As your procurement organization goes through a transformation, it is essential to consider what is needed for this evolution and how you want your colleagues to view your contributions. To be recognized and valued as a strategic business partner, versus seen as tactical order takers, you will need to undertake an internal rebranding effort.
Considerations for shifting your internal brand from tactical to strategic
Communicate the changes to everyone in the organization
Clear communication is essential to ensure all employees understand the positive changes in procurement and their benefits. Therefore, use a strategic communication plan that targets key internal partners and provides messaging tailored to their roles and interests. Additionally, deliver this messaging through multiple channels, including company-wide memos, emails, and meetings. Importantly, emphasize that these improvements aim to make procurement more strategic and add value to the business. By communicating changes effectively, you can smooth the transition and reduce disruption for employees.
Keep in mind that you build trust and support with every interaction your team members have with internal stakeholders throughout the procurement transformation.
Ensure employees are aware of available resources
Create a culture of providing the right resources to the right people at the right time. For example, ensure employees know who to contact for requests such as purchasing new equipment, submitting invoices, or getting project approvals. By giving colleagues the answers and approvals they need promptly, you improve your procurement organization’s reputation.
Take advantage of self-service options and documented resources to make the department more efficient. This can include user-friendly online portals where employees submit requests for various procurement functions and track their progress. In turn, this reinforces the new brand of procurement, increases departmental efficiency, and boosts morale throughout the organization. Additionally, consider offering in-person or virtual ‘office hours’ or designating ‘Center of Excellence’ experts whom employees can turn to for help.
Eliminate red tape
Reducing bureaucracy and streamlining the procurement process makes it easier for employees to do their jobs and view procurement as a valued strategic partner. By eliminating unnecessary and redundant steps, you can shorten process timelines and reduce the workload for both procurement teams and key internal partners. These efficiencies also improve compliance and prevent employees from bypassing approved procedures.
You can achieve this by automating repetitive tasks, simplifying approvals with authority spend limits, setting clear guidelines, publishing necessary documentation in accessible locations, and fostering a culture of continuous process improvement. By removing red tape during the procurement rebranding process, the entire organization can work more efficiently and effectively.
Keep in mind that the overarching goal is to make it as easy as possible for internal business partners to engage with procurement and follow established channels. Therefore, it is critical to bring the entire organization along on this journey.
Once you implement changes, ensure all employees understand the new system and its benefits. Hold formal training sessions to explain procedures and answer questions. Additionally, encourage employee feedback outside of training sessions to quickly identify and resolve potential issues. This education will help ensure a smooth transition.
Be flexible
If you receive feedback or comments, make sure to address those with the individual who raised them and to incorporate them into the new process if it makes sense. In this way, you allow your internal stakeholders to feel heard and part of the process.
Be patient
The process of rebranding procurement within an organization can be challenging and extended. It may take months or even years to change how employees see procurement and to have them consider procurement a valuable strategic partner. However, with patience and perseverance, the value of procurement will be seen and appreciated. During this rebranding time, organizations should strive for excellence and always remember that the end goal is the collective success of the company.
Procurement organizations of the future make continuous incremental progress, consider all feedback, and communicate effectively with the goal of adding consistent, strategic value to the business.
