Saint-Gobain revolutionizes purchasing with digitalization and process automation

The purchasing area has evolved significantly in recent years, driven by digitalization and the need for strategic positioning in organizations.  

At Saint-Gobain, the digital transformation of processes, with the use of the ME platform, is revolutionizing purchasing management, resulting in greater efficiency, transparency and strategic alignment with the objectives of sustainability and innovation from the company. 

To talk about the journey of digitalizing purchasing processes, challenges faced and how the company is designing the future of the sector, we invited Rafael Arakaki, senior purchasing manager at Saint-Gobain, for an exclusive talk at the ME B2B Summit 2024.  

Evolution of Saint-Gobain's purchasing department

The purchasing function at Saint-Gobain has evolved considerably over the decades. In the 70s, purchasing was purely operational, focused on order fulfillment.

Over the years, the sector began to become more strategic, focusing on negotiations and supplier management. 

From the 2000s onwards, the purchasing area gained autonomy and began to be recognized as an area that adds value to the company.

Today, Saint-Gobain considers purchasing as a strategic partner, with a vice-president dedicated exclusively to this function. 

Commitment to sustainability

Globally, the construction industry is responsible for 40% of CO2 emissions, and Saint-Gobain, present in more than 70 countries, reaffirms its strong commitment to sustainability and innovation, with the aim of mitigating environmental impacts.  

In this context, technology plays a strategic role in responsible practices in the sector, by facilitating the selection of more sustainable suppliers, strengthening transparency and compliance, in addition to increasing value generation throughout the supply chain. 

Automation and digitalization of processes

The digitalization of processes has been one of the drivers of efficiency in Saint-Gobain's purchasing department. Through the use of ME platform, the company freed buyers to act on strategies that generate greater value and impact on business. 

One example of this is the automation of contracts, which automatically generates due dates and alerts. This change has brought efficiency and freed up buyers to work on activities that generate value. 

Training and qualification of professionals

One of the key factors in Saint-Gobain’s purchasing success has been its investment in training and capacity building. The company has implemented a global purchasing methodology program based on market practices and available tools. 

Training is not only aimed at buyers, but also at requesters. It is essential that everyone involved in the process understands the importance of digital tools, such as ME platform, and how they make work easier and increase efficiency. 

Development of market solutions

Saint-Gobain has also invested in solutions for Market intelligence to provide important information to your buyers. This includes data on market trends and financial ratios, enabling buyers to make informed decisions. 

A practical example is the automation of low-value purchasing processes, which account for 70% of total order volume. The ME solution automates quotation and ordering, significantly reducing the time required for these operations. 

The path to the future

Saint-Gobain's next big challenge is to increase the level of automation in its purchasing processes. The goal is to reach 70% automation by 2025. To achieve this, the company is exploring the use of IA and machine learning to further optimize your operations. 

In addition, Saint-Gobain also expects to increase data analysis for decision-making and strengthening systems integration, which are fundamental to the sector's efficiency. 

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