Making the Savings Happen – a more detailed look

As certified Benefits Realisation Partners with Spikes Cavell, we have been closely involved with the development and use of their analysis tools and techniques and have in-depth experience of turning the data you get from such analysis into real cost savings.

If you choose to work with us, we would use the SpikeCavell Observatory tool initially to identify and pursue at least seven opportunities for rationalisation and better procurement performance within your council:

1. Save £000s by improving contract terms with top suppliers
2. Use your buying power to get better prices
3. Cut the cost of handling low value, ad hoc spend by 50%
4. Reduce invoice handling costs
5. Rationalise where you have too many suppliers in a category
6. Extend where you have too few suppliers in a category
7. Develop a more effective relationship with regional and sub-regional suppliers

A description of these services follows on the next page

In each case we would come in to help you put in place a strategy to improve the current way you buy goods and services and work with you to implement it.

Then we would look at the wider picture and identify opportunities for collaboration with other councils. This would be incorporated into a regional or sub-regional supplier strategy and we would support its implementation via your Regional Centre of Excellence or buying consortium, taking a role if required, to lead or support and resource the collaboration.

To realise most of the efficiency benefits you will need to undertake process mapping and re-engineering. Where you do not have the skilled resources to carry this out yourselves, we can help you, always ensuring the fullest involvement of your own managers and staff.

Similarly, if your efficiency targets require significant redeployment of back-office resources we can help you introduce a benefits realisation framework and provide skilled project management to drive out and measure the benefits.

Seven opportunities for rationalisation and better procurement performance - details here