what the difference between purchasing and strategic sourcing course

by Abigail Koss 5 min read

Tanskanen & Aminoff, (2015) suggests a general difference between strategic sourcing

Strategic sourcing

Strategic sourcing is an institutional procurement process that continuously improves and re-evaluates the purchasing activities of a company. In the services industry, strategic sourcing refers to a service solution, sometimes called a Strategic Partnership, that is specifically customized to meet the client's individual needs.

vs. purchasing, by pointing out that purchasing is merely the transaction between buyers and suppliers, whereas sourcing is the integration and coordination of all local and global domains and resources, being monetary, human, material, informational, etc.

Procurement is to buy items for your company or store while sourcing is to find where those items are being sold at high quality and at an affordable rate.

Full Answer

What is the difference between sourcing and purchasing?

Tanskanen & Aminoff, (2015) suggests a general difference between strategic sourcing vs. purchasing, by pointing out that purchasing is merely the transaction between buyers and suppliers, whereas sourcing is the integration and coordination of all local and global domains and resources, being monetary, human, material, informational, etc.

What is the difference between procurement, purchasing and sourcing?

Nov 08, 2021 · Purchasing is only restricted to receiving and making payments. Purchasing can be best known as the transaction-oriented function of Procurement. Sourcing, as the name implies, is a finding a source from where the goods and services can be procured.Apr 4, 2017. What is difference between purchasing and strategic sourcing? Purchasing Vs ...

What are the 7 steps of strategic sourcing?

Strategic Sourcing vs. Procurement. Procurement is slightly different than strategic sourcing. Procurement operations involve tactical, day-to-day transactions that include issuing purchase orders to suppliers. Whereas strategic sourcing represents a variety of sourcing activities, including: Supplier development; Strategic planning; Contract negotiation

What is strategic sourcing and why is it important?

Nov 19, 2014 · Strategic sourcing is a broader, more transformational process, performed at a higher organizational level. Strategic sourcing takes the procurement process further, examining the whole supply network, its linkages, and how they …

What is the difference between strategic sourcing and purchasing?

Purchasing. One of the key difference of Strategic Sourcing in contrast to conventional purchasing is that it extends beyond purchasing and focuses on converging and sustaining the buyer-supplier-relationships (Skjøtt-Larsen & Schary, 2001).

What's the difference between purchasing and sourcing?

Sourcing is the process of evaluating suppliers, negotiating supply contracts and managing the performance of suppliers. Purchasing is the process of acquiring goods and services.Dec 21, 2016

Is there really a difference between purchasing and procurement?

Purchasing focuses on the cost of the order, while procurement focuses on value creation and Total Cost of Ownership. While purchasing aims to minimize the cost of an order, procurement aims at other objectives like risk mitigation, contract compliance, cost savings, ongoing supplier relationships, etc.

What is the difference between procurement and outsourcing?

As nouns the difference between procurement and outsourcing is that procurement is (uncountable) the purchasing department of a company while outsourcing is outsourcing (transfer business).

What is a strategic sourcing plan?

Strategic sourcing refers to the process of identifying the spend profile of an organization and its supplier base to ensure their business requirements are aligned with the suppliers. The boom in the adoption of strategic sourcing implies that almost everyone has heard of it.

What is the difference between purchasing and strategic sourcing quizlet?

How does it differ from strategic sourcing? Procurement is the purchase of merchandise or services at the best price, quantity and quality. Strategic sourcing is an institutional procurement process that continuously improves and re-evaluates the purchasing activities of a company.

What are the 3 types of purchasing?

Types of PurchasesPersonal Purchases.Mercantile Purchasing.Industrial Purchasing.Institutionalized or government purchasing.

What are the 3 types of procurement?

There are three main types of procurement activities: direct procurement, indirect procurement, and services procurement. Direct procurement: Direct procurement involves the direct purchase of raw goods, machinery, and wholesale goods that directly contribute to the company's end product.Feb 25, 2022

What is the difference between purchase and purchasing?

is that purchase is (obsolete) the act or process of seeking and obtaining something (eg property, etc) while purchasing is the act of making a purchase.

Is sourcing the same as outsourcing?

