Cost reduction is a process used by businesses to reduce overhead and expenses and increase the bottom line. The strategies can vary depending on the complexity of a company’s spending, the number of vendors, the number of locations, and the geographic location. Every decision made over the course of the vendor life cycle will impact costs and therefore profitability. Managing the operational costs of a business is a difficult balancing act. With the right cost reduction strategies in place, a business can bring operating costs down and still run a profitable business.
Here are the key questions that a management team should consider as part of a focused cost reduction program:
– Have we set a target, and how do we know it is achievable?
– Do we require more transformational change?
– How quickly do we need to get the cost out? Next month? Next year?
– How can we align cost targets with organizational priorities?
– Can we dedicate the team to the project envisioned, or do we need help?
– What should our PMO look like (size, structure)?
– Have we considered what the necessary reporting and tracking looks like?
– Do we have a change management plan in place?
– Can we create a better cost culture going forward? How do we keep costs from creeping back in?
– Do we have the right team and leaders to get the job done?
That last question is one that management teams do not consider often enough. Most organizations have in-house resources that are very capable of managing day-to-day operations. Every organization has the potential to conduct audits of their billings, renegotiate their vendor contracts, and achieve some degree of significant savings. However, working with an outsourced service provider that brings a broader set of tools and experience to the team can often produce better results.
Outside experts have superior vendor management expertise, access to document management technology, and an understanding of benchmark analytics that vendor management staff would rarely be able to acquire on their own. Bottom-line: implement a strategy, challenge the status quo, and make sure you have the right resources in place to optimize your profits.”
Limitless Technology, LLC has been managing complex indirect spend and vendor documentation since 2006 for some of the largest companies in the USA, saving them millions in costs.
Through our Billing Optimization and Vendor Management Solutions proprietary platforms we utilize technology, processes, expertise, time, and resources to improve our clients bottom-line. Limitless Technology manages your vendors, so you can manage and grow your business.
