What is Procurement?

Procurement simply explained – a definition

Procurement describes all processes and activities of a company ensuring constant supply of goods at negotiated prices and conditions in line with demand. These goods are not manufactured by the companies themselves and must therefore be procured or purchased. Included are:

• • Raw materials and auxiliaries for production and resale
  • Services
  • Operating materials
  • Work equipment

In practice, purchasing and procurement are often used synonymously and in connection with material logistics.

Procurement objectives

The focus of procurement is quite clearly on the long-term assurance of company-wide supply at the best possible conditions.

In order to achieve this overriding goal, different measures are necessary within procurement organizations. In addition to constant cost optimization and reduction, included are quality assurance, ensuring a flexible supply chain, and security of supply.

Furthermore, the observation and compliance of market trends – such as sustainability or artificial intelligence – must also be incorporated into the objectives of procurement. By achieving these goals companies ensure their competitiveness and relevance in the market.

Tasks of procurement organizations

Strategic procurement (vision-to-strategy)

From a strategic perspective, procurement plays a critical role in helping organizations achieve their goals and objectives by ensuring that the right goods and services are acquired at the right time, cost, and quality. Strategic procurement involves analyzing market trends and identifying opportunities for cost savings, risk mitigation, and supplier optimization. It also involves developing procurement strategies that align with the organization’s overall goals and objectives, such as sustainability and social responsibility.

Tasks of the strategic procurement:

• • Determination of the procurement policy (central or decentralized procurement)
  • Procurement market research and/or market analysis
  • Supplier management (analysis, evaluation and selection)
  • Contract negotiations, for example, design of framework agreements
  • Planning and implementation of strategic decisions regarding innovations and digitalization (e.g. introduction of supplier relationship management (SRM) systems, e-procurement, etc.)

The primary objective of the strategic procurement process is to sustainably increase the effectiveness of purchasing through strategic guidelines and long-term goals.

Tactical purchasing (source-to-contract)

The tactical purchasing process comprises the sub-process steps of determining requirements, conducting tenders and procurement auctions, and concluding contracts. In the process, measures are implemented to help realize the long-term procurement strategies in the medium run.  The primary goal of the tactical purchase process is the increase of the effectiveness of the purchase by the conversion of measures which contributes to the fulfillment of medium-term procurement goals.

Operative procurement (Procure-to-Pay)

Operational procurement involves the day-to-day activities of the procurement function, such as supplier selection, purchase order processing, and invoice management. These tasks are critical to ensure the timely delivery of goods and services, managing supplier relationships, and maintaining accurate records of procurement transactions.

Tasks of the operational procurement include:

• • Requirement determination and order quantity planning
  • Supplier selection
  • Ordering
  • Order monitoring
  • Completion of the purchase order process including invoice payment (in cooperation with the finance department)
  • Procurement logistics: possible cooperation with logistics

The primary objective of the operational purchasing process is the efficient handling of repetitive procurement processes to save process costs.