As nouns the difference between outsourcing and sourcing is that outsourcing is the transfer of a business function to an external service provider while sourcing is (chiefly|us) the supply of resources needed by a business process.

What is sourcing and types of sourcing?

Some sourcing strategies to consider:Outsourcing. Having suppliers provide goods and services that were previously provided internally.Insourcing. Delegating a job to someone within the company.Nearsourcing. ... Vertical integration. ... Few or many suppliers. ... Joint ventures. ... Virtual enterprise.May 4, 2017

What is strategic sourcing in supply chain?

Strategic sourcing is an approach to supply chain management that formalizes the way information is gathered and used so an organization can use its consolidated purchasing power to find the best possible values in the marketplace and align its purchasing strategy to business goals.

What is strategic sourcing?

Strategic sourcing is a collaborative process that improves efficiency and streamlines operations. As procurement strategies have developed, highly sophisticated purchasing departments evolved. Usually under the aegis of “corporate finance,” these teams began initiating in-depth sourcing reviews and market research.

Why is strategic sourcing important?

Strategic sourcing helps to mitigate supply risk that goes well beyond a compliance check. While many organizations have a pre-vetting process for the review of a supplier’s financial stability, there are broader risks to think about. A number of factors can impact risk like: Nature of items sourced.

What is sourcing in business?

As purchasing is a subset of procurement, so is sourcing. This is the process of locating a “ source” to procure your goods and services. Simple sourcing strategy involves finding the most cost-effective supplier of goods. It’s carried out in many different areas and for a variety of business needs.

What is the role of a vendor in a customer's buying experience?

With strategic sourcing, there is a higher level of accountability.

When were procurement departments only viewed as order placers?

As recently as the 1980s, procurement departments were only viewed as “order placers.”. The role was fairly simple and didn’t’ require much strategic planning. It was not a cerebral process by any means. Procurement started by issuing purchase orders with zero thought on implementing corporate goals.

Is procurement related to supply chain?

Procurement and supply chain management are closely related and thus, so is strategic sourcing. While procurement is the act of getting the goods and services a business needs, supply chain management is the management of the infrastructure and services required to get those things.

Is simple sourcing more time or money?

Any time strategy is involved, the price tag can be higher. However, the more time and money you put in, the greater the payout. Simple sourcing takes less time but can cost more down the road. One example is if you negotiate a longer vendor contract with a lower rate.

What is the difference between sourcing and purchasing?

On the other hand, sourcing is the process of finding a “source” to procure goods and services. Like purchasing, sourcing is a subset of procurement. Specifically, sourcing finds the most cost-effective supplier for those goods, while purchasing manages the transaction process of acquiring the goods and services.

What is the relationship between procurement and supply chain management?

What is the relationship between procurement and supply chain management? One distinction is that procurement is the process of getting the goods a corporation needs, while supply chain management is the supervision of the infrastructure and services needed to get those goods and services. A supply chain consists of everyone involved in getting a product and service in the hands of a customer, either internal or external.

What is supply chain management?

Supply chain management involves the logistics and services that occurs post-contract consummation. However, strategic sourcing is having a growing influence on supply chain management decisions with the intent to create distinctive value and to achieve a competitive advantage.

Is procurement the same as sourcing?

Many fleet managers believe the term “ procurement ” is synonymous with the term “ sourcing ,” but there are important distinctions between the two functions. For instance, most corporations view procurement as being more tactical and near-term focused, while sourcing is viewed as a more long-term strategic function.

What are procurement, purchasing, and sourcing?

Procurement, purchasing, and sourcing are often used interchangeably. Yet these three common industry terms actually are very different things. While they’re all important to the procurement function, they each serve different purposes and require different strategies, processes, and resources within the organization.

What are the four criteria for sourcing?

Sourcing—and procurement in general—involves a balancing act. Quality, quantity, price, and timeliness are the four main criteria necessary to consider. A lot of research usually goes into sourcing activities so the procurement team can achieve this balance.

What is the difference between purchasing and procurement?

