Introduction
A successful source-to-pay (S2P) implementation often marks the beginning of a journey, not the destination. Companies invest significant resources to deploy these platforms, manage the change, and ensure both user and supplier adoption. Basic expectations include enhanced procurement efficiency, compliance, and improved spend under management. However, the real value is captured not just at go-live but in the ongoing continuous improvement of the solution.
The Importance of Sustainment
Sustainment is about more than keeping the lights on — it's a strategic endeavor that ensures your S2P system evolves alongside your business needs, market conditions, and technological advancements. Without a well-structured sustainment plan, your initital gains from implementation can quickly erode, leaving your organization under-leveraging its investment. The goal is to ensure that the S2P solution not only continues to function as intended but also delivers enhanced value through:
Continuous Process Improvement: Business processes are rarely static. Over time, operational demands shift, market conditions change, and organizations grow. Sustainment services provide ongoing support to tweak, refine, and optimize procurement processes within oyur S2P system to align with these shifts.
End-User and Supplier Adoption Training: As new features are introduced and procurement practices evolve, the significance of ongoing training cannot be overstated. A robust sustainment plan ensures that system users receive continuous training and that new suppliers are effectively onboarded. This approach enables all users to fully leverage the platform's capabilities, maximizing its value and efficiency.
Governance and Compliance: Source-to-Pay solutions are powerful tools for maintaining compliance with internal poliices and external regulations. A sustainment strategy ensures that mechanisms are continuously refined and reinforced to address regulatory updates and internal audit requirements.
System Enhancements and Upgrades: Technology moves quickly. Software vendors regularly release updates, new features, and improvements. Sustainment services help you stay on top of these enhancements, ensuring your S2P system continues to perform optimally and delivers the latest features that can further drive business value.
Common Value-Creation Challenges
One of the most common issues organizations face post-implementation is the failure to adequately plan for the long-term. Without proper sustainment, companies risk:
These are avoidable outcomes with a proper sustainment strategy that provides both ongoing technical support and process refinement.
True value in procurement isn't just realized at the point of implementation, it's captured through continuous optimization and proactive sustainment. Studies show that companies with a robust support model see up to 20% higher ROI over the system's lifecycle, as they consistently adapt to evolving business needs and market conditions."
- Carla Eboni, Partner at Optis
How Optis Supports Sustainment
Optis' approach to sustainment reflects a deep understanding of procurement and the critical need for its continuous optimization. By utilizing a holistic support model, we're focused not only on keeping systems operational but also on ensuring they deliver continuous value. To accomplish this, we apply the following:
1
Tailored Support Solutions: Optis provides sustainment services that are customized to each client's specific needs, ensuring that support efforts align with business objectives. This ensures that as your business grows or pivots, your S2P system adapts and grows with you.
2
Proactive System Management: Rather than just reacting to issues, Optis emphasizes proactive system monitoring and management, identifying opportunities for improvement before they become problems. This approach ensures your S2P solution is always optimized for performance and scalability.
3
Training and Knowledge Transfer: Optis understands the importance of empowering your team. We provide ongoing training to ensure your staff maintains confidence in using the system and that new employees quickly get up to speed.
4
Agility in Enhancements: As your business and the S2P solution evolve, Optis ensures that enhancements and upgrades are seamlessly integrated, without disrupting ongoing operations.
CONCLUSION
Capturing value from your S2P solution is an ongoing process that extends far beyond the initial implementation phase. They key to unlocking long-term value lies in a robust sustainment strategy that ensures continuous process improvements, user adoption, compliance, and system enhancements.
To learn more about how Optis can support your S2P sustainment journey, contact our team of experts today.
To learn more about how Optis can support your S2P sustainment journey, contact our team of experts today.
