Insights

Where should procurement leaders set their sights to ensure growth and success? From technology automation to data analytics and talent management, dive into 5 key areas that will guide your path to successful procurement optimization.

E&I’s newly enhanced Grainger contract represents the most competitive value for any educational institution. Not only does Grainger offer unmatched value for your facilities operations, but every department on campus can share in the benefits of this best-in-class agreement.

Nationwide, higher education enrollment numbers have been on a steady decline. As institutions struggle to recruit new students and keep tuition increases down, procurement plays a critical role in increasing efficiencies. Check out this infographic to see how.

Today’s higher ed institutions continue to battle enormous financial challenges, strained resources, and persistent negative perceptions. This infographic illustrates how procurement is well-positioned to have a profound impact on controlling spend and improving the financial sustainability of an institution.

Higher education institutions across the board are facing extraordinary challenges in terms of funding. In this article, Tom Fitzgerald, CEO of E&I, discusses the importance of cost stewardship, supply chain management, and collaboration when it comes to achieving financial sustainability in these trying times.

Like any scientific venture, major decisions—especially financial—require thorough research, planning, and strategy for successful implementation. Before you begin developing a contracting strategy for your scientific purchases, consider these key points recommended by Laura Perin, Vice President of E&I’s Scientific Category.

Given the financial pressure today’s higher ed institutions are facing, collaborative purchasing efforts are more important than ever before. Many institutions don’t realize just how much a purchasing cooperative can help with the procurement process. Cooperatives leverage the combined purchasing volume from many different entities, thereby increasing the purchasing power of each individual.

As the financial pressure in higher education continues to mount, and revenues continue to be challenged, all higher ed institutions are being forced to look internally to find effective ways to save. The safety net once provided by state funds, appropriations, gifts, high returns and tuition increases have been ripped away. The reality is, institutions must learn to sustain themselves.

I recently heard about an interesting presentation given by Mike Rulli, Procurement Specialist at the University of Notre Dame. As part of his presentation, Mike detailed the ways in which Notre Dame’s procurement department has forged a successful collaboration with the office of research.

Periodically, there are external changes in the business, legal or political arenas that can impact business operations on college and university campuses. Some, such as a major war or the oil crisis of the 1980’s, impact inventories of needed goods.