eProcurement for complete procurement in construction
eProcurement as a single point of purchase in construction
How the infrastructure specialist EQOS Group uses eProcurement as a construction company for all procurements, regardless of the goods or services group.
Construction site eProcurement: Far more than just C-parts!
While eProcurement is generally used for standard catalog items, Markus Rapp, Head of CU Procurement at the internationally active EQOS Group (construction company for infrastructure), takes a radically different approach: "From the very beginning, we pursued the strategy of using the system for really everything - but this requires a partner who goes the extra mile."
The implementation of the EQOS Marketplace eProcurement solution for the construction company began in September 2021, the actual go-live took place in July 2022 and in the first year (until August 2023) around 10,500 orders were processed around the specialist provider's construction sites. "However, DIG's Marketplace has only been showing its full potential for a few months. Nevertheless, over 100 million euros in purchasing volume was already processed through it in the first year," says Rapp, seeing his strategy of a single point of purchase for all product groups confirmed.
From construction machinery to building materials
"The Marketplace's share of the EUR 200 million purchasing volume is currently quite close to 50% - and rising. The classic spend share in the C segment averages 20%, which makes it clear that we at EQOS use the system across all segments!" This is also supported by the 70% of orders that are placed via the Marketplace. Overall, this is already an enormous success. "But our focus is clearly on 100%," says Rapp, setting the direction.
Free text orders as a trigger
Simplify ordering of non-catalog items
In order to further expand the high acceptance of the system, the company is in constant contact with DIG. Rapp sees potential for the free text mask, particularly for orders with several items: "It would be desirable to make it even easier to enter individual items - although the current function has already been developed together with us!"
Question of philosophy
"For us, the eProcurement solution from DIG was always intended to replace the previous systems and not just as another tool," says Rapp, summing up his approach to digitalization. The basis for this is the provider's technological flexibility: "Booking incoming goods, automatically transferring documents to Docuware, subsequent order extensions - the Marketplace is now also a convincing alternative to ERP for us, so that really everyone works with it." This development is being reinforced by more and more features: "The option of contingent orders to fix a price is common practice in the construction industry and has been implemented by DIG." And many more functions will follow. "In my opinion, using eProcurement only for C-parts is therefore too short-sighted!"
Watch the video of Markus Rapp's presentation on the platform economy in the construction industry here!
More eProcurement success stories
We regularly publish specialist reports on all aspects of purchasing and eProcurement! Numerous user stories and interviews with proven purchasing experts can also be found online in DIG Magazine.
