Your Consulting PartnerProcurement Consulting
Procurement is a core value driver, but when it comes to indirect materials (like MRO), strategies for direct materials often fail. Most procurement consulting focuses on process automation, tender templates, or supplier negotiation frameworks. But these approaches fall short when KPIs center around unit price and ignore key cost drivers like total landed cost, customs complexity, or administrative effort.
Supplier tenders stall when master data is inconsistent. Vendor base reduction projects collapse without global ERP codes and category-specific sourcing logic. And when sourcing performance is measured without advanced KPIs, decision-makers lack visibility end effectiveness.
At DESKA, we approach MRO procurement consulting differently. We begin with the foundation: clear, completematerial master data. With decades of experience across supplier tenders, vendor consolidation, we’ve learned that no system, automation, or strategy can succeed without trustworthy data.
We don’t just optimize processes, we question the inputs. We align your sourcing logic and requirements with operational needs, advanced KPIs, and true cost structures. From global material code harmonization to vendor base structuring and consolidation strategy, DESKA helps you build procurement around clarity, control, and measurable results.
Can the same sourcing strategy be used for both direct and indirect procurement?
No! Because sourcing direct materials and indirect materials differs in many ways.
Key mistakes made when treating Indirects-Sourcing (MRO) the same as Directs-Sourcing:
Using only price-based KPIs
Directs: Price-focused KPIs work, since volumes are high and specs are fixed.
Indirects: Process cost, administrative & logistics cost, shipping & import fees, bring savings
Applying the same Tender Logic
Directs: Standard tender logic, with clear specs and comparable items, delivers results.
Indirects: Tenders fail without pre-qualification, category rules, and tender-ready master data.
Unmanaged Vendor Base
Directs: Few key suppliers with high spend, and regular coordinated shipments, easy to manage long-term.
Indirects: Hundreds of small-volume suppliers. Avoiding fragmentation losses requires active vendor base management.
Lack of Standardization
Directs: Specifications are well-defined, often sourced globally with detailled information and stable standards.
Indirects: Conclusive data requirements depends on item category. Missing standards cause duplicates, mismatches, and claims.
No cross-site Coordination
Directs: Centralized sourcing, often managed under global material codes.
Indirects: Data quality differs greatly between sites, data is inconsistent and duplicates are unidentified.
Neglected Indirect Costs
Directs: Predictable sourcing volumes and timeslines keep indirect costs low and manageable.
Indirects: Procurement is full of hidden costs like inbound freight, customs, GR processing and admin overhead.
REACHING STRATEGIC GOALSPROCUREMENT SUCCESS FACTORS
YOU WANT
YOU NEED
- Clear, complete, consistent Material Master Data
- Brand and Category specific item pre-qualification
- Optimized multi-stage tenders to drive supplier engagement
- Advanced procurement KPIs reflecting company strategy
- Clear, complete, consistent Material Master Data
- Identification of potential savings in Material Master Data
- Material category specific mandatory requirements
- Duplicate-free item master across all sites
- Clear, complete, consistent Material Master Data
- Transparent landed cost data across sites
- Optimal consolidation levels and delivery frequencies
- Full visibility into indirect and administrative supply chain costs
WHAT WE ANALYSEDESKA PROCUREMENT CONSULTING
Are you optimizing the right things, or just what’s easily measurable? Are the KPIs guiding your procurement aligned with where your business wants to grow? And what foundations must be in place to support that growth? These are the questions we help our clients to answer. With deep operational expertise in procurement and material master data, DESKA works alongside your team to identify overlooked opportunities, challenge the status quo, and build the structures and strategies that unlock measurable and sustainable value.
Sourcing Optimization
Structured review of vendor landscape and sourcing patterns to uncover savings potential.
Vendor base structure analysis, Tail Spend Analysis, Vendor Base Structure Review, Vendor Base Reduction Projects, Part Category Sourcing Evaluation, Supplier Tender Optimization, Supplier Tender Analysis, Master Data Verification, Brand & Item Harmonization
→ Increased Supplier Engagement and strengthen supplier performanceAdvanced KPI Review
Evaluation and benchmarking of current KPI landscape. Introduction of advanced metrics to uncover inefficiencies and unlock optimization potential:
Spend & Process Efficiency (Total Landed Cost, Total Indirect Procurement Cost, Tender Performance Score) Supplier & Sourcing (OEM vs. OCM Conversion Rate, Brand Harmonization Coverage) Data Quality & Governance (Material Master Data Compliance Score)
Data Intelligence
Assessment of supplier tender structures, rules, and associated master data to uncover improvement potential.
Procurement Effectiveness Evaluation, Quick Wins vs. Structural Levers, RFQ & Tender Strategy Review, Pre-Tender Material Scope Check, Master Data Quality Screening, Cross-Site Synergy Identification, Opportunity Clustering, Directional Action Planning
For detailed insights see Tender Consulting and Master Data ConsultingLogistics Savings
Analysis of total landed cost structures, logistics setup, and hidden cost drivers across the inbound supply chain.
Landed Cost Transparency, Freight Cost Reduction, Delivery Frequency & Batch Size Efficiency, Regional Shipping Hub Evaluation, Consolidation Opportunity Assessment, Administrative Processing Cost Reduction, CO₂ Footprint Reduction Analysis
For detailed review of the topic see MRO Consolidator
What area in your procurement process holds the most untapped potential? Whether you want to reduce costs, optimize your supplier structure, run more effective supplier tenders, improve data visibility, or gain control over your logistics spend:
DESKA is here to help.Reach out to our team to see how we can support your next step toward smarter procurement.
