Everyday procurement costs can include raising purchase orders, product investigations, placing orders, buying records, seeking quotations and chasing deliveries.
Pilferage can be common practice. Not that staff are consciously stealing stock, they’re simply unaware of the costs involved and view it as a harmless perk.
In many offices there’s more stationery hidden away in drawers than there is in the stock room. We call this ‘squirreling’. Staff hoard unnecessary items in their desks in case they run out; but, before they’re ever used, things like marker pens and tipp-ex dry up and other items are quickly forgotten. This comes back to the low awareness of costs amongst staff.
Finally there is ‘logistics’. One of the main costs here is the cost of the stock that you retain. From our experience the typical level of stock turn within a company is twice a year.
Too often, office products suppliers offer the same reporting templates and key performance indicators regardless of the requirements of your business.
In recent years inefficiencies have been tolerated and unnecessary complexities have been built into the way organisations conduct business. For some, the competitive landscape has changed so fundamentally that the previous business model will no longer be appropriate and significant change is required.
The cost of office supplies is rarely scrutinised as it is often insignificant in relation to wages, buildings etc. To add to this, these costs tend to be hidden within other budgets, departmental ones for example. So, many people are surprised to find that, in real terms, they can be spending twice as much on office supplies as they suppose.
We are also delighted to announce the launch of our brand new office furniture programme. See news for more information.
Read more about Anglo Announces New Office Furniture Partnership