Coupa is one of the most comprehensive spend management platforms available on the market today. Enterprises that hire a Coupa consultant are finding that it is the best way to maximize the potential of their investment. From the very first steps of implementing the platform through the entire process of administrationset up, all the way to the end of the first procurement cycle a savvy consultant can help any company get the very most out of their Coupa platform.
What a Consultant Can Do
A consultant is a person that has extensive knowledgeexperience when it comes to a certain topic or a strategy. When it comes to the Coupa platform, there is a lot to know,a very large margin for error. Just like when you sail out to sea, if your boat is just one degree off course you can end up thousands of miles away from your destination, when you implement the Coupa platform if there is information that is slightly off track, it could potentially cost millions.
Some of the most important factors of a Coupa implementation are created in the beginning stages of development. The administration has to be preciseaccurate in order for the platform to be as effective as it possibly can be.
Since a certified Coupa consultant has expert knowledge of both the platformthe procurement realm they will be able to advise the company on successful strategies that will best benefit the company.
Since each enterprise will have its own unique characteristics when it comes to specific needs there will be no cut-and-dry method of implementation that will work for all business structures.
What Does Coupa Do?
Coupa is an advanced SaaS, also known as software as a service, platform that is designed to provide organizations with a source-to-pay solution that goes far beyond typical applicationshelps to increase spend efficiency under the management of intelligent softwareexperienced humans.
Although Coupa is equipped with powerful software capabilitiessome artificial intelligence, it needs an experienced human to help it process issuesprovide solutions in the best possible manner.
Some of the solutions that Coupa provides are:
- AP automation
- Compliancecontrol
- Digital transformations
- ERP integrations
The core of the program is powerful enough to help businesses of any size get maximum efficiency out of all of their spending techniques.
Why Smart Procurement Matters
One look around a major business or any major transportation solution such as an airport it is easy to see that technology is prevalent in most people’s everyday lives. It is safe to say that businesses that fail to transform their daily affairs into a digital solution will get left behinddropped from the competition.
How many successful businesses are around that do not have a website? Of course, there are a few industries that have not yet been forced to transform, but that is only for now.
In any event, when it comes to the source-to-pay process, companies that leverage the power of technology with the experienceknowledge of their top professionals tend to have an edge over the competition.
Coupa can simplifyquicken processes such as:
- Locating great sources
- Managing contracts
- Managing distributors
- Paying sources
- Processing payments
The timeresources that it would normally take for a company to locatesecure the optimum sources are greatly reduced by artificial intelligence that can find literally thousands of sourcesprovide the top ones within a matter of seconds.
Instead of a person manually contacting eachevery possible source, the software can discoverprovide details for sources that are most beneficial for the business.
The Value of a Trusted Partner
One of the greatest benefits of using the Coupa platform is that the only people that are qualified to consult on Coupa solutions are certified partners. When you team up with a consultant that is certified in the Coupa platform you can count on that person to know what they are doing,that they are going to always have your best interests in mind. If you make the mistake of hiring a consultant that does not have any affiliations with Coupa, you are going to waste a lot of the potential that your platform has.
In any event, when it comes to the success of a business that chooses to implement the Coupa platform a trusted consultant will do everything that they can to make the platform work for you so that everybody that sees your successes will know that we can provide them with the same kind of direction that we provided you.
In other words, a Coupa consultant only looks as good as their clients. Your success is the success of the consultant as well.
Application AdministrationImplementation
Most of the enterprises that choose to implement Coupa learn, very quickly, that this application is not a typical everyday program. The method of administration will have everything to do with how effective the program will be in the future.
The initial setup of the administration will be comprised of:
- Defining groups
- Defining users
- Designating permissions
- Designating group members
People that have experience with server-based programs will understand why it is so important to create roles, permissions,other determinates that allow access, or deny access to certain individuals.
Beyond the typical administrative setup, the platform goes beyond users, roles,permissions by allowing people from across the globe to connectcommunicate with each other through the application.
Integration with applications that are already in use is an essential part of the administration as well. Although it might take some getting used to,a lot of training for staff, after the program has settled in everybody that uses it will see just how powerful it is.
Business Spend Management
There may be many companies out there that do not believe that they have a problem with the way they manage their spending processes. However, most humans do not think at the rate of artificial intelligencedo not have the capability to correctly calculate the best way to spend money, or what to spend it on.
The Coupa platform provides a solution to spend management that not only helps to keep the company’s finances on the right track but also to limittrack spending that is not beneficial to the company.
In addition to trackingproviding alerts to wasteful spending, the platform also offers solutions to help guide the company towards healthy spending practices. With the help of a consultant to build the structure of the platform in a way that is most beneficial to the company, an installation of Coupa could be the best thing that ever happened to the organization.
Conclusion
A certified Coupa consultant is more than just a person whispering ideas into your ear. They become a partnera trusted advisor for the best interests of the organization. Each consultant will know how complicated things can be from business to business so they will be prepared to help shed light on some of the most confusing circumstances that come upon businesses when they transition to a digital platform that has so much power.
Many business owners feel that they can’t afford to hire a professional consultant, however, when it comes to the Coupa platform, you can’t afford not to.
