Modern E-Sourcing Platforms Drive Strategic Procurement Success

More Than RFQs: Why the Right E-Sourcing Platform Matters

E-sourcing platforms are no longer just digital filing cabinets for RFQs. They’ve become powerful tools that help procurement teams work smarter, collaborate better with suppliers, and support wider business goals like cost optimisation and supply chain resilience. But not all platforms are created equal, and success depends on choosing one that fits your organisation’s needs. That’s where H&Z’s procurement platform evaluation framework comes in.

The Shift Toward Specialised Procurement Technologies

In the past, procurement teams often had to make do with generic, one-size-fits-all tools. These systems were designed to support basic sourcing tasks across any industry but optimised for none. These platforms offered limited flexibility, forcing teams to adapt their processes to the software rather than the other way around. The same workflows applied whether managing complex direct materials in manufacturing or simple indirect spend in services, leading to inefficiencies, poor supplier adoption, and limited strategic impact.

The procurement technology landscape is now moving away from these broad, one-size-fits-all solutions toward specialised platforms that are tailored to specific industries and operational needs. Advanced procurement technologies like Newtron, ASTRAS, Curtis Fitch, Prokuria, and QAD are revolutionising how organisations manage strategic sourcing, supplier relationships, and cost optimisation through innovative digital solutions tailored for manufacturing and enterprise environments. This shift reflects a growing recognition among leading organisations that simply having a long list of generic features is no longer enough. Instead, the right platform must fit how the business really operates, whether that means supporting complex manufacturing supply chains, ensuring regulatory compliance in healthcare, or enabling fast supplier onboarding in retail.

Adoption Matters More Than Features

Our analysis shows that platform success isn’t about having the longest feature list. It’s about how easily people can use it and whether suppliers actually engage with it.

Take ASTRAS, which focuses on premium manufacturing and aligns perfectly with complex industrial needs. Or Prokuria, which wins on simplicity and accessibility. Both succeed by focusing on adoption and usability rather than feature overload.

The future belongs to platforms that seamlessly integrate AI-driven insights with intuitive interfaces, enabling procurement professionals to evolve from process managers to strategic advisors. Organisations that embrace this transformation, supported by platforms offering both technological sophistication and practical usability, will achieve sustainable competitive advantages through optimised supplier relationships, enhanced cost visibility, and accelerated innovation cycles.

How H&Z Helps You Choose the Right Platform

At H&Z, we don’t believe in chasing generic “best-in-class” solutions. We help clients find the platform that fits their strategy, tech landscape, and procurement maturity. Our approach evaluates five key areas:

• SAP integration requirements
• Cost control sophistication
• Supplier complexity
• Implementation timeline
• User experience priorities

For example:

• Newtron and ASTRAS are ideal for SAP-centric manufacturers
• Curtis Fitch works well for clients who prioritise advanced analytics
• Prokuria is suited for teams needing fast, no-code deployment
• QAD SRM delivers seamless integration for QAD ERP users

Our methodology includes conducting digital readiness assessments, defining phased implementation roadmaps, and establishing success metrics aligned with procurement transformation objectives rather than technology adoption alone.

What Our Framework Delivers

H&Z's comprehensive procurement platform evaluation framework, developed through 25+ years of advisory experience across thousands of client engagements, provides detailed scoring across customisation, user experience, features, and pricing considerations. Our recent analysis of Newtron's €15,000 licensing model versus Prokuria's €50–150/user pricing demonstrates the importance of total cost of ownership calculations.

Upcoming procurement transformation workshops will showcase implementation strategies for each platform, including Grammer AG's successful QAD SRM deployment and best practices for managing complex supplier networks. These sessions provide practical insights into platform selection criteria, change management approaches, and ROI optimisation strategies tailored to manufacturing environments and enterprise procurement organisations.