Fujitsu streamlines procurement with SAP Ariba to support more ANZ First Nations suppliers
Key Takeaways
⇨ SAP Ariba brought together Fujitsu’s previously decentralised procurement process to become the single source of truth for company spend
⇨ Fujitsu increased its spending on First Nations suppliers to $5.1m and on SME suppliers to $12.5m
⇨ SAP Ariba also helped reduce new vendor processing time by more than 65 percent
Fujitsu has overhauled its then-decentralised procurement process with SAP Ariba, helping the company boost its spending with SME and First Nations suppliers.
The project aimed to create a single source of truth for all of Fujitsu’s spend and associated data, so employees and managers can make more informed decisions and initiate business strategies and initiatives with purpose.
One strategy highlighted was to empower and support First Nations businesses, so Fujitsu turned to SAP Ariba Guided Buying Platform to create a more inclusive and diverse supply chain.
Fujitsu also teamed up with the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC), which develops sustainable Indigenous businesses across Australia, to create a First Nations supplier portal to provide a dedicated buying channel for Fujitsu’s First Nations suppliers.
The portal enabled Fujitsu to spend $5.1 million on its First Nations suppliers, up from around $200,000 before moving to SAP Ariba. The company also increased its spend on SME suppliers to $12.5 million.
“Fujitsu has a long history for championing and driving transformative change across environmental sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and social impact, and our procurement team plays an important role in helping us achieve this,” Fujitsu Asia Pacific vice president of purpose, people and culture Nicole Forrester said.
“The SAP solution has provided a platform for Fujitsu to assist our diverse supply chain strategy, which has enabled the increase of spend with First Nations suppliers. When we’re able to channel spend towards First Nations suppliers, we’re helping to create a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable First Nations engagement.”
iDiC CEO Adam Goodes said, “We’re proud to partner with Fujitsu to assist them with the development and implementation of their First Nations Procurement policy and engagements.”
“This implementation represents a meaningful commitment to supporting First Nations people and Fujitsu’s new guided buying system will provide long-term support and opportunities for Indigenous businesses and communities, helping to shape a rewarding and equitable future.”
SAP Ariba has automated and streamlined Fujitsu’s procurement processes, establishing a standardised hub for end-to-end procurement activities.
Fujitsu reported a 65 percent reduction in new vendor processing time, helping free up staff to focus on more strategic tasks. A central contract repository has also helped create some 2000 active contract workspaces, with 30 percent of contracts operationalised for downstream procure to pay.
Looking ahead, Fujitsu plans to create hubs for operational support and standardisation of business processes via SAP Ariba, aiming to create a fully centralised and consolidated business that enables a diverse supply chain.
“We believe that technology has a critical role in helping the world run better and improving people’s lives,” SAP ANZ president and managing director Angela Colantuono said.
“We have work to do to better support our First Nations peoples in Australia and New Zealand and Fujitsu’s implementation of SAP Ariba demonstrates the power of technology in helping drive purposeful procurement and the meaningful impact it can have on the communities in which it operates.”
“Fujitsu’s new guided buying platform underlines the transformative potential of SAP Ariba for organisations striving for operational excellence and a more equitable, sustainable world.”
