Digital Procurement Maturity Assessment

It can be tempting to jump into the implementation of Digital Tools and Processes as a way to drive change. It is, however, worthwhile taking a step back and considering the option of a Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) to first identify potential, define the change approach, and consider the most effective method of delivery.

Knowing your status

It is essential to understand where you are in the journey of transformation, and what your pain points and obstructions might be in getting to the point of true success. Defining the road ahead is an important process and can really help to maximize the return on investment.
It is important to fully understand your current “status” as this can really help to make your decisions effective. Often the importance of knowing where you are now vs where you want to be is often overlooked.

Avoid Expensive Experiments

All too often we see digital transformation programs failing for avoidable reasons. The procurement technology market, in particular, is currently very saturated and procurement leaders need to carefully consider how their current state and future strategy aligns to the right technology, it isn’t a case of one size fits all. Therefore, consider taking a step back before jumping into any commitment.

Typical Approaches and Outputs

There are various methodologies available to conduct such procurement maturity assessments and it is recommended that they are semi-structured, pragmatic and rapid. Remember, time does not automatically provide more value.

The DMA needs to target the delicate balance of successful digital transformation with a focus on key areas such as

• People
• Process
• Technology

Often quantitative and qualitative approaches are used in the process of defining a recommended roadmap for the way forward – the entire process typically should not take more than 4 weeks! Remember the word Rapid!
When considering a partner to support with a DMA, it is important to ensure that the process fits with your business and it should be developed closely, ideally on-site with the customer.

The outcome of the assessment should result in a clear outcome that enables you to better plan and evaluate the best solutions to provide real benefit from the best available Procurement Technology.