems: What to Look For in Software

Of course, one of the most important ways you will optimize procurement sourcing systems is with software, which is one of the most beneficial ways to control procurement sourcing management. However, not all software is created equal. You want intuitive software that will be easy to use and that everyone will learn quickly, but not so simplistic that it’s lacking in features. Before you buy, it may be wise to look up current trends in strategic procurement management, but there are some must-haves that every piece of software should have, such as:

  • Vendor management features. One of the main sourcing pieces is working with your suppliers, so vendor management features should be robust on sourcing software. You want to onboard new vendors easily and be able to update information continually or as required in the future from both new  and existing suppliers.
  • Budgetary controls. You want to go beyond just running spend analytics reports—you want software with capabilities that can help you manage spend continually.
  • Customizable templates and workflows. Once you make it once, you shouldn’t have to create it again. Also, there should be a central location where your team can access data and information quickly and easily.
    Image of a puzzle for an article about How to Optimize Your Procurement Sourcing Systems.

You may also want to look for software that goes beyond sourcing and opt for an entire procurement suite.

For more information about how to optimize your procurement sourcing systems, or to request a demo, contact EC Sourcing Group today at 973-936-9672. We want to help you reimagine the way you think about procurement.