Procurement Glossary
Design Sprint: Agile innovation method for procurement
November 19, 2025
Design Sprint is a structured, five-day innovation method that was originally developed by Google Ventures and is increasingly being used in procurement. This agile approach enables procurement teams to quickly understand complex challenges, develop solutions and test them with suppliers. Find out below what Design Sprint is, how the process works and what advantages this method offers for modern procurement organizations.
Key Facts
- Structured 5-day process for rapid solution development in procurement
- Combination of design thinking, lean startup and agile methods
- Focus on prototyping and rapid validation with suppliers
- Reduces development time from months to a few days
- Promotes interdisciplinary collaboration between Procurement, technology and suppliers
Contents
What is a design sprint?
Design Sprint is a time-limited, structured innovation method that solves complex procurement challenges in just five days.
Core elements of the Design Sprint
The Design Sprint is based on four key principles that distinguish it from conventional procurement processes:
- Time limit of exactly five working days
- Interdisciplinary team made up of Procurement, technology and external experts
- Focus on rapid prototyping and validation
- Structured daily routine with defined methods and deliverables
Design Sprint vs. traditional procurement processes
In contrast to traditional procurement processes, which often take months, the design sprint compresses the solution finding process into one week. While traditional processes are linear, the design sprint works iteratively and uses co-creation with suppliers as a central element.
Importance of Design Sprint in Procurement
Modern procurement organizations use design sprints to develop innovative sourcing strategies, optimize supplier relationships and quickly validate new procurement concepts on the market. The method particularly supports innovation management in Procurement through a structured approach to complex challenges.
Process steps and responsibilities
The design sprint follows a structured 5-day process with clearly defined activities and responsibilities for each team member.
Day 1: Understanding and defining
On the first day, the team analyzes the procurement challenge and defines the goal. Experts from different areas share their knowledge while the facilitator moderates the process. The result is a clear definition of the problem and a shared understanding of the initial situation.
Day 2-3: Brainstorming and solution development
The participants develop individual solutions using structured creativity techniques. The best ideas are then selected and merged into a detailed concept. Cross-functional sourcing approaches are incorporated into the solution development process.
Day 4-5: Prototyping and testing
The team creates a functional prototype of the solution and tests it with real users or suppliers. The knowledge gained flows directly into the evaluation and further development. This often results in pilot projects with suppliers for further implementation.
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Important KPIs and targets
Measuring the success of design sprints requires specific key figures that evaluate both the process and the results achieved.
Process KPIs
Key process indicators include adherence to the 5-day time frame, completeness of deliverables and participant satisfaction. The number of ideas generated per day and the quality of the prototypes developed provide information about the effectiveness of the sprint process. Typical target values are 15-25 ideas per participant and at least one testable prototype.
Result KPIs
The implementation rate of the sprint results is a critical success factor, whereby 60-80% of the developed concepts should be transferred to pilot projects. Other important key figures are time-to-market improvement, cost savings through optimized procurement processes and the number of new supplier innovation challenges that arise from sprint results.
Long-term impact measurement
The sustainable success of design sprints is reflected in the strengthening of the innovation culture, measured by the frequency of co-development projects and the improvement of supplier relationships. ROI calculations should take into account both direct cost savings and indirect benefits such as increased agility and market responsiveness.
Risks, dependencies and countermeasures
Despite the advantages, the use of design sprints in procurement involves specific risks that can be minimized by taking appropriate measures.
Time pressure and superficiality
The tight 5-day timeframe can lead to superficial solutions if complex procurement issues are not sufficiently penetrated. Incomplete market analyses or a lack of supplier evaluation can result in costly mistakes. Careful preparation and the integration of experienced procurement experts into the sprint team can help.
Lack of stakeholder involvement
Without sufficient support from management and relevant stakeholders, sprint results often remain unused. A lack of budget or organizational resistance prevent the implementation of promising solutions. Early involvement of decision-makers and clear communication of the expected results are essential.
Supplier availability and readiness
The successful implementation of design sprints often depends on the cooperation of external suppliers. Scheduling conflicts, a lack of willingness to innovate or a lack of resources on the part of partners can jeopardize the success of the sprint. Incentive models for innovation and long-term partnerships significantly increase the willingness to cooperate.
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Practical example
An automotive supplier used a design sprint to develop a sustainable packaging solution for electronic components. The interdisciplinary team from Procurement, Development and Quality Assurance worked intensively with three packaging suppliers for five days. On the first day, they analyzed the current environmental impact and cost structures. On the following days, they developed innovative concepts for biodegradable materials and optimized logistics processes. The prototype created on the fourth day was successfully tested and led to a 30% reduction in costs while at the same time improving the environmental balance.
- Reduction of the development time from 6 months to 5 days
- Direct involvement of three suppliers in the innovation process
- Immediate implementation in a pilot project with the best supplier
Trends & developments around design sprints
Design sprints are constantly evolving and integrate new technologies and methods that are specifically relevant to procurement.
Digital design sprint tools
Modern software solutions enable virtual design sprints with geographically distributed teams. AI-supported tools support the evaluation of ideas and pattern recognition, while digital whiteboards facilitate collaboration between purchasing teams and suppliers. This development makes supplier innovation possible even at a distance.
Integration in Supplier Development
Companies are increasingly using design sprints for strategic supplier development. Joint sprint sessions with key suppliers promote innovation and strengthen partnerships. This often results in strategic partnerships that go beyond individual projects.
AI-supported sprint processes
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing design sprints through automated market analyses, supplier evaluations and risk assessments. Machine learning algorithms identify patterns in procurement data and suggest optimized solutions, significantly increasing the quality of sprint results.
Conclusion
Design Sprint is establishing itself as a valuable innovation method in modern procurement, solving complex challenges in just five days. The structured approach encourages collaboration between internal teams and external suppliers while drastically reducing development time. However, successful implementation requires careful preparation, experienced facilitation and the full support of management. Companies that use design sprints strategically benefit from increased agility, stronger supplier relationships and sustainable innovation successes.
FAQ
What distinguishes Design Sprint from other innovation methods?
Design Sprint combines the speed of agile methods with the depth of design thinking in a structured 5-day format. In contrast to longer innovation processes, it delivers testable results quickly and directly involves external stakeholders such as suppliers. The time limit forces focused work and prevents endless discussions.
What are the prerequisites for a successful design sprint?
Successful design sprints require an interdisciplinary team of 5-8 people, an experienced facilitator and the full availability of all participants for five days. In addition, a suitable workspace, materials for prototyping and access to relevant stakeholders or suppliers for testing are required. Management support and clear decision-making authority are also critical.
How do you measure the ROI of a design sprint?
The ROI is calculated from the development costs saved, reduced time-to-market times and the cost savings or sales increases achieved through sprint results. Typical savings are 70-80% of the originally planned development time and costs. In addition, qualitative factors such as improved supplier relationships and increased innovation capability should be taken into account.
What are the risks of design sprints in procurement?
The main risks are superficial solutions due to time pressure, a lack of stakeholder involvement and incomplete market analyses. Compliance risks can arise if regulatory requirements are not sufficiently taken into account. The availability and willingness of suppliers to cooperate can also jeopardize the success of the sprint. Careful preparation and experienced moderation minimize these risks considerably.
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