What is one advantage of centralized procurement?

Centralized procurement offers a significant advantage in that it reduces duplication of effort. When procurement activities are centralized, all purchasing decisions and processes are managed from a single location or unit rather than being spread across multiple departments or locations. This centralization allows for the consolidation of purchasing functions, streamlining operations, and minimizing the chances of overlapping efforts among different teams.

By having a unified procurement strategy, organizations can achieve consistency in policies and procedures, thereby simplifying processes and enhancing overall efficiency. This also leads to better negotiation power with suppliers, as a larger volume of purchases can be aggregated through centralized purchasing, which can result in improved terms and pricing.

In contrast, increased product variety, greater local supplier access, and faster procurement processes are often related to decentralized models where different units or departments have the freedom to make their own purchasing decisions.