Welcome to our guide on strategic sourcing for print materials. In today’s business world, it’s key to save money on your printing needs. Strategic sourcing helps businesses get the best price, quality products, and better service.
At the University of California, Davis (UCD), their Strategic Sourcing Team has done amazing work. They saved a lot of money by working together. This means they use the university’s power to get better deals and improve the quality of print jobs. They work with a print management company (PMC) to handle suppliers, making things more efficient. They also focus on keeping costs low, figuring out the exact amount of printing needed, and using digital printing when it’s a smaller job.
This guide will show you all about strategic sourcing for print materials. You’ll learn tips and insights to make your printing buying better. If you’re thinking about hiring a PMC or doing it all in-house, we’ve got you covered. We’ll help you save costs, build better relationships with suppliers, and find the best deals.
If you’re new to saving on printing or want to get better at it, this guide is for you. We’re here to help you make the most of strategic sourcing for your printing needs.
Reducing Risk and Optimizing Spend in Print Management
Handling print procurement’s complexities challenges many organizations. They face various printed products and a scattered buying method, making it hard to control and manage spending well. Yet, using print management functions or creating print-buying units in-house can ease these issues and better handle print procurement processes.
One great way is to work with a print management company (PMC) to make things smoother and less risky. Teaming up with a PMC cuts down on print suppliers and boosts overall efficiency. The PMC looks at print specifications and matches them with the right printers, ensuring they meet your needs. Doing so reduces the chance of misunderstandings and saves money for your organization.
Setting up a master service agreement (MSA) with the PMC is also crucial. This agreement lessens the print procurement team’s load, letting them focus on other important marketing tasks. Working with a PMC through an MSA improves operational efficiency and allows for better strategic procurement actions.
Controlling Costs and Reducing Waste
Predicting accurately what print items are needed helps control costs and waste. Knowing exactly what you need means you won’t make too much or have too many leftovers. This optimizes spending and cuts down on unnecessary costs.
Limiting change requests is another good way to keep costs in check. By clearly outlining what changes can be made to print jobs, businesses avoid expensive delays and fixes. This keeps projects within budget and lowers error and waste chances.
To wrap up, managing print risk and spend wisely needs a smart plan. Working with a print management company helps businesses streamline, reduce print suppliers, and find the right printers for the job. Using an MSA lets procurement teams focus on key tasks. Plus, accurate print need predictions and clear change request guidelines are key to cost control and waste reduction.
Strategic Sourcing and Controlling Costs in Print Procurement
In the world of print procurement, companies have two main paths. They can either hire Print Management Companies (PMCs) or handle printing needs themselves. Either way, managing costs and maximizing efficiency is key.
Teams often make a Preferred Supplier List (PSL) to build strong ties with their suppliers. This list names the best printers for main printing jobs. It also lists firms for mailing services and promotional items. By carefully looking at costs and quality, businesses can save money and get better deals.
It’s crucial to limit change requests to avoid extra costs and waste. Procurement can also look for new technologies to manage print jobs better, which leads to savings and clear processes. Using gain-share models powers up teamwork between the company and suppliers, benefiting both.
Choosing a strategic sourcing strategy and keeping costs under control has real advantages. With a well-chosen Preferred Supplier List and a focus on quality and costs, companies can save money and work more efficiently. This helps them improve their print buying methods significantly.