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A
Acquisition Cost
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), sometimes Cost Driver Analysis, Acquisition Cost or Value for Money (VfM), is an estimate of the true cost of buying a product or service. It is the sum of all costs incurred during acquisition, possession, utilization and disposition of a product or service. TCO is important because it represents a bigger picture beyond the basic purchase price and reflects the costs that aren’t necessarily included in the upfront pricing.
Specialism:
Category Management Sourcing Spend Analysis
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B
Business Requirements Analysis

Business Requirement Analysis involves the systematic identification, evaluation, and documentation of a company's fundamental needs. These needs may pertain to a customer-oriented product or service, known as Direct Procurement, or to the operational necessities of the business itself, referred to as Indirect Procurement. A well-executed analysis outlines the essential business criteria, leading to quantifiable outcomes and guiding the specifications for suppliers to streamline the procurement process.

Specialism:
Category Management Sourcing Sustainability
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C
Category Hierarchy

Category hierarchy, sometimes Category Mapping, Category Tree or Category Taxonomy, in procurement refers to the hierarchical structure used to organize and manage procurement categories based on their level of importance, complexity, and spend. A category hierarchy typically consists of multiple levels, with each level representing a different level of detail or granularity.

At the top of the hierarchy are high-level categories, such as "raw materials," "finished goods," or "services." These categories are then further divided into subcategories based on more specific characteristics, such as "steel" or "plastics" under "raw materials," or "marketing services" or "IT services" under "services."

Each level of the category hierarchy represents a different level of granularity and detail, with higher-level categories being broader and more general and lower-level categories being more specific and detailed. A well-designed category hierarchy can help procurement professionals to understand their procurement spend better, identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements, and develop more effective sourcing strategies.

Specialism:
Category Management Procurement Strategy
Category Management

Category management is a strategic procurement approach organizations use to effectively manage their spending across various categories of goods and services. It involves analyzing and segmenting the organization's spending into categories and then developing and implementing procurement strategies for each category.

Category management aims to optimize the procurement process by identifying opportunities for cost savings, improving supplier relationships, and enhancing the quality of goods and services acquired. This approach enables organizations to focus on each category's unique characteristics, such as supply market complexity, supplier base, and demand patterns, to drive better outcomes.

Category management typically involves a cross-functional team of procurement professionals, business stakeholders, and subject matter experts who collaborate to develop and execute the category strategy. This approach allows organizations to align their procurement objectives with broader business goals.

Specialism:
Category Management
Category Mapping

Category hierarchy, sometimes Category Mapping, Category Tree or Category Taxonomy, in procurement refers to the hierarchical structure used to organize and manage procurement categories based on their level of importance, complexity, and spend. A category hierarchy typically consists of multiple levels, with each level representing a different level of detail or granularity.

At the top of the hierarchy are high-level categories, such as "raw materials," "finished goods," or "services." These categories are then further divided into subcategories based on more specific characteristics, such as "steel" or "plastics" under "raw materials," or "marketing services" or "IT services" under "services."

Each level of the category hierarchy represents a different level of granularity and detail, with higher-level categories being broader and more general and lower-level categories being more specific and detailed. A well-designed category hierarchy can help procurement professionals to understand their procurement spend better, identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements, and develop more effective sourcing strategies.

Specialism:
Category Management Procurement Strategy
Related terms:
Category Plan

Category strategy in procurement refers to a structured approach for managing a specific category of goods or services that a company purchases from suppliers. The objective of category strategy is to optimize the value of procurement in terms of cost, quality, and risk management.

A category strategy typically involves a thorough analysis of the category, including factors such as market dynamics, supplier performance, industry trends, and regulatory requirements. The procurement team then develops a strategy that aligns with the company's overall business objectives and goals.

The strategy may include actions such as supplier consolidation, negotiation of better contracts, investment in new technologies or processes, or the development of alternative sources of supply. The procurement team will also define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of the strategy and ensure ongoing performance improvement.

Effective category strategy requires a deep understanding of the category and its specific characteristics and the ability to analyze and interpret complex data sets. It also requires collaboration with internal stakeholders and suppliers to identify opportunities for improvement and drive change.

Specialism:
Category Management
Related terms:
Category Positioning
Category Segmentation, sometimes Category Positioning, is the process of classifying procurement categories in terms of their strategic importance to the organization. It is an integral part of a Category Management program that helps define what resources, processes and procedures are applied to manage the category.
Specialism:
Category Management
Category Profiling
Category profiling is a process in procurement that involves analyzing and evaluating spend data and supply market characteristics to gain a deep understanding of a particular category of products or services. The objective of category profiling is to identify opportunities for cost savings, risk mitigation, and supplier performance improvement within a particular category. Category profiling typically involves a detailed supply market analysis, including factors such as supply chain dynamics, supplier capabilities, industry trends, and regulatory requirements. It also involves a comprehensive review of historical spending data and supplier performance data to identify areas of inefficiency or opportunity for improvement.
Specialism:
Category Management Risk Management Spend Analysis Supplier Management
Category Segmentation
Category Segmentation, sometimes Category Positioning, is the process of classifying procurement categories in terms of their strategic importance to the organization. It is an integral part of a Category Management program that helps define what resources, processes and procedures are applied to manage the category.
Specialism:
Category Management
Category Strategy

Category strategy in procurement refers to a structured approach for managing a specific category of goods or services that a company purchases from suppliers. The objective of category strategy is to optimize the value of procurement in terms of cost, quality, and risk management.

A category strategy typically involves a thorough analysis of the category, including factors such as market dynamics, supplier performance, industry trends, and regulatory requirements. The procurement team then develops a strategy that aligns with the company's overall business objectives and goals.

The strategy may include actions such as supplier consolidation, negotiation of better contracts, investment in new technologies or processes, or the development of alternative sources of supply. The procurement team will also define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of the strategy and ensure ongoing performance improvement.

Effective category strategy requires a deep understanding of the category and its specific characteristics and the ability to analyze and interpret complex data sets. It also requires collaboration with internal stakeholders and suppliers to identify opportunities for improvement and drive change.

Specialism:
Category Management Procurement Strategy