Procurement Definition

The function of Procurement definition has changed a lot over the years, and it continues to evolve at a rapid pace on a daily basis. Most companies go with a Purchasing Department. The Purchasing Department deals with ordering and the onboarding of suppliers. Some of the characteristics that you will typically see in a Purchasing Department are the following:

1. Price works as the main deciding factor

2. The Purchasing Department operates primarily as a cost center

3. Putting “the squeeze” on suppliers for a decreased price is a normal part of doing business

4. After they get three bids, buyers are told to go with the lowest one

5. It is the buyer’s job to care for ordering materials and deal with the issues surrounding faulty materials

6. When you increase the number of suppliers, this means more security

7. Specificiations go to the department so that the order can get completed

8. Internal stakeholders tend to complain about the Purchasing Department

9. Maverick buying is a common occurrence

As time progresses, the department evolves by adding Sourcing to the puzzle, bringing in brand new tools, targets and processes, and increasing the control over the company’s spending. Some of the characteristics that you should see in this particular phase include the following signs:

1. The Procurement Department puts more value in your company’s bottom line

2. Certain terms (SLA, Hedging, Risks, TCO, Sustainability, Supplier Collaboration, or SPM) get incorporated into the daily life of buyers

3. The Procurement Manager will report directly to the company’s CEO

4. Procurement helps with specifications

5. The department deals with procurement in every area, including unorthodox spending categories

6. A cross-functional team will perform most of the sourcing processes

7. Industry-specific technology and catalogs get integrated with suppliers

8. Two of the major deciding factors, along with sustainability, are value and TCO

9. Internal needs and supplier markets get assessed, multiple strategies for sourcing get developed, eligible suppliers (despite their location) get identified, and a thorough Request for Proposal (RFP) gets put into motion

10. A high amount of suppliers bring the loss of valuable opportunities

It is when you get to this particular stage that this division can be called a Procurement Department. Because of a high level of mastery of the sourcing and purchasing tools, even outsourcing a part here and there, the focus goes to strategy (answering the “how” and “why”). This increases the value at every level of your company.

To get the Procurement definition as much respect as Marketing, Finance, or Production is a long and difficult path. Every step must be planned and followed to the letter, and the department must finish each development phase before they can go to the next level. The path is outlined in this summary:

As a function, the Procurement definition is sorely undervalued in companies. This is because people don’t realize the potential benefits of strategic procurement. The Procurement definition is more than just making purchases at the lowest price. It involves each and every process that has to do with finding, getting and keeping money that can be valuable for the business. Businesses have underinvested in procurement for years. This department experiences rampant understaffing and any remaining resources get channeled into daily minutiae. This leaves staffers without time to do their actual jobs and focus on sourcing. In some unfortunate cases, actual sourcing knowledge and expertise do not exist within the four walls of a company.

Due to the history of underinvestment, there are big opportunities to take in procurement. These opportunities have the distinct ability to make an impact on the bottom line for businesses that use strategic procurement in their arsenal.