TECHNOLOGY
and can feel cumbersome for users outside of procurement and they lack inherent AI capabilities . The Next Generation Digital Procurement demands tools to work with and around eProcurement , especially when it comes to integrating data silos across the organisation to improve analytics and fuel automation .
“ We advise businesses to leverage eProcurement solutions to provide appropriate guidance on the execution of the procurement process . This should include guidance on the supplier , price and channel .
“ Businesses should also leverage the solution to ensure control and visibility . The key is to leverage eProcurement software to simplify processes . For example , ensure
Kristin Ruehle you don ’ t need five approvers for a small dollar request , and nor should you treat every category of spend and spend amount as the same .”
This all seems to make sense as Ruehle says . Where is the hold-up coming from , then , in terms of the industry becoming fully self-actualised in optimising digital procurement ?
Well , Accenture research has also shown that procurement is something of a laggard when it comes to digital transformation , with companies today least likely to use analytics in procurement in relation to other functional areas , at only 40 % as opposed to 59 % use of analytics in finance and 55 % in customer service .
Rather than looking at the negatives , however , Ruehle ’ s enthusiasm remains unabashed as she underlines the possibilities that this presents for companies .
“ For me , this highlights a significant competitive opportunity . Organisations that start implementing digital procurement today will have a much more efficient and effective procurement operation than their competitors .
“ Businesses should start investing today if they ’ re going to be prepared
34 January 2018