How To Make Global Procurement Less Painful

Before we begin, do me a favor, at the bottom in the "Comments" section write the country that has been the hardest place you've ever had to source equipment (whether it was due to logistics, lead times, customs, VAT, regulations, etc.). We'll come back to this later.

As a global business you already know that successful project deployments depend just as much on deciding to buy the right equipment, as ensuring that equipment gets to the right place at the right time. And, how you approach your deployment strategy is a critical component of success. Would you agree?

This applies whether you are a global company with an established presence around the world, or a multi-national organization looking to expand into more emerging markets. Businesses should not be trying to do this on their own, and if you are, I sympathize with the effort that it takes.

That's because global procurement & services requires knowledge in both global business, and understanding of the complexities and intricacies of global procurement. You not only need to understand IT, but also understand the unique laws, taxes and customs procedures of shipping that IT equipment into countries all over the world. Imagine doing that without any visibility, control and advice through each step of the process. I'm stressed just typing that.

We're just scratching the surface here if you break down some of these challenges even further:

• Procurement: Knowing where and how to buy HW (Export or Local) and the impact it has on VAT and TCO, while mitigating risk. Factoring in budget locations, list price, duties, tariffs, taxes foreign currency and international trade regulations. Basically, identifying what works best for your company based on how your organization is set up.
• Logistics: Getting the hardware from point A – B in the shortest time possible, with predictive lead-times, while handling all trade and importation requirements which should be transparent to the end user/customer. Expertise and knowledge in developing markets, while providing ownership of the entire supply chain process.
• Services:  Providing a full list of services from architecture, installation, site surveys, day 2 support, SPOC and ownership.

It becomes clear that global operations isn't defined just by procurement or logistics, but the need to take a holistic view on the total value it brings to your company.

What makes global procurement & services work is when you have people who have helped global organizations address various procurement, logistics and service issues by providing innovative, practical solutions, efficiency, control, risk mitigation, and visibility, all supported via a global team and expertise.

The problem is, very few people at businesses have this expertise.

Additionally, when it comes to successful deployments it gets even harder. No global VAR can replicate themselves in every country and really can’t achieve economies of scale to meet all of their customer’s service requirements either. In other words, having the same name or having an office in a country like the UK does not mean they have the ability to deploy IT solutions successfully.

That's exactly why Presidio has adopted to use a strategic partner network to deploy IT solution globally. This allows us to select the best partner resources in region, while driving down costs, giving us speed to market and flexibility. We're really just avoiding all the politics every else gets caught up in!

OK, what does that mean for you?

Remember when I asked you to leave a comment with the country that has been the hardest place you've ever had to source equipment. Is that country highlighted below? If it is, that's a good thing for you.

That's because Presidio currently does business in over 123+ countries outside the United States, supports over 967 + US multinational customers, across all 6 continents. Yes, Presidio can ship equipment & deliver services to over 160 countries (that's over 81% of the globe)!  

Who are these people you might ask? Fortunately for you and me, it's not me! The Global Team are specialists in their fields and are dedicated to supporting multinational customers deploy IT solutions globally. Our solutions are very flexible, customer tailored, can accommodate budgets regardless of their locations and can transact in multiple currencies. 

It is possible to have a partner that delivers practical and sustainable value through people, process, and technology. Global procurement & services truly are unique, but can offer you that single point of accountability you don't currently have.

I'll double down on this.

The next time you're planning to something internationally, as a low-risk test run, I'll introduce you to our Global Team. I guarantee you'll get a world-class customer experience that will exceed your expectations. Because chances are, it's better than what you're probably doing right now.

Contact Matt Rutter at [email protected] to see how Presidio can start you on the path towards global digital transformation.

Matt Rutter is an Account Manager at Presidio supporting Cleveland/Akron, OH. For over 10 years, he has focused on helping businesses accelerate technology adoption, reduce operational costs, improve risk management & security, focus teams on strategic priorities, and boost productivity & service quality.

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