{"id":8741,"date":"2025-06-11T16:11:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T14:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/indirect-purchasing-often-neglected-but-crucial-to-sme-performance\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T16:16:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T14:16:39","slug":"indirect-purchasing-often-neglected-but-crucial-to-sme-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/indirect-purchasing-often-neglected-but-crucial-to-sme-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Indirect purchasing: often neglected, but crucial to SME performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In the majority of small and medium-sized businesses, management efforts naturally focus on so-called \u201cstrategic\u201d purchasing: raw materials, production, logistics or equipment linked to the core business. Yet indirect purchasing<\/b>, often relegated to the background, accounts for a significant proportion of expenditure – between 20% and 30%<\/span>. <\/span>of total costs – and have a direct impact on profitability, the<\/b>\u201c<\/b><\/span>efficiency and resilience.<\/b>\u201d<\/b><\/span>profitability, efficiency and resilience.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

What are indirect purchases?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Indirectpurchases<\/span>include all goods and services necessary for the smooth running of the company, but which are not directly linked to the main production or service activity<\/b>. This includes, for example : <\/p>

  • Office supplies, computer equipment and software<\/li>
  • Telecommunications, energy<\/span> and cleaning services<\/li>
  • Waste management, maintenance, insurance<\/li>
  • Vehicle, transportation and travel expenses<\/li><\/ul>

    These items are often fragmented<\/span>, allocated to<\/span> different departments or decided on<\/span> an opportunistic basis, and generally fall outside the scope of an overall purchasing strategy. The result: wasted time, dispersed costs and a lack of leverage.<\/b>‘<\/b><\/span>optimization levers.<\/b> <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t

    Why is indirect purchasing strategic for SMEs?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    In an environment marked by economic uncertainty, cost inflation and supply disruptions,<\/span> controlling indirect purchasing is becoming a sustainable performance lever<\/b>.<\/span>Here’s why: <\/p>

    • <\/b>Direct savings, often underestimated<\/b>:<\/span>centralizing, pooling or renegotiating these expenses can generate savings of 10 to 30%<\/b>, with no impact on core business.<\/li>
    • <\/b>Operational time savings<\/b>: by structuring indirect purchasing, teams gain in efficiency and can concentrate on their core business.<\/li>
    • <\/b>Reduced risks<\/b>: selection of reliable suppliers, better contracting, compliance with standards (RGPD, security, CSR<\/span>, etc…).<\/li>
    • <\/b>A CSR lever<\/b>: optimizing indirect purchasing is also an opportunity to integrate responsible criteria (green energy, recycling, local service providers, ethics, labor law, etc.)<\/span>.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Why is indirect purchasing often neglected in SMEs?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      In many SMEs,<\/span>indirect purchasing remains poorly identified and unstructured<\/b>, often perceived as secondary to purchases linked to production or the core business. There are several reasons for this underestimation. Firstly, the lack of dedicated resources<\/b> leads teams to manage these expenses opportunistically, without any real strategy. Secondly, ashort-term<\/span> vision <\/span><\/b> predominates: as these items are considered insignificant, they are not treated as performance drivers. <\/p>

      Internal organization also plays a role. Indirect purchasing is often decentralized<\/b>, spread between different departments or sites, with no consolidation of needs or harmonization of practices. Lastly, in the sometimes tense day-to-day life of SMEs, these purchases are often made in the context of the company<\/b>\u201cs strategy.<\/b>\u201d<\/b><\/span>without<\/b> competition or in-depth analysis. <\/p>

      This lack of structuring may seem trivial, but it has a real cost: dispersed spending, sub-optimal conditions, lack of visibility… and loss of profitability.<\/b>‘<\/b><\/span>opportunities<\/b> for improving the company’s overall profitability.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      How Widoo helps SMEs optimize their indirect purchases\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      It’s precisely on these issues that the Widoo model provides a concrete response. By joining the network, member companies : <\/p>

      • <\/b>Access collectively-negotiated framework contracts<\/b> with local<\/span> suppliers recognized for their reliability<\/li>
      • <\/b>Benefit from<\/b>\u201c<\/b><\/span>a clear methodology and<\/b>\u201d<\/b><\/span>to<\/b> map and optimize their expenses<\/li>
      • <\/b>Save time<\/b> by delegating the sourcing phase, while retaining control over decisions<\/li>
      • <\/b>Achieve sustainable savings<\/b> without sacrificing quality or compliance<\/li><\/ul>

        In other words, Widoo transforms this often neglected area into a real performance driver.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t

        In conclusion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t
        <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Indirect purchasing deserves its rightful place in the strategy of small and medium-sized businesses.<\/b> Properly managed, they can generate financial gains, improve operational fluidity and strengthen a company’s overall resilience.<\/span><\/p>

        Rather than endure them or manage them on an ad hoc basis,<\/span> structuring and pooling these purchases, within a<\/b>‘<\/b><\/span>network like Widoo<\/b>‘<\/b><\/span>means choosing<\/b>‘<\/b><\/span>more strategic, more efficient… and more serene.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Often relegated to the background, indirect purchasing represents a strategic lever for SME performance. Find out how to structure and optimize them effectively. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"7 benefits of CSR for your company","_seopress_titles_desc":"In this article, discover the 7 key benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for your organization.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8741"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8743,"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8741\/revisions\/8743"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/widoo.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}