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"Maverick buying: definition and important aspects for buyers"
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Maverick buying in a nutshell:
Maverick buying describes unauthorized procurement processes outside of a company's defined purchasing processes and guidelines. This represents a considerable risk for purchasing, as it leads to higher costs, a lack of transparency and the circumvention of framework agreements.
Example: A specialist department independently orders IT hardware for 3,500 euros directly from the dealer, although a framework agreement exists with a preferred supplier who would have granted a discount of 22% - this leads to avoidable additional costs of 770 euros per order.
Contents
What is Maverick Buying?
Maverick buying in purchasing controlling refers to the phenomenon in which employees make unauthorized purchases outside of established procurement processes. This circumvents internal company guidelines, existing framework agreements and approved suppliers. This can lead to higher costs, quality problems and risks in terms of compliance and supplier selection.
Core elements of Maverick Buying
Significance for purchasing
Maverick buying represents a significant challenge for companies. It undermines the purchasing department's efforts to control costs and make optimum use of contracts. The lack of standardization can lead to financial disadvantages, inefficient processes and increased risk potential. It also impairs the ability to accurately analyze spend and make strategic decisions.
Maverick buying: from non-transparent procurement to controlled e-procurement
The phenomenon of maverick buying poses significant challenges for companies, as unauthorized purchases not only undermine cost efficiency but also pose compliance risks. Traditionally, companies have tried to minimize these uncontrolled purchases through manual processes and internal guidelines. However, with increasing complexity and volatility in procurement, a shift to modern, digital solutions is required to ensure transparency and control.
Old: Manual control procedures
Traditional approach: In the past, companies relied on strict purchasing guidelines and manual approval processesto curb maverick buying. Employees had to obtain approvals from superiors and involve the purchasing department before every order. However, these processes were time-consuming and often led to delays. The lack of technology also made it difficult to monitor compliance with processes, meaning that unofficial procurements often went undetected. The lack of transparency led to inefficient spending and missed savings potential.
New: Digitalized purchasing management
E-procurement: Companies are revolutionizing their purchasing processes with the use of e-procurement systems. Modern solutions make it possible to automate ordering processes and guide employees through clear workflows. The integration of approved supplier catalogs and electronic approval processes significantly reduces maverick buying. Real-time data and analysis tools provide transparency across all procurement activities and support proactive decision-making. Companies report a reduction in unauthorized purchases of up to 70% and an acceleration of process runtimes by 50%.
Practical example: Implementation at Müller AG
Müller AG, a leading company in the electrical industry, was faced with the challenge of minimizing maverick buying in its international subsidiaries. By introducing an e-procurement system, the company was able to increase compliance with purchasing guidelines to 95%. Savings of 1.2 million euros were realized within the first year. In addition, the number of suppliers was reduced by 30%, which led to better conditions and more efficient processes. The digitalization of purchasing enabled Müller AG to reduce risks and meet compliance requirements in all markets.
Conclusion on the maverick buying strategy
Maverick buying is a serious problem in modern procurement that can be effectively combated with targeted measures. The combination of clear processes, user-friendly e-procurement systems and continuous employee training forms the basis for successfully curbing evasive buying. Companies that systematically tackle this challenge not only benefit from cost savings, but also from increased transparency and improved compliance in purchasing.
