But moving purchasing online takes more than adding new hardware and software. It also requires setting policies and following new workflows, which in the world of manual purchasing are often unknown or not enforced. Fragmentation of suppliers and a company's buyers is another stumbling block.
Companies frequently lack an overall picture of their total spending with a given supplier.
Consequently, they can't take advantage of discounts available under corporate purchasing contracts. Three-quarters of the companies Deloitte surveyed said that moving to electronic procurement would require a concerted effort to streamline workflows and set clear guidelines for who could buy what and when. For more enterprise computing news, visit Computerworld online . Inc. All rights reserved. Feedback Tell us your thoughts on this article or the issues it raises.