Five procurement mistakes that cost Ghanaian SMEs money
Most procurement overspend is not dramatic. It accumulates quietly through five habits we see repeatedly.
When we are asked to review a small company's buying, the savings rarely come from one big renegotiation. They come from fixing the same handful of habits.
1. Buying without a specification
If the request is "some office chairs", you will be quoted for whatever the supplier wants to move. Write the specification first — even a single line.
2. One quote
Three quotes takes an extra day and routinely changes the price by double digits. There is no substitute for it.
3. Ordering in the wrong quantities
Buying monthly what you could buy quarterly means paying the delivery charge four times and losing the volume rate. Buying annually what expires in six months is worse.
4. No record of what things cost last time
Without a simple price history, you cannot tell whether a quote is reasonable. A spreadsheet is enough.
5. Paying for urgency you created
Emergency orders carry an emergency premium. Most emergencies are planning failures with a two-week lead time.
None of this requires software or a procurement department. It requires writing things down.
About the author
Jexora Administrator
Managing Director
Oversees every part of Jexora Integrated Ventures, from the accommodation portfolio to supply and agriculture.
