Its leaders realised early on that it made sense to take Transnet's procurement online. Over time that becomes a huge, aggregated example of maverick buying. E-procurement allows more people to become buyers, but in a far more controlled environment, he says. Anyone, from a secretary to a head of department, now has an easy way to order what is required, and to get the requisite approvals. Rather than filling out order forms and waiting three or four weeks for the stuff to arrive, they can now make their purchase with the click of a button, and ensure approval through transparent electronic means.
Orders are seamlessly routed to suppliers and payment is done automatically.
Transnet has put e-procurement systems into all its main business units and has completed pilot tests. Only then do the various business units start drilling to depth. Transnet, he says, knew change would be as much cultural as technological, and that it was important to get involvement from everyone in the organisation. A team is working in seven business units concurrently, introducing the concepts to end-users. There are processes right across the company that can be improved through e-commerce.