This report is available only to Outsourcing Excellence members. For information on membership, please contact us Procurement organizations prioritize reducing costs, managing risks, and creating business value. Category management helps achieve these goals by optimizing category spend, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and improving operational efficiency. In this report, we offer a comprehensive, ready-to-use toolkit for category managers, procurement and sourcing professionals, and CPOs. The report provides structured frameworks for internal category assessments and effective category strategy development. With these editable frameworks and category-specific market intelligence reports, category managers can align category strategies with internal priorities and external market trends. Scope All industries and geographies Contents In this report, we: Suggest editable frameworks for internal state assessment of the category Recommend a structured approach to develop a robust category strategy

The procurement function is increasingly recognized as a strategic enabler, addressing cost optimization, adapting to changing customer needs, and fostering collaboration with adjacent functions such as supply chain and finance and accounting. In 2024, procurement organizations have expressed intent to accelerate digital investments, integrating best-of-breed solutions such as autonomous sourcing tools, intake management, procurement orchestration, chatbots, and supplier management tools into their existing technology stacks. These solutions, powered by AI/ML and generative AI, drive process efficiency, assist decision-making, embed intelligent automation, enhance use experiences, and streamline workflows, while empowering procurement practitioners. Apart from technology providers, service providers are also digitally transforming procurement through S2P platforms, integration tools, and point solutions alongside managed services and advisory focused on enabling procurement transformation. Due to economic uncertainty and slower buyer decision-making, the Procurement Outsourcing (PO) market experienced muted growth in 2023, with potential for resurgence in 2024-25 as first-generation enterprises engage with providers and existing buyers expand scope to include upstream procurement. This research provides comprehensive coverage of the PO market, analyzing regional/industry variations, buyer adoption trends, and growth drivers. It is relevant for stakeholders interested in creating agile and resilient procurement functions with differentiated capabilities, including new buyers / parent organizations exploring procurement outsourcing, providers, and industry influencers such as investors and industry bodies. Scope All industries and geographies Contents In this report, we examine: Procurement challenges and digital imperatives Emerging procurement technologies beyond suites Role of providers as partners in digital evolution PO market overview and adoption trends Key buyer adoption trends Membership(s) Procurement and Supply Chain Sourcing and Vendor Management

This report is available only to Outsourcing Excellence members. For information on membership, please contact us Vendor Management Organizations (VMOs) are essential to building strategic supplier relationships, optimizing value, and mitigating risks. As businesses increasingly rely on external vendors for key functions and services, a VMO ensures seamless collaboration, value delivery, and alignment with organizational objectives. Its importance extends beyond transactional oversight, encompassing governance, performance management, and innovation. This report delves into VMOs’ multifaceted capabilities, shedding light on how they drive efficiency and value through vendor relationships. It explores the organizational structures that enable VMOs to function effectively, highlighting best practices and alignment with broader business goals. Additionally, the report examines technology’s transformative role in enhancing vendor management activities. From automation to analytics, technology is reshaping how VMOs operate, enabling smarter decision-making and stronger supplier relationships. Scope All industries and geographies Contents In this report, we explore: A VMO’s role and its capabilities Organizational structure Technology’s role

The Procurement Outsourcing (PO) Services – Provider Compendium 2024 offers comprehensive, fact-based profiles of leading PO service providers. The report highlights their service offerings, scale of operations, technology solutions, delivery locations, and recent developments. This report helps providers benchmark their capabilities against their peers and empowers buyers to assess whether providers’ offerings align with their requirements. Scope All industries and geographies Contents Each service provider profile includes the following: Service suite and scale of operations: key leaders, service suite, FTEs, revenue, recent developments, and partnerships Delivery locations: city-level details of key delivery locations worldwide Capabilities and clients: major engagements, revenue split by geography and industry, and the number of clients by buyer size Technology solutions: key technology solutions’ brief descriptions Everest Group assessment: the provider’s position on the Everest Group PEAK Matrix® framework, market share and delivery capability assessment, and provider capabilities’ evaluation Membership(s) Procurement and Supply Chain Sourcing and Vendor Management

As global organizations face ongoing challenges like supply chain disruptions and price volatility, procurement functions are becoming more of an asset than ever. Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) remain focused on cost savings, managing risk, and achieving high business user satisfaction while tackling challenges posed by inflation, regulatory requirements, and legacy systems. Watch our experts as they explored the top priorities of CPOs, the current state of procurement functions, and future aspirations. We provided insights into how procurement leaders are addressing challenges and aligning strategies to drive stronger business outcomes. This session offered procurement professionals the opportunity to compare their internal initiatives with industry trends and plan for future developments that align with the market. What questions did the webinar answer? What challenges does the procurement function currently face Which outcomes are top priorities for the procurement function What is the typical maturity of vendor/supplier management processes within organizations?

Procurement Outsourcing (PO) providers support procurement organizations' transformation initiatives by helping streamline processes, drive digital adoption, and incorporate best practices. Providers are aligning their offerings to meet enterprise requirements to provide a comprehensive digital ecosystem comprising advanced technology solutions, including generative AI, end-to-end platforms, best-of-breed suites, and contextualized analytics and automation point solutions through their in-house investments and partnerships. With increased enterprise willingness to seek support in upstream procurement areas such as sourcing and category management, providers are also enhancing their sourcing and category expertise across indirect spend and specific direct spend categories. The evolving PO provider landscape comprises a spectrum of providers, including specialist providers, pure-play procurement and SCM-focused providers, broad-based BPS providers, and IT and BPS providers. In this research, we assess 24 PO providers featured on the PO Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2024. Each assessment provides a comprehensive picture of the provider’s market success, vision and strategy, service focus and capabilities, digital and technological solutions, domain investments, and buyer feedback to assist buyers in making sourcing decisions. With PO engagements’ continued extension in upstream procurement areas, we also asses 22 PO providers on their Source-to-Contract (S2C) capabilities and feature them on the S2C Services PEAK Matrix Assessment® 2024. Scope All industries and geographies The assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2024, interactions with leading procurement service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the PO services market Contents This report includes: PO Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2024 S2C Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2024 Key insights into PEAK Matrix® dimensions Strengths and limitations of individual providers Enterprise sourcing considerations Overview of top PO providers across geographies and industries, along with their respective market shares Membership(s) Procurement and Supply Chain Sourcing and Vendor Management

