PROCUREMENT 101

Beyond Configuration: How to Find S2P Specialists Who Do It All

Introduction

When organizations invest in Source-to-Pay (S2P) solutions, the initial focus often lands squarely on system configuration: getting the platform live, workflows built, and data migrated. While configuration is necessary, it’s far from sufficient. 

To truly drive procurement transformation, companies must go beyond technical setup. They need to align the system with their business strategy, elevate procurement capabilities, and critically support the people using the platform through effective change management — because even the most powerful S2P tool won’t succeed if no one uses it. 

At Optis, we take a holistic approach to S2P transformation. Our engagements look beyond the technology and prioritize the procurement capabilities that matter most, including strategic sourcing, contract management, buying, invoicing, and market analysis. We then ensure those capabilities are fully supported by the right enablers: technology, vision, people and skills, policy, and process. 

Why Configuration alone is not enough

Too often, S2P implementations focus heavily on system configuration: field mapping, approval workflows, catalog set-up, and user roles. These are all important — but if they happen in a vacuum, disconnected from broader business needs, organizations end up with a system that’s technically functional but fails to deliver value. 

Common pitfalls of a configuration-only mindset include: 

  • Low user adoption due to lack of process alignment 
  • Disconnected modules that don't support the full procurement lifecycle 
  • Underused capabilities in strategic sourcing, contract lifecycle management, or supplier performance
  • Minimal impact on procurement KPIs like cost savings, compliance, or cycle time 

The result? A digital platform that acts more like a records repository than a catalyst for procurement transformation. 

Strategic Guidance: align technology with business goals

True S2P specialists take the time to understand your procurement strategy, operating model, and long-term goals. Before designing the system, they help answer fundamental questions like:

  • What procurement capabilities matter most to your business right now? 
  • How do you want stakeholders across finance, legal, and supply chain to engage in the process?
  • What savings, efficiency, or risk mitigation targets are driving this transformation? 

At Optis, our Focus engagements start with a deep dive into your end-to-end procurement ecosystem. We assess and prioritize capabilities across strategic sourcing, contract management, supplier onboarding, buying, invoicing, spend visibility, and more. Then we align those capabilities with the right enablers—technology, vision, people and skills, and policy and process—to ensure a roadmap that’s executable and value-driven. 

This strategic approach means the configuration reflects not just how your business works today — but how it should work in the future. 

change management: drive adoption & long-term success

Technology alone does not drive transformation — people do. A poorly managed transition can lead to low adoption rates, process inefficiencies, and unrealized ROI. That’s why change management is a critical component of any S2P transformation. 

Optis’s tailored approach to change management ensures organizations: 

  • Engage stakeholders early to build buy-in and reduce resistance 
  • Provide targeted training programs that empower users with the right skills 
  • Implement ongoing support structures to reinforce adoption and continuous improvement 

By integrating change management into the transformation process, organizations can maximize user adoption and drive long-term success. 

Unlock the full potential of your investment

Implementing a S2P solution is more than a technology upgrade — it’s a transformation of how procurement delivers value to the enterprise. To unlock that value, you need more than a configuration partner. You need a team that can: 

Conclusion

At Optis, we help clients move beyond implementation to transformation. Whether you're just starting your digital procurement journey or optimizing an underperforming S2P platform, our team brings the strategic advisory, technology expertise, and delivery leadership needed to make it successful. 

Ready to take your procurement transformation further? Contact Optis today to learn how we can help you build a roadmap, enable adoption, and deliver measurable results across your S2P journey. 

Author

Sam Bowyer, Director

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