Relieving the challenges and complexity of global procurement

Procurement has become a strategic agenda item for most businesses and organisations today, yet the challenges for Business-to-Business (B2B) procurement remain plentiful. Many IT directors and procurement officers face unique challenges around purchasing technology and the complexity in the quoting, purchasing and roll-out of global IT projects – often leading to extra expense and delayed implementation.

To help our clients maintain the high level of visibility and control needed to manage the procurement of IT products and services on a global basis while still driving economies of scale, we developed a global eProcurement system called Dimension Data Direct.

Dimension Data Direct has consistently provided our clients with tangible time and cost savings and many clients have realised the benefits that expand far beyond the IT department. One client reported a 31% decrease in quote to delivery time and lowered procurement costs, while another told us their average quote to PO process went from two weeks to two days, once they began utilising Direct.

Today Dimension Data Direct supports six different languages, over 30 currencies and local business rules for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

For an overview of what Direct can do for you take a look at Dimension Data Direct At a Glance.

The right solution for an organisation looking for the right product at the right price to be delivered to the right place at the right time.

Dimension Data Direct is a global eMarketplace that offers our clients a way to connect with preferred vendors, source technology and services, manage the procurement process, and analyze spend via a collaborative relationship with Dimension Data. Specifically, Dimension Data Direct enables clients to quote, requisition, order, track and receive invoices through a single online channel.

Through functionality such as pre-configured bundles and templates, automated workflow approval, product configuration and on-the-fly reporting, Dimension Data Direct helps streamline the procurement process, simplify complex IT purchases, and regulate spend management.

The benefits of eProcurement to a global organisation are significant. Global IT departments can make use of Dimension Data Direct across all locations, applying local business rules whilst simultaneously managing global purchasing policy and workflow, reducing the risk of incompatible equipment or over-spending. Additionally, our system provides IT departments with increased transparency around global order status and can improve their ability to plan and budget large projects and cross-border deployments.

Contact us to find out more about how eProcurement can help you manage your global IT procurement or to schedule a demo of Dimension Data Direct.

Realise Greater ROI with Systems Integration

Have you invested the capital to develop and deploy an electronic procurement system but are not seeing the ROI you expected? Then it’s time to take inventory of which vendors you are truly transacting with electronically. It’s likely you will find your organisation is not tapping into the full potential of your eProcurement system by integrating with your vendors’ eCatalogues or eProcurement portals.

Dimension Data offers integration to our eProcurement portal, Dimension Data Direct, to all of our clients, allowing you access to vendor IT catalogues and custom price lists from within your internal procurement system.

If you already have an ERP or procurement system in place, integrating with Dimension Data Direct is not only a smooth and practiced process, but one that makes business sense. It can significantly reduce re-keying and manual data entry, which in-turn reduces the risk of human error, and automates much of the purchasing process. Integration also increases transparency of transaction status and IT spend -- increasing spend management and reducing the risk of rogue purchasing.

Dimension Data Direct supports standard B2B integration with most common protocols and standards, including: XML, flat files, EDI and proprietary systems. And our team has successfully integrated with all of the major ERP systems on the market, including: Ariba, PeopleSoft, SAP, Oracle, and more.

See how Dimension Data Direct could help you reduce your IT procurement process by as much as 72 days. Or to schedule a live demo contact us

Reduce risk and increase efficiencies in your software licencing procurement

The purchase and management of software licences can be cumbersome and fraught with potential risk. Without control and visibility into your software licencing contracts you could end up paying for licences already owned as well as run the risk of vendor audits for non-compliance. However, by utilising electronic quoting, purchasing and management of software licencing contracts organisations can realise increased efficiencies, better asset tracking and reduced risk.

Through our online eProcurement system, Dimension Data Direct , we offer quote and purchase management of Microsoft Select and Microsoft Enterprise software licencing contracts. Whether you negotiate your contract with us, or directly with Microsoft we can help you gain better visibility and control over the life of your licencing contract, including contract renewals and the annual True-Up process. By leveraging the benefits of eProcurement you will reduce the quoting and purchasing process, getting needed software programmes to end users faster. What is more, you will have the ability to purchase both software licences and other IT products and services all through a single channel.

For more information or to schedule a live demo of our software licensing functionality contact us.

Overcoming the challenges of Sustainable procurement

Organisations across the globe are looking at ways to integrate environmental purchasing standards into their sourcing strategy by implementing a sustainable procurement programme. If you’re a procurement executive or director, chances are you are becoming well versed in the litany of challenges that come with “going green.”

So, how can eProcurement help? While supporting your sustainable procurement initiative is not likely to be the primary benefit or driver for implementing eProcurement, by utilising eProcurement best practices you can reduce the challenges of deploying, administering and promoting a sustainable procurement programme.

Building Sustainability into Supply Chains through e-Procurement

Read this white paper which call’s out nine e-procurement best practices and demonstrates how they will help you reduce environmental waste and implement and manage your sustainable purchasing programme.