By Emma Williamson, Head of Procurement at EF-group
All businesses in catering should have a procurement strategy to help guide the acquisition and purchasing of produce. But more than this, the strategy must do a good job of considering all the most important aspects of procurement, including cost reduction, risk mitigation and company growth. A good, well-thought-out procurement strategy can be hugely beneficial for caterers in the education sector. So, how do you set this up and ensure it can run as smoothly as possible throughout the academic year? Here are a few of our top tips…
Analyse the current situation
The first step to creating a successful procurement strategy in education is to take a look at everything involved in your current procurement process. This should include how orders are placed, how your suppliers are picked and contract management.
A thorough analysis will help you gain a clear picture of the existing process, which should make any gaps obvious.
Define goals & KPIs
Consider which goals you want to meet with your procurement strategy. Are you looking to improve sustainability? Or is it more important that you keep costs down while boosting the nutritional value of your produce? Whatever your ambitions are, be sure to properly define these and make a note of any relevant KPIs you want to monitor. This can help you shape the strategy around the overarching goals of the business.
Invest in software
Investing in software can feel like a big expense, but when it comes to creating your procurement strategy, it can be hugely beneficial. Whether you’re a facilities management caterer or work directly within education facilities, the right procurement software can streamline various key processes, including order tracking, KPI monitoring and invoicing. This can save time, boost efficiency and give a clearer oversight of the entire process.
Refine the strategy throughout the year
You might think that once you’ve created the perfect procurement strategy, you can simply let it run its course throughout the academic year. But doing this can actually reduce its effectiveness and efficiency.
We recommend checking your KPI progress at the end of each academic term and adjusting your strategy if needed. Monitoring the strategy, especially if you’ve made a lot of changes compared with previous years, can help you better understand how it works for your business and the students you’re catering for.
Photo by Felix Kolthoff on Unsplash