This report is available only to Outsourcing Excellence members. For information on membership, please contact us The Procurement Outsourcing (PO) Request For Proposal (RFP) toolkit is a comprehensive resource that streamlines the solicitation of proposals for procurement services. The toolkit helps enterprises navigate procurement outsourcing’s complexities by providing insights into supplier details and defining the scope of work. This ready-to-use toolkit includes the Supplier Details Questionnaire and the Scope of Work Questionnaire. The Supplier Details Questionnaire allows potential suppliers to detail their procurement service offerings, future vision, implementation approach, support services, and financial details. The Scope of Work Questionnaire offers a flexible selection of customizable components, covering functional, integration, volume capacity, and security and compliance aspects. Organizations can tailor both sections to align with their specific requirements, providing an efficient and streamlined approach to RFP preparation. Scope All industries and geographies Contents In this report, we: Provide questionnaires designed to streamline the RFP preparation process for procurement outsourcing Outline essential functional aspects that enterprises must consider when formulating their RFPs for procurement outsourcing

Enterprises are increasingly focusing on transforming supplier management activities through digital adoption to improve efficiency and relationships. However, the supplier management technology landscape is complex. Technology providers have varying capabilities and focus areas within the supplier management space, making it difficult for enterprises to choose and implement. In this webinar, our analysts unpacked how enterprises can better understand the supplier relationship management (SRM) technology landscape and highlight the best-in-class functionalities and features. What questions did the webinar answer for the participants? What does the SRM technology landscape currently look like? What are the best-in-class functionalities and features that enterprises should look for when adopting an SRM tool? What does a high-level assessment of the functionality and solutioning elements of various technology providers offering SRM tools entail?

Since the introduction of ChatGPT, organizations have shown a keen interest in exploring the applications of generative AI across various business functions, with procurement being no exception. As procurement has evolved from a back-office function to a strategic one, organizations are increasingly focused on transforming procurement operations by leveraging advanced technologies. While procurement has traditionally utilized technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and basic analytics, the adoption of advanced technologies such as AI/ML is still in its early stages compared to more mature functions such as Finance and Accounting (F&A) and HR. However, the emergence of generative AI and growing enterprise interest in its applicability are expected to accelerate the adoption of next-generation technologies, including AI/ML, to drive further efficiencies and achieve better business outcomes across procurement operations. Generative AI’s creative and cognitive capabilities offer multiple potential use cases across the Source-to-Pay (S2P) value chain, with some organizations already piloting generative AI-based solutions within procurement. It can potentially transform procurement operations by facilitating increased automation, offering decision support, and reducing manual intervention through virtual assistants. With the buzz around generative AI and its emerging use cases, it is imperative for organizations to prioritize the most impactful use cases while also being cognizant of the various challenges associated with the application of generative AI-based solutions in procurement. In this viewpoint, we explore the current landscape of digital adoption in procurement, examining existing AI/ML-based solutions across the S2P value chain. The report also highlights the emergence of generative AI and its implications for procurement, exploring specific use cases within the procurement value chain and emphasizing the prioritization of these use cases for implementation. Scope All industries and geographies Contents In this viewpoint, we examine: The current state of digital adoption in procurement Use cases of AI-/ML-based solutions across the S2P value chain The emergence of generative AI and its implications Generative AI’s use cases within procurement operations and their prioritization Key considerations to ensure generative AI solutions’ successful implementation Membership(s) Procurement and Supply Chain Outsourcing Excellence

Enterprises prioritize developing strong supplier relationships to maintain business continuity, drive innovation, and capture value. The adoption of digital technologies can potentially improve the efficiency of supplier management activities. However, digital adoption varies significantly across activities within supplier lifecycle management. There is a growing interest among enterprises in leveraging technology for Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), which encompasses various activities such as supplier segmentation, supplier governance, supplier performance management, supplier collaboration, supplier-driven innovation, and supplier conflict management. Best-in-class SRM tools focus on enabling optimized workflows, comprehensive performance management, seamless collaboration and communication, and targeted relationship management by leveraging data. The market offers an increasing number of solutions, including best-of-breed tools and S2P and S2C suite providers, each with varying depth and breadth of functionality across SRM activities. These solutions provide different levels of customizability and configurability, influencing their capability and functionality. Enterprises typically face challenges in selecting, adopting, implementing, and utilizing such SRM solutions. In this report, we study SRM technology solutions and analyze technology provider capabilities and solution characteristics across SRM activities, along with sharing individual provide profiles. The report will be relevant for stakeholders interested in driving agile and resilient supplier relationships using digital tools to achieve diverse objectives. This includes new buyers / parent organizations exploring the digitalization of SRM activities, SRM technology providers, service providers, and industry influencers such as investors and industry bodies. Scope All industries and geographies This research leverages our interactions with 11+ leading SRM technology providers worldwide Contents In this report, we examine: Digital adoption trends across supplier lifecycle management activities Best-in-class capabilities across SRM activities SRM technology provider landscape and provider profiles Membership(s) Procurement and Supply Chain Sourcing and Vendor Management