Bpost's Journey to Supplier Optimization with Connecting-Expertise VMS
Bpost, Belgium’s leading postal operator, employs over 25,000 people and manages around 250 ICT contractors. The company sought to streamline its supplier base from about 100 to a few preferred ones, aiming to mitigate concerns about increased rates and delays. To achieve this, bpost implemented CE VMS, which helped optimize and automate supplier management while allowing for ongoing evaluation and sourcing of niche profiles. According to their Procurement Manager, the solution effectively reduced the supplier base without raising rates.
Reading Time: 2 min
Challenge
Bpost’s contingent sourcing process included approximately 100 suppliers on a regular basis. This number needed to be reduced to several preferred suppliers. At the same time, there was a major concern that a decreased supplier base would result in higher rates or the inability to get certain projects staffed in time. In addition to optimizing the supplier base, response times and administrative workload needed to be reduced.
Solution
CE VMS deals with these objectives through an integrated set of four modules, with the possibility to link CE Marketplace functionalities. This combination empowers bpost to structure, optimize and automate all processes related to working with preferred suppliers, while continuously challenging existing suppliers or finding specific niche profiles.
Plan of Action
Supplier base reduction
Use CE VMS + CE MP to reduce supplier base from 150 to 13 work providers.
CE Marketplace Strategy
Strategic use of CE MP to benchmark suppliers and optimize sourcing process
Expansion to Contracting
Activation of contracting module
MSP Program
Implementation of external MSP program
SOW Roll-out
Roll-out to other workforce categories and statement-of-work contracts
”Connecting-Expertise provides us with an ideal solution to reduce our supplier base while avoiding rate increases.”
Kurt Van Cleemput - Procurement Manager | Bpost
Benefits
Efficiency
Moving focus from operational workload to supplier performance management, vendor quality and contractor screening with evaluations.
Reporting
Ability to track and report on all eSourcing-related actions since the data and communication is kept within one single workflow tool.
Cost Reduction
Using CE Marketplace guarantees daily fees for contractors who are in line with current market prices.
Support
Proactive support for future e-Sourcing strategy (extend scope to other categories, fixed price projects)
Discover client cases
“With the complex rules of public procurement, reusable framework contracts increase efficiency and transparency. Add a digital approach, and you get a marketplace with hundreds of clients and suppliers.”
Savings
Efficiency
Full Process Automation
”Managing our temporary workforce is much more transparent and efficient now that we’re using CE VMS platform.”
Efficiency
Transparency
Increased Productivity