RE-IMAGINING S2P IN THE ERA OF AUTONOMOUS PROCUREMENT
to continue onboarding onto legacy systems, which carries the potential for significant wasted investment that could instead be redirected towards more future-focused initiatives. To realise the full potential of an S2P platform, organisation-wide adoption is essential. Despite its inherent benefits, limited usage by internal teams and suppliers will inevitably restrict value creation. A strategic change management approach targeting both stakeholder groups is critical for maximising return on investment For internal users, higher adoption translates directly to increased spend under management – typically the most significant driver of S2P value. It represents millions in potential savings for mid-sized enterprises and tens of millions for larger organisations.
Supplier adoption is equally critical, but can sometimes be neglected during implementation planning. Prioritisation of supplier engagement enables true strategic collaboration beyond basic transaction processing. Swiss Re, which took advantage of the S2P platform offered by spend management giant Coupa, saw user adoption increase from 50 % to more than 90 %, reducing IT costs in half. As leaders evaluate implementation approaches, they should consider not just the technical timeline but the entire journey to value realisation. The most successful transformations balance technical requirements with human factors to create sustainable change that powers long-term profitable growth.
FUNCTIONALITY AND UX ACCELERATES ADOPTION
In cases where new platforms have sub-par user interfaces or necessitate extensive training, companies are likely to face difficulties achieving the critical mass necessary for transformation success. Prioritising intuitive design and user-centric functionality accelerates adoption and increases long-term engagement.
“ Ask yourself: What am I actually going to get incrementally for the [ ERP implementation ] versus what am I going to get incrementally if I roll out a source-topay solution?”
CHRIS DUCHENE, FORMER SVP CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, SUMMIT MATERIALS