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Over a decade of value for the team at the University of Pittsburgh
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
Applicable Industries
- Education
Applicable Functions
- Procurement
- Business Operation
Services
- Data Science Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
In the early 2000s, the Strategic Sourcing team at the University of Pittsburgh faced significant challenges with their homegrown, spreadsheet-based spend categorization tool. The system was inefficient, time-consuming, and heavily reliant on suppliers responding to information requests. This made it difficult to accurately categorize supplier spend and manage data effectively. The team struggled with accessing and reporting on their metrics, which hindered their ability to make informed decisions and achieve their goals. The need for a more dynamic, efficient, and user-friendly solution became increasingly apparent as the team sought to improve their productivity and reporting efficiency.
About The Customer
The University of Pittsburgh, a prestigious educational institution, has a dedicated Strategic Sourcing team responsible for managing supplier spend and procurement processes. The team, led by Michelle Smith, Director of Strategic Sourcing, and supported by Lauren Leonard, Sourcing Analyst, and Maureen Beal, Associate Vice Chancellor for Financial Operations, focuses on optimizing supplier relationships, increasing revenue opportunities, and creating savings for the university. With a significant annual supplier spend of $800 million and over 16,000 suppliers, the team requires robust tools and solutions to manage their operations effectively. The university's commitment to efficiency, accountability, and accuracy drives their continuous search for innovative solutions to enhance their procurement processes.
The Solution
The University of Pittsburgh's Strategic Sourcing team adopted the Rosslyn Platform, specifically its Spend Analytics and Procurement Analytics Solution, to address their challenges. The platform provided immediate benefits by offering a centralized, holistic view of all supplier data, enabling the team to access and report on metrics quickly and efficiently. The Rosslyn Platform's dynamic and user-friendly interface allowed the team to categorize spend accurately, identify efficiencies, and increase productivity. The platform's powerful analytics capabilities enabled the team to prioritize projects, conduct supplier diversification analysis, and handle supplier normalization. Additionally, the platform facilitated the identification of suppliers with and without contracts and allowed for the definition of custom dimensions. The adoption of Rosslyn's solution transformed the team's procurement processes, making it easier to meet key metrics and deliver real value to the university.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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