The difference between procurement and purchasing is that purchasing is the transactional stage in the procurement process. When you think of purchasing vs. procurement, you’re once more thinking of the subtask (purchasing) of the wider function (procurement). While sourcing is finding items, purchasing is buying them—and all the steps in which that entails, from raising a purchase order to acquiring the product and arranging payment.

What is procurement in business?

Procurement is an important business function that identifies the needs of internal clients, determines how to communicate them to suppliers, and sets the policies for vetting and evaluating items procured. People often conflate procurement with purchasing and sourcing. But purchasing and sourcing are two stages of the overall procurement process.

What is the role of the Chief Procurement Officer?

Leading this important function is the Chief Procurement Officer, who maintains standards, monitors processes, and innovates in order to make procurement better. Procurement keeps the supply chain running. The ABCs of procurement involve an abundance of tasks, from managing the supply chain to finding cost savings.

What are the ABCs of procurement?

The ABCs of procurement involve an abundance of tasks, from managing the supply chain to finding cost savings. From writing requests for proposals (RFPs), to monitoring tail spend (small and incidental items like pens and paper clips), which can add up to a lot of money.

Why is S2P important?

People generally agree that S2P is a more strategic approach to procurement, because it gives companies even greater transparency across the whole supply chain and helps them make better business decisions.

What is strategic sourcing?

Strategic sourcing is a broader, more transformational process, performed at a higher organizational level. Strategic sourcing takes the procurement process further, examining the whole supply network, its linkages, and how they impact procurement and purchasing decisions.

What is the first step in the strategic sourcing process?

The first step in the process is the kickoff meeting for the upcoming calendar or fiscal spending year. Essential to the success of this meeting is the establishment of the strategic sourcing committee, which should include, at a minimum, the chief operating officer (COO), chief financial officer (CFO), and if used, the chief procurement officer (CPO). We also recommend the inclusion of other key stakeholders: design, R&D, operations management at a very high level, marketing management (to ensure the needs of the customer segments have a voice), manufacturing team members, quality assurance representatives, and transportation team members (assuming the organization has its own private fleet).

What is due diligence in sourcing?

Due diligence is the cornerstone for developing a sourcing strategy. A key aspect of due diligence is the supplier portfolio screening process, which includes initial supplier research and screening, development of a request for information (RFI) and a request for proposal (RFP), site visits and follow-up discussions, and supplier selection. Although the strategic sourcing committee may not play an overt role here, it will play a key part in the ultimate selection of Tier 1 suppliers.

What is step 5 in procurement?

The key components of Step 5 are the finalization of the contractual agreement, planning the transition process (particularly if switching suppliers ), and the receipt of the specified products or services. With the receipt of the order under a new contract, the procurement team begins the generation of performance data necessary to establish a vendor evaluation system. Another element of Step 5 is the implementation of a benchmarking system aimed at determining the savings generated by the contracted vender.

What is the transactional function of buying goods or services?

This involves placing and processing purchase orders or requisitions. Prior to these transactional activities are the formal sourcing decision and ultimate selection of the desire source supplier.

What is procurement management?

Procurement is the management of a broad range of processes that are associated with an organization’s desire to obtain the necessary goods and services needed for manufacturing a product, transforming inputs to outputs, or indirectly operating the organization.

What was the role of supply management in the 1950s?

During the 1950s and 1960s, supply management continued to gain status as the number of people trained and competent to make sound supply decisions increased. Many companies elevated their chief purchasing officers to top management status.

What is Procurement?

Procurement is the full process of sourcing and then using suppliers to gather all the materials you need for your products, services, and indirect costs. It involves placing orders with each supplier, receiving the goods, and paying for them.

What is Sourcing?

Sourcing is the stage that comes before any purchases are made and can be considered a subsection of the procurement department. Before you can procure materials from your suppliers, you must first find and vet those suppliers.

Differences Between Procurement & Sourcing

Both involve the materials you need to operate your business. Sourcing happens to make procurement easier. The main difference is sourcing focuses on direct goods and services, while procurement focuses on indirect goods and services. This, of course, isn’t a hard and fast rule.

Why is sourcing important?

In some industries, sourcing is considered a core operational process that is important to a firm's competitive advantage. A firm that finds superior partners, negotiates lower prices and pushes suppliers to perform may be able to establish cost, quality and speed advantages over the competition.

