More and more companies are looking to cut costs by focusing – in most cases – the entire effort on the purchasing departments.

At the same time the requirement for these departments is not only to reduce costs but also to create value for companies through a list of suppliers that provide quality improvements and innovation in management.

This leads to more innovative models of comprehensive treatment in purchasing and centralized corporate procurement approaches which face major challenges.

Companies working in an international environment increasingly need to interact easily, safely and economically with the agents involved in their business. Thereby new challenges are put forward that require changes in the relationship with suppliers:

•Single interlocutor with personalized service
• Single decision making centre
• Environments that overcome cultural barriers
• Demand for quality commitments
• Cost savings through integrated management
• Lines of access to information for suppliers about tenders or offers
• Step up from the exchange model to the model of sharing information
• Step up from communication on paper to electronic support
• Outsourcing of services
• Improved management of organizations

The objective of a Single Supplier is a challenge for the purchasing departments of large organizations which are not always met due to barriers of non-uniform pricing, geographic capacity, local decisions, comfort in negotiating etc …