Although this broader focus is already visible in our projects, it wasn't in our name yet. But in our new name, yes! In honor of this milestone, Ewald Schaap shares his insights from the journey from knowledge network to independent consultancy firm specialized in Source-to-Pay.
One shared mission
Seven years ago, Derek, Ewald, Robert-Jan and a few more independent P2P professionals all recognized the same frustration: “Developments in the field are slow. Many companies are trying to invent the wheel themselves. A shame, because it can be done so much faster. That's why P2P & Verder started as knowledge network - a platform for all professionals in this great field,” says Ewald.
This resulted in a series of knowledge and breakfast sessions that covered various topics within the field. This was a success! “We find it valuable to share knowledge with each other,” adds Ewald.
In addition, various clients asked the trio whether, in addition to sharing knowledge, they also S2P projects were able to pick up. “As a collection of freelancers, we were not set up for projects of that order. That's why we started the cooperative 5 years ago. Now we are doing the same work under our new name S2P & More.”
Changes in the S2P landscape
Despite the pace of developments, Ewald does see changes in the Source-to-Pay field. “Five years ago, the topic was Robotics in a hot theme. When systems don't talk to each other properly, Robotics can be a convenient solution for automating manual work.”
“Nowadays, many robots are running in the S2P process and is generative AI really an important trend. ChatGPT and Copilot are being used in the Purchasing process by more and more organizations. S2P suppliers are now working to integrate this technique into their applications,” Ewald adds.
In addition, Ewald notes that the role of purchasing is changing: “In many organizations, the Purchasing Department has traditionally focused on reducing costs and negotiating prices as much as possible. Today, Procurement a more strategic role. Procurement is more focused on innovation and is at the forefront of sustainability.”
“This also has consequences for the S2P process. 5 years ago, the theme of sustainability had a small role in the P2P projects we did. Now it's here to stay,” says Ewald.
Knowledge as the key to success
How do you navigate this changing landscape? By continuously gaining knowledge. “With our knowledge sessions, we hope to get organizations thinking. We want to be a driver for taking advantage of the opportunities for an effective S2P process,” says Ewald.
“In daily business, you are often busy keeping the organization running. Then process improvement does not always get off the ground. In addition, it is sometimes a matter of looking for the best next step for your organization: Is it wise to improve within the existing process? Or is it time to take a big step? This varies by organization. Sparring with professionals from other organizations helps you and broadens your view,” says Ewald.
Don't forget the human aspect
A Source-to-Pay project is not just about systems and processes. People are the most important thing. An improvement project affects many users in the organization and various parties are involved. “Our approach is to include people. We bridge the gap between the Finance, Procurement, IT and Business departments and to the technical possibilities of the software. Working together and forming a network is in our roots,” says Ewald.
Collaboration is crucial for an effective process. “As a buyer, suppose you are busy closing a new deal with a supplier. We often see that the Finance Department is not involved enough in this. Then the new deal has been made, but the invoice flows are inefficient. Together, you should investigate what works best for both departments,” says Ewald.
With the right steps, your S2P process improves
One step in improving your Source-to-Pay process is sharing knowledge and experiences. Our knowledge sessions offer plenty of space for this. “It's not just us who share our knowledge. In fact, it is valuable to meet fellow buyers, financials and software suppliers and to learn from each other. That's why we're also organizing several knowledge sessions next year!” Ewald says enthusiastically.
Do you want to be there and discover how your S2P process contributes to your organizational goals? Sign up for one of our events
