How to Upskill Your Procurement Department for the Rise of Digital Tools

How many software tools does your organization use in its procurement function? How many programs does one buyer on your team need to open to complete a task??

Our profession relies on technology for every task to keep the supply chain moving. But are the tools your organization uses the right ones? Are employees happy with them, or are they a source of frustration or confusion??

According to Deloitte, technology has made strategic sourcing more predictive, transactional procurement more automated, and supplier relationship management more proactive. Digital procurement tools can bring order to unstructured data sets, create better supplier strategies, and drive more efficient operations, but how do you ensure your teams are ready to use these tools to their full potential??

Don’t skimp on training?

Training is crucial no matter which new tools you bring into your organization. Software companies usually offer training sessions as part of the product implementation, so be sure to take advantage of it; if your employees don’t know how to use the tools, they won’t use them at all.??

Small group training sessions with hands-on practice will allow employees to get a feel for the technology and ask questions as they use the new tool. And don’t stop at just one session. Bring the training team back after a month to ask any questions employees may have after using the tool for a few weeks or walk through any pain points or confusion with the new tool.?

Understand your team members’ strengths and weaknesses?

Some people can learn to use new technology tools reasonably quickly, while others need more time. Set the early adopters up to mentor and support other team members. It’s also important to consider how people learn. Some people want to read instructions and work through the tool independently, while others learn best in a classroom setting or by watching a video. ?

Gartner identifies five digital personas, defining the different ways employees interact with equipment, software, and each other:?

• Caretakers: Believe that digital skills don’t help them and that their organization gives them poor technology;?
• Engineers: Late-career experts in digital technology who are satisfied with their work;?
• Mavericks: Younger workers who bring their own technology to work and have distinct attitudes about digital work;?
• Navigators: Mid-career and deft, but not experts, with digital technology;?
• Pilots: Mid-career, comfortable with technology, and spend less time at their desks.?

Understanding where your team members fall within these categories will help you determine the type of training required, and the amount of work needed to get everyone on board with adopting new tools and technology in your procurement function.?

Build your organization’s digital dexterity?

The Harvard Business Review defines digital dexterity as “the beliefs, mindsets, and behaviors that help employees deliver faster and more valuable outcomes from digital initiatives.” In their 2018 survey, Gartner found that in addition to the hard skills needed for using technology, behavioral attributes—an open mindset and agile ways of working—are critical for digital dexterity. Companies with high digital dexterity are more likely to succeed in implementing new technology tools. ?

However, leadership teams must also demonstrate their digital dexterity to be truly effective, and as the Harvard Business Review states, “they must also ensure that workflows, incentives, budgets, and policies foster, rather than hamper, digital dexterity.”?

Implementing new tools into your procurement function can be a big undertaking, but one that can improve efficiency, provide cost-savings, and build improved customer and stakeholder relationships. Understanding how your team uses current tools and learns new skills and technologies is critical to successfully implementing new programs. Taking the time to provide training and the opportunity for upskilling will ensure your teams thrive in the modern procurement environment and that your organization is well-positioned for future technology and trends.

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