Prior to the implementation of SAP Ariba Guided Buying, Fujitsu’s procurement process was decentralized, resulting in limited visibility of its supply chain. This posed significant challenges when it came to channeling spend to their First Nations partners. The company recognized the need for a platform that would establish a single source of truth for all company spend and associated data, empowering employees and managers to make informed decisions while driving forward business strategies and initiatives with purpose.

Nicole Forrester, VP of Purpose, People and Culture at Fujitsu Asia Pacific, emphasizes the impact of the SAP solution, stating that it has provided a platform for Fujitsu to support its diverse supply chain strategy, ultimately enabling the increase of spend with First Nations suppliers.

Overcoming Procurement Challenges with SAP Ariba Guided Buying

To create a more inclusive and diverse supply chain, Fujitsu collaborated with the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC), an organization dedicated to developing sustainable Indigenous businesses across Australia. Together, they developed a First Nations Supplier portal, providing a dedicated buying channel for Fujitsu’s First Nations suppliers.

Adam Goodes, Chief Executive Officer of iDiC, highlights the significance of this implementation, noting that it represents a meaningful commitment to supporting First Nations people. He believes that Fujitsu’s new guided buying system will provide long-term support and opportunities for Indigenous businesses and communities, contributing to a more equitable future.

Collaboration and Innovation: The Key to Success

Since launching the First Nations Supplier portal, Fujitsu has witnessed remarkable results. The company has increased its spend with First Nations suppliers from $200,000 to an impressive $5.1 million over the last few years. Additionally, Fujitsu has also increased its spend with SME partners to $12.5 million per annum.

The implementation of SAP Ariba Guided Buying has not only benefited Fujitsu’s diverse supply chain but has also streamlined and automated the company’s procurement processes. By establishing a standardized hub for end-to-end procurement activities, Fujitsu has reduced new vendor processing time by over 65%, allowing staff to focus on more strategic tasks. Moreover, the creation of a central contract repository has led to over 2,000 active contract workspaces, with 30% of contracts operationalized for downstream procure to pay.

Angela Colantuono, President and Managing Director of SAP ANZ, recognizes the transformative potential of SAP Ariba for organizations striving for operational excellence and a more equitable, sustainable world. She acknowledges that while there is still work to be done to better support First Nations peoples in Australia and New Zealand, Fujitsu’s implementation of SAP Ariba demonstrates the power of technology in driving purposeful procurement and the meaningful impact it can have on the communities in which it operates.

The Future of Procurement at Fujitsu

Looking ahead, Fujitsu plans to continue leveraging SAP Ariba to create hubs for operational support and standardization of business processes, empowering teams across the Asia-Pacific region. This aligns with the company’s goal of creating a truly centralized and consolidated business that enables a diverse supply chain.

By embracing SAP Ariba Guided Buying, Fujitsu has not only transformed its procurement function but has also set a powerful example for other organizations seeking to make a positive impact on their communities. The company’s success story serves as a testament to the potential of technology in driving purposeful procurement and creating a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

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This year, SAP Ariba has been awarded the Top Rated Award in the Procurement Software category by TrustRadius. The recognition was given based entirely on more than 150 verified customer reviews. Clients that have optimised SAP Ariba solutions for their digital procurement transformation include major businesses such as Siam City Cement and Pruksa Real Estate. Reflecting on the significant uptake in terms of customer adoption, Atul Tuli, Managing Director of SAP Indochina, said:

“We are seeing an increasing demand from our customers for the automation of procurement processes and the consolidation of supply chain management. COVID-19 has underscored the urgent need for every company to become an intelligent enterprise and the most resilient companies were those that embraced technology to transform their business processes.”

Recently, SAP revealed that Betagro Group has extended its investment in SAP Ariba solutions to optimise spend management, efficiently manage potential disruptions, and further digitalise its end-to-end procurement processes. Procurement has evolved into a strategic function for Betagro Group, one that can drive value and provide the groundwork for the company’s future growth. In 2008, Betagro Group began transforming its operations in collaboration with SAP.

“Betagro’s renewed investment in SAP Ariba solutions will extend the benefits to its growing network of suppliers. By fostering stronger relationships with its business partners, Betagro can provide more value for its customers too,” the SAP Indochina MD added.

Betagro Group Leverages SAP Ariba Guided Buying

Betagro Group has been using SAP Ariba for sourcing, contracts, catalogs, supplier information management, and supplier collaboration for more than a decade now. As a result of the expenditure analysis insights, the company has made better sourcing decisions and discovered alternative sources of supply on a single network.

According to Dr. Thanomvong Taepaisitphongse, Chief Administrative Officer at Betagro Group, the company achieved more than 200 sourcing events with over 300 contracts created digitally through the SAP Ariba Network last year. The network is the largest business-to-business (B2B) marketplace that creates dynamic and virtual collaboration with millions of suppliers and other trading partners. Commenting on Betagro Group’s long-standing business relationship with SAP, he said:

“Successful adoption requires much more than technology. Strategic partnership is key to helping us holistically transform our business into an intelligent enterprise.”

Aside from providing Betagro users with a simplified buying experience for purchasing indirect goods and services in and out of the office, the SAP Ariba Guided Buying capability within the SAP Ariba Buying solution enabled the company to:

• Allow employees to purchase what they need from the company’s approved suppliers on their mobile devices at agreed pricing and under corporate purchasing policy.
• Better manage supplier collaboration and enhance efficiency with digital purchase orders and invoices.
• Boost process efficiencies, reduce costs through automation and standardisation, and improve collaboration with suppliers.

Moreover, Betagro Group aims to further enhance the user experience for its employees and suppliers across Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar by renewing the SAP Ariba Strategic Sourcing Suite and leveraging additional SAP Ariba solutions for Strategic Sourcing, Buying, Supplier Lifecycle and Performance, and Commerce Automation. Dr. Taepaisitphongse disclosed:

“Now that we have optimised our spend on indirect materials, we plan to utilise SAP Ariba solutions to help manage our spend on direct materials too. This will help Betagro optimise our inventory, raw material costs, and manufacturing efficiency.”

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