Complicated processes, unstable supply chains, unclear costs, lack of insight, and strict minimal order quantities. Here’s how to tackle the most common obstacles in procurement.
Key Takeaways
- Manual processes = delays. → Go digital & automate.
- Volatile supply chains. → Track in real time, consolidate data.
- Unstable prices. → Use transparent, pre-negotiated pricing.
- Poor visibility. → Centralize orders for control & savings.
- MOQ hurdles. → Combine orders across markets.
- Overall: Digital platforms turn challenges into efficiency, transparency & cost control.
In theory, procurement may sound pretty straightforward. You ‘just‘ have to find the right products at the right price and get them delivered to a specific location. On time.
Anyone who works in this field knows this is easier said than done. Markets get unpredictable, stakeholders become more demanding, and operational bottlenecks appear more and more often.
That’s why many procurement teams spend time firefighting rather than working strategically. At MVIA HUB, we’ve seen it all — while helping companies consolidate their procurement and streamline POSM and merch orders from all around the world. Let’s have a look at some of the most common challenges people in procurement face — and how the right tools and processes help overcome them.
#1 Manual & Time-Consuming Processes
Challenge
Even in global companies, procurement workflows are often managed through
emails and spreadsheets. Such environment is prone to delays, there’s an increased risk of human error, and collaboration across regions gets unnecessarily complicated.
Remedy
Automate, streamline, consolidate, and go digital! Smart digital platforms streamline workflows, reduce back-and-forth communication, and ensure all stakeholders work with the same data in real time.
2# Supply Chain Volatility
Challenge
Geopolitical tensions, raw material shortages, and transport disruptions can quickly throw carefully planned projects off course. For teams managing global sourcing, these risks multiply across different markets.
In a 2023 research performed by
Procurement Tactics, this challenge was by far the most feared — 33% (out of 8,000 respondents) mentioned they were concerned about possible
‘supply risks‘.
Remedy
To make your procurement proactive rather than reactive, you need real-time delivery tracking, reliable lead times, and a consolidated view of supplier performance.
#3 Price Uncertainty
Challenge
Buyers are often left in the dark about the
final price. Shipping costs remain almost always a mystery and costs for materials, labour, and logistics are unpredictable. This makes it difficult to forecast budgets accurately and leaves companies exposed to sudden cost increases.
25% of respondents of the Procurement Tactics research mentioned fluctuating prices as their concern — which makes it the second-most mentioned challenge on our list.
Remedy
Pre-negotiated,
transparent pricing — to give buyers and procurement managers more stability. Instead of surprises, teams gain predictable costs and the ability to plan with confidence.
#4 Limited Overview
Challenge
For global brands, each region or department may purchase independently. This creates
data blind spots: teams don’t always know what’s being ordered, at what price, and from which supplier. This results in missed opportunities for cost savings and weaker compliance. And, with limited knowledge of who does what in each region, brand consistency inevitably suffers.
Remedy
Order consolidation! Platforms that enable you to collect orders across all regions provide you with a clear overview and control over what’s being ordered. This arms procurement managers with tools they need to standardise their processes and reduce their spend.
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#5 Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs)
Challenge
In industries like branded merchandise and POSM (Point of Sale Materials), suppliers often require
minimum order quantities. When teams can’t reach these thresholds, they face inflated prices or, worse, cancelled orders.
Remedy
By
consolidating orders across markets, procurement teams can easily reach MOQs — ensuring fair pricing and smooth delivery without over-ordering.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Procurement will always involve a degree of complexity. Markets change, supply chains evolve, and new risks emerge. But with the right digital tools, many of the biggest pain points can be transformed into opportunities: more efficiency, stronger supplier relationships, and better cost control.
That’s exactly why solutions like the MVIA HUB exist — to bring visibility, transparency, and simplicity to global procurement of branded merchandise and POSM. Instead of struggling with manual processes, unpredictable prices, and fragmented supply chains, teams gain a single platform that puts them back in control.