Why Procurement Matters: The Underdogs of Business

Why Procurement Matters: The Underdogs of Business

Procurement teams are the backbone of every organization, yet they often work behind the scenes without the recognition they deserve. While often other departments get the spotlight, procurement professionals are the ones quietly making an impact—cost efficiencies, managing risks, ensuring ethical sourcing, and keeping supply chains running smoothly. Despite their influence, procurement is still not widely acknowledged as a career path, often overlooked by those entering the workforce.

So, why do the underdogs make a difference? Procurement is often viewed as just a cost-cutting function, but the reality is far more powerful. These teams drive value beyond price negotiations:

Risk Management
Understanding trends and having awareness of disruptions before they happen, securing alternative suppliers and mitigating exposure.

Sustainability & Ethics
Leading the charge in responsible sourcing, working in partnership with key stakeholders to ensure supply chains are diverse, ethical, and sustainable.

Strategic Partnerships
It’s not just about buying; procurement builds long-term supplier relationships that drive innovation and business success identifying critical pathways of mutual benefit.

Financial Impact
Every £/$ saved through smart strategies directly boosts the bottom line, creating competitive advantages and more bang for your buck!

But, despite these contributions, procurement teams often don’t get the same recognition as sales, marketing, or product teams. Even worse, procurement isn’t always seen as an attractive career choice, with many professionals stumbling into the field rather than actively pursuing it. In fact, I can't think of a single colleague that has decided on procurement as a career choice... we've all seen the meme. I think it's important that this changes, and here's why:

• Keeping businesses running—no procurement = no supplies, no service, no production.
• Procurement teams protect brand reputation by ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards.
• Driving innovation by sourcing 'business right' solutions that keep companies ahead of the competition.
• Meaningful career paths—procurement isn’t just about buying; it’s about strategy, influence, and making real decisions/change.

To shift the perception of procurement from a support function to a strategic powerhouse—and a respected career path—we need to elevate procurements reputation from an internal business perspective but also highlight it's importance and pathways externally. We could do this by considering the following:

• Integrate procurement into strategic planning—giving them a seat at the leadership table.
• Recognise and reward procurement wins—celebrating cost savings, supplier innovation, and sustainability efforts. This could be internal recognition or taking part in procurement industry and best practise awards.
• Invest in procurement education—more awareness at universities and within businesses can encourage more professionals to enter the field.
• Showcase procurement career opportunities—highlighting procurement as a path to leadership, global strategy, and business transformation.
• Make sure any apprentices or training programmes internally include time with the procurement team.

Procurement is more than just buying—it’s about strategy, resilience, and creating lasting value. It’s time to acknowledge procurement professionals for the difference they make every day. They might not always get the headlines, but they’re the underdogs driving real business success. And for those looking for a career that blends strategy, negotiation, and impact, procurement is a path worth considering.