What is purchasing in business?

In many cases, purchasing is more of an administrative process concerned with financial controls. For example, purchasing includes indirect procurement such as purchases of office supplies that aren't considered relevant to business results. In many cases, purchasing is a routine process of ordering that is guided by sourcing models and agreements.

What is organic food?

An organic food company that is committed to sustainability has a sourcing process that involves visiting the premises of major suppliers as part of basic due diligence before signing supply contracts. Once a supplier is signed, purchases from that supplier are a matter at filling out order forms and obtaining internal approvals.

What is strategic sourcing?

Lastly, strategic sourcing is an even broader process of identifying the expenditure profile of a company and aligning procurement decisions with an overall busines strategy to ensure that all purchases offer maximum contribution to the business.

What is procurement process?

Procurement on the other hand involves a broader set of processes that includes not only the shopping and payment of goods and services, but also other activities associated with obtaining a product or service.

What is purchasing in business?

Purchasing is the activity of physically buying products and materials on behalf of a company, whether it is the raw materials for the product or the finished wholesale goods. Purchasing also involves buying assets, consumables, and services that are required to run a business.

The Difference between Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing

Before we dive into the key steps & benefits, it is important to understand the difference between Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing.

The 8 Important Strategic Sourcing Steps

Now that we’ve talked about strategic sourcing, the strategic sourcing manager, and what the process can do for your company, it’s now time to talk about the steps involved.

The Key Benefits of Strategic Sourcing

For the strategic sourcing manager, the process of strategic sourcing promotes a lot of benefits not just for the procurement department, but for the whole company as well.

Want to become a Strategic Sourcing Manager? Skills & responsibilities

Behind a successful sourcing process is the strategic sourcing manager. By definition, his responsibilities include selecting, evaluating, and managing vendor partnerships. These relationships are then utilized to solve problems and achieve business goals.

The Best Tactical Sourcing Software for 2021

Because tactical sourcing is part of the procurement process, it is only right for software companies to jump right in. In this year alone, there is a lot of software released for sale and companies are biting into them like sharks in open waters.

Purchasing vs. Sourcing Terminology

  • The term “purchasing” is often used as a synonym for procurement, but it holds varying meanings influenced by the historical origins of corporate purchasing. As recently as the 1980s, purchasing departments (as procurement was then known) were viewed as “order placers” issuing purchase orders with little involvement in proactively implementing corporate strategic goals. Today, purc…
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Sourcing vs. Strategic Sourcing

  • In the 1990s, larger companies began to develop highly sophisticated procurement departments, frequently under the aegis of corporate finance. These procurement departments began initiating in-depth sourcing reviews and developed comprehensive agreements with suppliers and service providers who were identified as having the greatest impact on the company’s operation. This ty…
See more on automotive-fleet.com

Relationship with Supply Chain Management

  • What is the relationship between procurement and supply chain management? One distinction is that procurement is the process of getting the goods a corporation needs, while supply chain management is the supervision of the infrastructure and services needed to get those goods and services. A supply chain consists of everyone involved in getting a product and service in the ha…
See more on automotive-fleet.com

What Is Procurement?

  • At its broadest, procurement is theoverall processof obtaining goods and services for your organization. It incorporates all the tasks involved in the search for—and purchase of—the materials and resources a company requires to do its business. Procurement includes: 1. Working out the company’s needs 2. Finding the right suppliers 3. Soliciting those suppliers 4.
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Sourcing vs. Procurement

  • When you think of sourcing vs procurement, you’re thinking about a subtask (sourcing) of the other (procurement). Sourcing activities are those at the very beginning of the procurement lifecycle. They involve everything up until the actual purchase of a good or service. But there is more to sourcing than just picking out an item in a catalog or store. To source effectively, procur…
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Procurement vs. Purchasing

  • The difference between procurement and purchasing is thatpurchasing is the transactional stagein the procurement process. When you think of purchasing vs. procurement, you’re once more thinking of the subtask (purchasing) of the wider function (procurement). While sourcing is finding items, purchasing is buying them—and all the steps in which that entails, from raising a p…
See more on fairmarkit.com