In today’s competitive talent market, HR teams are under increasing pressure to attract, engage, and retain top talent, all while keeping a close eye on budgets. This is where smart procurement can make a real difference. By aligning procurement best practices with HR objectives, organisations can unlock greater value from their suppliers, streamline recruitment processes, and improve employee retention.
At Accelerate, our procurement consultants have got years of experience in working with the HR sector. Here are our tips…
Strategic supplier partnerships
Effective recruitment often depends on strong relationships with agencies, job boards, background check providers, and other third party services. Rather than working with a large pool of suppliers on an ad hoc basis, HR can benefit from a more strategic approach: consolidating suppliers, leveraging preferred partner agreements, and negotiating longer-term contracts. This not only drives down costs but also ensures more consistent service delivery.
Data driven decision making
Procurement teams can support HR by introducing more robust metrics and data analysis into supplier performance. Tracking time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, and quality-of-hire across different partners helps identify what’s working and what’s not. With the right insights, HR can make better informed decisions on where to invest their recruitment budget and which suppliers deliver the best ROI.
Standardising processes
One common challenge in HR procurement is a lack of consistency in how suppliers are sourced, assessed, and managed. Establishing clear processes and policies – supported by procurement- can reduce risk, improve compliance, and ensure that every supplier aligns with your diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. It also gives HR more time to focus on people, not paperwork.
Technology and automation
Procurement can play a key role in sourcing and implementing HR tech solutions that improve candidate experience and employee engagement. From applicant tracking systems to onboarding platforms and pulse survey tools, these technologies can streamline the employee lifecycle, and procurement can help ensure the right tools are selected at the best value.
Driving retention through value-added services
Retention doesn’t stop at onboarding. Procurement can help HR source providers for learning and development, employee wellbeing, and flexible benefits; services that play a vital role in keeping employees happy and engaged. By partnering closely with HR, procurement can ensure these services are both impactful and cost effective.
Procurement best practices for HR: how Accelerate can help
At Accelerate, we specialise in helping HR teams get the most out of their procurement processes. Whether it’s fine tuning supplier management or sourcing the right tech stack, our goal is simple: to help you attract and retain great people while maximising value.
If you’d like to find out more about how we can support your HR strategy, get in touch with our team of experienced procurement consultants today.