Decision Makers — Procurement
What is procurement?
The company procurement department is responsible for managing the process of acquiring services, goods, raw materials, or software that the organization needs to operate effectively. Their duties may include sourcing, vendor diligence, negotiating terms, purchasing, receiving and inspecting goods as necessary, and record keeping of all the steps in the process to make it repeatable. They play a crucial role in ensuring that a company has access to the necessary resources at the right quality, quantity, and price.
Why would companies want to speak with procurement decision makers?
Researchers may want to engage with procurement decision makers for a variety of reasons, depending on the nature of their research and objectives. Engaging with procurement decision makers can provide researchers with valuable firsthand information, data, and perspectives to enhance the quality and relevance of their research. It allows researchers to bridge the gap between theory and practice and contribute to a better understanding of procurement-related issues in various industries.
A few common reasons are:
Understanding Procurement Practices: how organizations conduct procurement activities, including sourcing strategies, supplier selection criteria, and negotiation processes.
Market Research: gathering information about procurement trends, market dynamics, and the preferences of procurement professionals.
Supplier Perspectives: understand how suppliers engage with their customers, respond to requests for proposals, and adapt to changing market conditions.
Innovation and Technology Adoption: experiences, challenges, and motivations for adopting or resisting change.
Sustainability and Ethics: understand their efforts in sourcing sustainable materials, managing supply chain risks, and ensuring ethical sourcing and labor practices.
Policy and Regulation: compliance efforts and challenges.
Benchmarking and Performance Metrics: data on key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics used by procurement teams to measure their effectiveness and efficiency.
Who are these decision makers?
Different organizations structure their procurement teams to their own needs, but you may find the following titles involved with procurement decision making. Each makes decisions at some level but generally senior management (C-level, VPs, directors) is tasked with larger decisions that are felt by the rest of the organization.
Chief Procurement Officer (CPO): The CPO is typically the highest-ranking officer in the procurement department. They are responsible for setting the overall procurement strategy, managing the procurement team, and overseeing all procurement activities within the organization.
Procurement Director: A Procurement Director is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the procurement department. They may report to the CPO and play a key role in implementing procurement strategies and policies.
Procurement Manager: Procurement Managers oversee a team of procurement professionals and are responsible for the execution of procurement activities. They manage supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure that procurement goals are met.
Category Manager: Category Managers specialize in specific product or service categories, such as IT, marketing, or raw materials. They are responsible for developing category-specific procurement strategies and managing supplier relationships within their designated categories.
Sourcing Manager: Sourcing Managers focus on finding and selecting suppliers. They are responsible for identifying potential suppliers, evaluating their capabilities, and negotiating contracts.
Contract Manager: Contract Managers specialize in contract negotiation, drafting, and management. They ensure that procurement contracts are legally sound and that both parties fulfill their obligations.
Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM): SRMs are dedicated to maintaining positive relationships with key suppliers. They work to optimize supplier performance, resolve issues, and ensure that suppliers meet the organization's expectations.
Procurement Analyst: Procurement Analysts use data and analytics to support procurement decision-making. They analyze procurement data, market trends, and supplier performance to identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.
Procurement Coordinator: Procurement Coordinators assist in the day-to-day administrative tasks of the procurement department. They may handle paperwork, process purchase orders, and assist with supplier communication.
Procurement Specialist: Procurement Specialists focus on specific aspects of the procurement process, such as supplier evaluation, cost analysis, or compliance. They provide specialized expertise within the procurement team.
Procurement Strategist: Procurement Strategists are responsible for developing and implementing long-term procurement strategies that align with the organization's overall goals and objectives.
Vendor Manager: Vendor Managers oversee relationships with vendors and suppliers. They ensure that vendors meet their contractual obligations and that the organization receives the goods and services it needs.
Purchasing Manager: In some organizations, the term "Purchasing Manager" is used interchangeably with "Procurement Manager." These individuals are responsible for managing the purchasing process.
What types of tools do procurement decision makers use?
Spend Management Tools:
Oracle
Netsuite
Coupa
SAP
Precoro
Xelix
PRM360
Baseware
Tipalti
Jaggaer
BILL
Precurify
Order.co
Fraxion
Spendwise
Supply Chain Management Tools:
GEP
Oracle Procurement
Quartzy
Fairmarkit
RFP Management Tools:
Responsive
Loopio
PandaDoc
QorusDocs
RocketDocs
How can I get in touch with these types of procurement decision makers?
Zintro can help. Zintro is a market research expert network that gives companies access to decision makers and industry experts to help organizations get insights into the challenges these leaders face, industry trends, technological advancements, and opinions. By speaking with in-industry experts, you can get a front-row view into the true needs of procurement leaders.
