The Power of Data-Driven Procurement: Insights from Be Connected Engagements

In our ongoing conversations with public sector CFOs and senior procurement practitioners, a critical insight has emerged—while procurement data is widely available, how it is interpreted and applied is where the real value lies.

Through our engagements, we’ve gained an understanding of their objectives, challenges, and varying levels of interest in leveraging procurement intelligence. By presenting insights based on their upcoming contracts, we’ve been able to assess their appetite for data and uncover key trends in how procurement and finance leaders engage with procurement intelligence.

The Data Dilemma: Access vs. Application

A common response we hear from procurement professionals is: “I already have access to a portal or system.” This highlights a fundamental misunderstanding—the issue isn’t about simply having access to procurement data, but rather how that data is interpreted, bench marked, and used to drive efficiency, cost savings, and strategic value.

From our discussions, we’ve identified three primary responses from organisations regarding procurement intelligence:

1. Waiting for the Central Digital Platform

• 15 out of 33 organisations we engaged with stated they would rather wait for a future centralised government platform instead of actively exploring independent data-driven insights.
• However, delaying the use of available insights could lead to missed cost-saving opportunities that already exist within our system. By waiting for a government-led solution, organisations risk overspending, inefficiencies, and failing to capitalise on collaborative procurement strategies.
• A reliance on future platforms may also limit an organisation’s ability to act quickly, as procurement needs often change in real time, requiring immediate access to intelligence rather than delayed, standardised solutions.

2. Engaging with Insights to Drive Action

• For organisations open to data-driven insights, we ensure they walk away with valuable intelligence that can be applied immediately.
• Our Be Connected platform provides actionable intelligence that enables procurement professionals to assess inefficiencies, identify supplier opportunities, and benchmark against similar organisations.
• Even in cases where organisations do not immediately subscribe to the platform, the insights shared during demonstrations ensure they receive tangible value.

3. The Data Champions: Proactive Practitioners

• Some procurement professionals recognise the importance of intelligence and are naturally inclined towards using data to inform their decision-making.
• These individuals already understand the value of collaboration and bench marking, making our engagement much more productive.
• 11 out of 33 organisations booked a demo on the first call, immediately seeing the potential of category-level insights in understanding supplier trends, market pricing, and procurement efficiencies.
• In these cases, our analysts were able to pinpoint ongoing procurement projects and demonstrate how our insights could support cost-saving initiatives and improved market understanding.

The CFO Perspective: Procurement Data Through a Financial Lens

While procurement practitioners focus on operational efficiencies, supplier performance, and compliance, CFOs and senior finance leaders approach procurement intelligence from a different perspective. Their primary concerns often revolve around:

• Which contract does this insight relate to?
• What is the contract value?
• Is this contract within my remit, or should someone else handle it?

Unlike procurement teams, CFOs prioritise cost visibility, financial efficiencies, and identifying potential savings at an organisational level. They seek clarity on whether a contract represents a strategic opportunity or if it falls under operational spending best handled by procurement teams.

How Be Connected Empowers CFOs and Procurement Teams

Our platform enables CFOs to quickly pinpoint cost-saving opportunities and inefficiencies across the public sector. By leveraging our contract data and category-level insights, finance leaders can:

✅ Identify Cost Inefficiencies: Gain visibility into fragmented public sector spending and opportunities for cost reduction.
✅ Uncover Regional Commonalities: Analyse which organisations—especially within their region—share similar procurement needs and could benefit from collaboration.
✅ Expose Contract Trends: Understand supplier performance, renewal cycles, and benchmark spending against best practices.

With this intelligence, finance leaders can take a proactive role in procurement decision-making, ensuring that opportunities for cost savings and strategic supplier engagement are maximised.

Unlocking the Full Potential of Public Sector Procurement

At its core, Be Connected is designed to bridge the gap between insight and action. Whether it’s a procurement professional seeking operational efficiency or a CFO assessing financial impact, our platform delivers intelligence that translates into tangible strategic value.

Our engagement insights highlight an important truth—those who fully embrace procurement intelligence unlock significant advantages in cost savings, supplier strategy, and operational efficiency. While some organisations remain hesitant or reliant on future government platforms, the ones that proactively engage with data today are the ones setting themselves up for long-term procurement success.

For those ready to take control of their procurement landscape, the benefits are clear: better decision-making, increased efficiency, and enhanced collaboration across the public sector.

Want to See How These Insights Can Benefit Your Organisation?

Book a demo today and discover how Be Connected can help you unlock procurement intelligence and strategic savings: Book a Demo.