To introduce the suits suit we offer in Source-to-Contract we have we’ve created the below graph. Think of it as a conversation starter with which you can explain to someone what we do and which processes we support, and how those processes interact with each other. You can also use it to tell the story and chronology of the rest of the modules.
The graph has a fairly high level of abstraction to give 95% of the readers an idea of what we do. A lot of details are left out and many interpretations and applications are possible. These have all been discussed
You could include all of these, but that does not make a process picture any clearer.
Of course, there are all kinds of cross connections, but we want to present this information in a simple way. It shouldn't be rocket science.
How Mercell sees the Source-to-Contract process
Procurement is an iterative process. By iterative we mean repetitive and improving, hence the circle.
A need arises, you look for the product or service, you start using it and you learn from it. Where
Within the government the entire process within the government repeats itself automatically, because a contract must be renewed every 4 years, housing corporations and private clients may . The private sector might choose to improve the service or to build up long-term, intensive partnerships. In our process we recognize recognise - just like the a PDCA circle - different phases: Connect, Select, Control.
Connect
By Connect we mean is about connecting the purchasing department with the rest of the organization organisation, and vice versa.
As a purchasing team you offer a digital portal for filling in and receiving purchasing needs from colleagues. In this phase, this means identifying or collecting those needs and setting up and directing the purchasing process. The purple color runs completely round, because as a buyer you take colleagues with you in the future and you remain central in all phases. You connect with your customer to add value to products and services. Mercell enables you to maintain that connection in all your activities.
Select
Then comes the next phase and it speaks for itself. As a buyer, you specify the product or service that will fulfill the need. You enter the market and select the best supplier.
Control
From that selection comes a commitment to agreements that you want to store and manage. This is the third stage. As a buyer, you want to be able to manage the contract, the supplier, and the performance - and adjust if necessary.
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