Efficiency, flexibility and time savings for purchasing through a hybrid procurement strategy
In most companies today, the need for efficiency and control in purchasing dominates. Various digital procurement solutions are available, such as classically structured catalog solutions, comprehensive procurement platforms or specialized solutions for individual and indirect needs. But not every model fits every procurement situation. What matters is choosing the right solution for the right type of demand and, when in doubt, combining several models.
In brief: In the single creditor model, a single service provider such as Pedlar is set up once as a creditor in the ERP and handles one-off and indirect demands through it – including ordering, payment and a consolidated invoice. Classic catalog solutions, by contrast, primarily cover plannable standard demands – typically only 30–40 % of one-off demands.
Catalogue solutions are particularly suitable for recurring and standardized needs such as office supplies, consumables or standard parts. Companies can store approved products in it, which buyers or specialist departments can access directly. Prices and conditions are set in advance and orders can be triggered centrally and automatically. This saves time and reduces process costs. Catalogs offer stability and compliance, as all products are tested and suppliers are controlled. They are ideal for needs that occur regularly and can be planned.
One disadvantage of catalog solutions, however, is that they are inflexible when it comes to one-time or special needs. New products or rarely needed items are often not listed. Maintaining master data and managing suppliers also requires additional effort. Catalogs therefore quickly reach their limits for complex or irregular orders.
Digital procurement systems are designed to digitize procurement and supplier management across the entire process. They enable tenders, supplier evaluation, contract management and evaluation of expenditure centrally and transparently. These systems are particularly suitable for companies that have many structured requirements, use fixed suppliers and process a large volume of orders.
For predictable standard orders, these platforms offer transparency, stability and compliance. However, rare one-off requirements can also be complex here, as new suppliers must be integrated and individual items must be maintained. The effort required for such special cases can be high and therefore block purchasing capacities.
Pedlar addresses exactly those cases, which are difficult to reproduce in classic systems. One-off requirements are bundled via Pedlar. The company only needs one creditor in the system, regardless of which supplier the goods or services come from. Ordering, delivery, invoicing and processing are carried out entirely by Pedlar.
The single creditor model reduces the effort required for supplier creation, administration of numerous creditors, manual orders and individual invoicing processes. The purchasing process is simplified and resources are freed up that were previously tied up for micro-orders and one-off orders. Purchasing can strategically use these capacities for supplier development, category management, contract negotiations, risk management and sustainable procurement.
Pedlar does not replace existing systems but complements them where traditional procurement processes reach their limits. Catalogs or procurement platforms remain optimal for predictable standard requirements. Pedlar offers an efficient solution for irregular, unpredictable and unspecific individual requirements.
No single model optimally covers all requirements. A hybrid procurement strategy combines the strengths of the different models and minimizes their weaknesses. Standardised requirements run via catalogues or procurement platforms, indirect demands via Pedlar. This keeps processes structured, data maintained and compliance ensured. At the same time, operational effort is prevented from exploding due to special cases. Purchasing gains flexibility, efficiency and scalability.
Would you like to work out together which of your requirements belong in a catalog and which are better off in a single creditor model? Schedule a call →
