The seven signs
Review each signal against your own purchasing records.
- 1. PO cycle time above 8 business days (median)
- 2. Purchase orders repeatedly need manual rework after issue
- 3. Inactive vendors remain in the vendor master
- 4. Top 10 categories handled by 3+ different request channels
- 5. Indirect purchases lack contracts on file
- 6. Invoice exceptions recur in accounts payable
- 7. No monthly reconciliation between negotiated and invoiced rates
How to triage
Start with the signal carrying the largest dollar number. Most US mid-market teams should attack reconciliation first (#7) — it's high-impact, low-friction, and proves the program works internally before you ask for a bigger budget.
