In the aerospace industry, the procurement process plays a critical role in ensuring efficiency and effectiveness. To overcome the complexities and heavy regulations involved in aerospace procurement, companies are turning to digital tools that offer a range of benefits. These procurement tools offer a range of benefits including streamlining processes, reducing costs, and informed decision making through data analytics. This article explores how procurement tools have transformed the aerospace industry and highlights notable success stories.

What are the benefits of Procurement Tools in the Aerospace Industry?

• Streamlining the Procurement Process: A procurement tool can streamline the procurement process by automating various tasks, such as supplier selection, contract management, and payment processing. By doing so, it reduces the time and effort required to complete these tasks, allowing procurement teams to focus on more strategic activities. For example, in 2019, Airbus signed a contract with Ivalua, a procurement platform provider, to streamline its procurement processes. The platform provided Airbus with real-time visibility into supplier performance and allowed the company to manage supplier risk more effectively. As a result, Airbus was able to reduce its procurement cycle time by 50% and achieve a 30% reduction in procurement costs.  
• Achieve Cost Savings: Implementing cost-effective strategies in procurement can drive down expenses for businesses. By utilizing data analytics and automation, companies can optimize purchasing decisions, negotiate better prices with suppliers, and uncover cost-saving opportunities. For example, Boeing successfully reduced its supply chain costs by $100 million in one year by leveraging a procurement tool to analyze supplier performance and identify areas for savings.
• Improving Efficiency: Procurement tools can help companies improve their procurement efficiency by eliminating manual tasks, reducing errors, and increasing collaboration. By digitizing procurement processes, companies can achieve greater accuracy and consistency in their procurement data, enabling better decision-making. For example, Lockhead Martin implemented a tool that streamlined its procurement processes and increased collaboration between procurement teams and suppliers. The tool enabled Lockheed Martin to reduce the time and effort required to manage contracts and invoices, resulting in significant time and cost savings.  
• Increasing Transparency: Procurement tools can improve transparency in the procurement process by providing real-time visibility into supplier performance, contract terms, and pricing. By increasing transparency, companies can reduce the risk of fraud, improve compliance, and enhance their reputation with customers and investors. For instance, Rolls-Royce implemented a procurement tool that provided real-time data on supplier performance and compliance. The tool enabled Rolls-Royce to reduce the risk of non-compliance and improve its reputation with stakeholders. According to a report by McKinsey, implementing a procurement tool can deliver significant benefits to aerospace companies. The report found that companies that implemented procurement tools achieved an average of 15% to 20% savings in procurement costs and a 50% reduction in procurement cycle times.  
• Enhanced Supplier Relationship Management: A procurement tool can help aerospace companies improve their relationships with suppliers by providing real-time data on supplier performance, enabling proactive management of supplier risk, and facilitating collaboration between the procurement team and suppliers. According to a report by Deloitte, companies that use procurement tools to manage supplier relationships can achieve up to 20% savings in procurement costs. For example, in 2020, BAE Systems implemented a procurement tool that provided real-time data on supplier performance and enabled collaboration between the procurement team and suppliers. The tool helped BAE Systems improve its supplier relationships and achieve significant cost savings.  
• Improved Compliance: A procurement tool can help aerospace companies improve compliance with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and ethical standards. By automating compliance checks and providing real-time data on compliance, procurement teams can reduce the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties. According to a report by Everest, procurement tools can help companies reduce their compliance costs by up to 40%. For example, in 2019, Raytheon Technologies implemented a procurement tool that enabled it to automate compliance checks and improve its compliance with regulatory requirements.  
• Increased Agility: A procurement tool can help aerospace companies respond more quickly to changing market conditions and customer demands. By providing real-time data on market trends, supplier availability, and pricing, procurement teams can make more informed purchasing decisions and respond more quickly to changing circumstances. According to a report by Forrester, companies that use procurement tools to enhance agility can achieve up to 15% savings in procurement costs. For example, in 2019, General Electric implemented a procurement tool that enabled it to respond more quickly to customer demands and achieve significant cost savings. 
• Improved Data Analytics: A procurement tool can help aerospace companies improve their data analytics capabilities by providing real-time data on procurement performance, supplier performance, and market trends. By leveraging data analytics, procurement teams can identify cost-saving opportunities, improve supplier performance, and optimize procurement processes. According to a report by Gartner, companies that use procurement tools to enhance their data analytics capabilities can achieve up to 20% savings in procurement costs. For example, in 2020, Northrop Grumman implemented a procurement tool that provided real-time data on procurement performance and enabled the company to optimize its procurement processes. 

In the dynamic world of aerospace procurement, leveraging these tools is essential for companies to maintain competitiveness and thrive amid industry evolution. By harnessing their power, organizations can be agile and effectively navigate the marketplace.

FactWise is a unified E-procurement platform with a fully integrated suite of procurement products. The platform is used by global product manufacturing companies to transform their procurement organization via analytics and automation to reduce costs, improve supplier diversity and strengthen supplier relationships, mitigate risk, meet ESG goals and standards, and increase oversight and efficiency.   

At FactWise, we are committed to building truly distinctive procurement software solutions that delight users and provide sustainable positive impact to the organizations we serve. We do this by providing transparency and insights to leaders (31% increase in governance), streamlining and automating processes to improve efficiency (20% increase in efficiency), and driving bottom-line impact by unlocking savings potential (25% cost reduction for direct spend).