Optimizing procurement processes: how to transform the procurement department to support its transformation?
Althéa provides the expertise to transform your organization and your procurement processes, from the master plan to the successful achievement of your strategic objectives.
The expertise of our consultants, trained in procurement management as well as process and organizational transformation, is at your service to:
- Align your organization, processes, and solutions within your company.
- Optimize your organizations as well as your business processes (S2C, P2P, SRM, etc.).
- Conduct an assessment of your organization.
- Define a realistic transformation target and roadmap tailored to your challenges, identifying the impacts in terms of change management.
- Guide you through your tenders to help you make the best solution choices (S2C, P2P, SRM, etc.).
- Provide project management assistance in the implementation of your IT projects, from the design phase to the deployment of the new IS and new business processes.
- Provide proactive recommendations and support you through the change management phases of your projects.
- Leverage the benefits of digital technology in optimizing procurement processes (RPA, AI, etc.).
Need to optimize your procurement processes?
We are here to support you.
Our strengths to guarantee the success of your projects:
- Flexibility and active listening, through a collaborative and pragmatic approach that remains true to your culture and adapted to your context.
- A perfect understanding of complex organizations, as well as political and multicultural environments.
- Expertise in procurement processes and practices (from Sourcing to Contract to Procurement to Pay, including supplier relationship management), allowing for a quick understanding of your needs and the ability to challenge them.
- Constant monitoring of current Procurement function challenges to secure key decision-making aimed at efficiency, competitiveness, and innovation within the function.
- Expertise in market solutions to propose the solution that corresponds to your organization, maturity, and development objectives.
- Comprehensive support, from project scoping to solution deployment.
- A proven, tool-based methodology ensuring control over costs and deadlines (requirements gathering, process-box, test scenarios, change management plan, deployment kits, etc.).
- A faster and more intuitive differentiating approach, capitalizing on our benchmark of market best practices: the Althéa Process Box.
Key Figures
Procurement Specialists
with the expertise needed to cover all S2C, P2P and SRM processes
transformation projects
successful procurement transformation projects since the practice was created in 2017
client satisfaction
with strong recognition from our clients at the end of our assignments
Our References
For a French organization financing and supporting business development
2,300 employees, €2.9B in revenue
Organizational diagnostic and structuring. Requirements scoping, support for the deployment of the new Procurement IS (P2P), and change management.
Intervention
- Review and optimization of P2P/Procurement processes.
- Supporting the procurement department in implementing the new process, as well as the new organization.
- Project management assistance and change management support for the implementation of the new Procurement IS.
- Support for the implementation of supplier risk management.
- Support for the implementation of supplier carbon footprint calculations.
For a French organization supporting the professional integration and job retention of people with disabilities
470 employees, €537M in revenue
End-to-end support for their digital transformation project, from assistance in choosing the new Procurement and Finance IS to deployment.
Interventions
Review and optimization of Procurement, Finance, and Budgetary processes
- Review of current Finance/Procurement/Budgetary processes.
- Identification of areas for simplification, automation, and process optimization.
- Identification of the target scope and prioritization of needs to be covered by the future solution.
Choice of Procurement and Finance solution
- Market definition: gathering functional requirements and translating the target and business requirements into a specification document.
- Tendering: supporting the procurement department in the execution of the tender, specifically on: constructing response frameworks, defining selection criteria and their weighting, analyzing applications and bids, and conducting negotiation interviews.
Implementation of the selected solution
- Assistance with design, data collection, user acceptance testing (UAT), Go Live, and hyper-care period.
For a French retail multinational with a large network of supermarkets and hypermarkets in more than 30 countries
321,000 employees, €90.8B in revenue
PMA support for the deployment of an e-Procurement tool core model within the Source-to-Contract scope.
Intervention
Design
- Analysis of existing S2C processes
- Identification of pain points and areas for improvement
- Proposal of target S2C processes
- Participation in design workshops led by the integrator
- Challenging Detailed Functional Specifications (Review/Reservations)
Testing
- Challenging test cases proposed by the integrator
- Facilitation of S2C functional testing
Training
- Drafting of training materials
- Training of end users (70 buyers and management)
Stabilization
- Supporting users in adopting the tool
Challenges
Cost Reduction and Spend Optimization
via the optimization of your procurement practices and processes.
Better Risk Management
through the implementation of risk assessments and contingency plans, as well as by securing and ensuring transparency in supplier relationships.
Innovation and Digital Transformation of Procurement Processes
with the implementation of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, RPA, or an e-procurement tool to automate procurement processes, improve decision-making, and increase the overall performance of the function.
Contacts
Your recurring questions about procurement optimization consulting
How can you choose a consulting firm for procurement optimization?
The choice of a procurement consulting firm must be based on several essential criteria to guarantee a relationship of lasting trust. Sector expertise is paramount: the firm must demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the specific issues in your industry, whether in direct or indirect procurement. Client references and case studies are valuable indicators of the firm’s ability to meet transformation and procurement performance improvement challenges.
The selected firm must also have a structured consulting approach, combining technical expertise and operational assistance. The proposed methodology should include precise management and reporting tools, allowing for effective project management and concrete measurement of results via relevant KPIs. Finally, the consulting team must demonstrate skills in digitalization, supply chain, and sustainable development to support a comprehensive procurement strategy.
Althéa’s consultants meet all these requirements and can advise you effectively on optimizing procurement and procurement processes. Do not hesitate to contact them!
What are the typical assignments of a procurement optimization consultant?
A procurement optimization consultant primarily works on the construction and deployment of procurement function transformation plans. Their missions generally begin with an in-depth audit of existing procurement processes , followed by value analysis and strategic sourcing. The consultant then supports the implementation of new procurement organizations, integrating digitalization challenges to accelerate performance.
When should you call on a procurement optimization consultant?
Turning to procurement optimization consulting proves relevant in many transformation situations. The most frequent cases involve:
- Merger and acquisition projects requiring a reorganization of the procurement department.
- The search for performance improvement through cost reduction.
- The need to strengthen the finance function through better management of overhead costs.
More generally, the intervention of an expert is also wise for supporting the digital transformation of the procurement function, optimizing the supply chain, or developing a data-driven approach to procurement management. Issues of value creation, productivity improvement, and the implementation of performance indicators are also recurring reasons for seeking assistance. The consultant then brings their expertise to structure projects, train teams, and enable the company to achieve its profitability objectives while respecting quality and deadline constraints.
