Source to Pay Solution – A Complete Guide

A source-to-pay method is based on the use of massive data, smart technology, and network connectivity. Big data equips procurement groups with the knowledge they have to form critical choices and move forward with various suppliers. These supplier dialogues about contracts are feasible because of networking, and it’s all done through smart and appealing software.

All of these features are intended to strengthen and streamline the procurement process. Integrating a source to pay solution process strengthens and extends supplier connections, provides greater visibility into product originating networks, and improves procurement clarity.

What is source-to-pay?

S2P begins when a firm selects preferable vendors from which to purchase, places orders with those vendors, obtains products or services, generates the invoice, and compensates the seller when the good or service is provided. 

As a result, procurement is more tightly regulated, resulting in huge cost reductions. Because few organizations provide this comprehensive service, this word may be unfamiliar. It has evolved over time as a result of the growing demand for interconnected systems, info, and activities.

Steps Involved in Source-to-pay

S2P isn’t a fully independent method from the procurement process. Rather, e-procurement is the result of a digital transformation journey. Here’s a normal path for such a journey:

1. Demand

First and foremost, there must be a demand for some kind of good or service. However, the desire could be fueled by the lower price or improved conditions.

2. Sourcing:

In this process, potential supply chain vendors are identified and assessed. Software platforms that manage significant volumes of data on historical expenditure, industry trends, and organizational aims can be used to implement this sourcing technique. Vendors who meet basic requirements can be cataloged in a smooth onboarding operation.

3. Preparing a bid:

The RFx files are put together. Requests for data, bids, and quotes are examples of these documents.

4. Decision-making:

Candidates must be evaluated in the fourth step. Several will be selected, while others do not.

5. Contract management:

After that, you’ll need to enroll qualified vendors into a supply chain database and negotiate price and contract terms with them.

6. Contract signing:

It’s necessary to finish and sign a deal once the terms have been agreed upon.

7. Transition to procure to pay:

With the contract signed, it’s essential to hand over the reins to the procurement department, who will be in charge of all purchases, billing, and payouts.

Advantages of an Integrated Source to Pay Process:

A comprehensive source-to-pay procedure provides a plethora of far-reaching advantages. These advantages range from increased efficiency improvement to the development of strong supplier connections, and in some situations, even the reduction of delivery time.

• Supplier Management:

The supplier management capability is the foundation of every S2P workflow. These enable more supplier selection, resulting in a more secure and transparent supply chain that is less vulnerable to market volatility. 

Furthermore, good source-to-pay systems enable businesses to screen out suppliers who do not satisfy business, legislative, or company criteria.

• Contracting:

Quick supplier interactions and enrollment operations are another time-saving and effective benefit of incorporating a source-to-pay method. While many firms are recognizing the need of maintaining a reliable supply chain – especially in light of the current epidemic – the supplier negotiating cycle still consumes a significant amount of effort and expense. 

Procurement teams can use automated activities, analytics, and big datasets to optimize these procedures using source-to-pay solutions. This can also improve the efficiency of the entire product sourcing process by reducing delivery cycle times.

• Purchasing:

Purchasing products is typically the last stage in the source-to-pay method. Nevertheless, getting there might be a difficult endeavor. Procurement teams are already overworked without having to deal with back-and-forth negotiations with providers. It’s cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly to have to replenish those supplier bases with off-contract transactions.

• Ease-of-Use:

One of the most difficult aspects of implementing new technology in a firm is guaranteeing that it is embraced by a large number of people. The objective is to provide a user-friendly experience that is uniform throughout the suite. Because all purchasing operations are processed through a single system, people must make efforts to use it.

• Streamlining Procurement Processes:

Procurement software enables interconnection across the organization, allowing requisition proposals to be accepted and processed more quickly. Furthermore, procure-to-pay operations streamline procurement processes by enhancing interconnection thanks to this e-procurement software’s interoperable feature.