4C Consulting

We are a leading provider of procurement solutions to some of the world's largest companies. We help with every aspect of the procurement challenge. Our objective is to deliver tangible and sustainable benefits for our clients. With our unique combination of deep category knowledge and purchasing expertise we have developed a strong track record of improving our clients' procurement performance and re-inventing the boundaries of what procurement can achieve. We are well known for delivering exceptional results in complex categories such as marketing, professional services, social care, HR and resourcing, property, facilities, travel and IT & telecoms.

Our work has won awards from CIPS for innovation, use of technology and the overall improvement of procurement performance.

We provide a structured approach that accurately identifies value improvement opportunities, then ensures the benefits are delivered and locked in for the long term.

Value Management Chart Compliance Management Supplier Management Category Management Capture Benefits Supplier Comparison and Selection Optimise Processes and Technology Develop Strategy and Team External Investigation Internal Investigation Opportunity Diagnostic

Opportunity Diagnostic

  • Define source-able categories
  • Categorise spend
  • Review category characteristics
  • Identify sourcing levers and likely value
    opportunities
  • Prioritise opportunities for further analysis

Internal Investigation

  • Identify key stakeholders
  • Validate category spend
  • Analyse category buying processes
  • Define products / services procured
  • Develop stakeholder buy-in
  • Evaluate past supplier performance
  • Understand constraints

External Investigation

  • Analyse market dynamics / trends
  • Identify supplier universe
  • Develop supplier survey
  • Develop evaluation criteria
  • Validate supplier spend
  • Benchmark pricing
  • Understand range of pricing approaches
  • Understand supplier incentives

Develop Strategy & Team

  • Build cross-functional management team
  • Develop sourcing strategy, building on existing
    strategic and category approaches
  • Develop negotiation strategy
  • Develop strategies for supplier management,
    category management and compliance management
  • Assess e-sourcing options
  • Develop specifications
  • Develop performance management tools and metrics
  • Identify and prioritise desired outcomes

Optimise processes & Technology

  • Define supplier, buyer and business roles and
    deliverables in the procurement process to
    optimise sustainable value delivery
  • Identify technology and people to enable
    successful adoption of new processes
  • Design and develop communications materials

Supplier Comparison & Selection

  • Develop RFP evaluation criteria
  • Develop supplier communications
  • Obtain supplier proposals
  • Analyse responses
  • Shortlist suppliers
  • Develop supplier-specific negotiation roles
    and strategies
  • Negotiate and select supplier(s)

Capture Benefits

  • Implement supplier agreements
  • Finalise category implementation plans
  • Training and change management

Category Management

  • Monitor category opportunities
  • Ensure the organisation is set up to optimise
    delivery of category value
  • Build stakeholder and management buy-in
  • Work closely with line management to
    identify and specify category requirements
  • Identify new and changing suppliers,
    markets and specifications

Supplier Management

  • Supplier Management
  • Categorise suppliers for management based
    on spend and risk
  • Obtain, analyse and manage key supplier data
  • Manage supplier performance
  • Manage supplier compliance to agreements

Compliance Management

  • Monitor compliance with PSLs, product / service
    usage and procurement processes
  • Stakeholder prioritisation and communication
  • Reduce / remove barriers to compliance