One of the best strategic moves a company could make is to hire a Coupa consultant to help them with their implementationWhether or not the heads of the companies will admit it, most companies are experts in what they do, not in software implementationIt only makes sense to hire an expert in the realm of technology to help with a technological investment.

While companies around the world can vary in type, size, and procedures the one thing that they all have in common is that they want to bring in more money than they pay outIn most cases, the more money in – the better.

Each company will have its own unique way of doing things and there could be billions of differences in the tiny details that make up the whole of the company, but one thing stands true for allEverybody has their placeIf that place is not their expertise, they need to hire an expert.

What is Coupa?

Coupa is a powerful software application that allows businesses to manage their spending practicesFrom one end of the source-to-pay spectrum to the otherSome of the most prominent features that the application has to offer are:

• Spend management
• Contract management
• Vendor management
• Supply chain management

Essentially the structure of the application is designed so that all businesses, no matter what size or type, can take advantage of the tools and advantages the platform has to offer. 

Some of the core elements of the functionality are dependent upon artificial intelligenceThis type of technology is what makes it possible for the application to make decisions regarding vendors, contracts, spending, and supply chain.

If you are still on the fence on whether or not you should hire a consultant to help you with your investment, here are the top 7 reasons that might just make you want to go out and hire one right now.

1Smart Sourcing Capabilities

It is not a secret that one of the core elements of a business is the way that it sources its goods and servicesIn order to get the best deals on high-quality services and goods from sources that are dependable and reliable, there has to be a certain amount of strategy behind the sourcing process.

The common person would not know how to program the Coupa platform to find just the right sources for the needs of the companyThere may be some instructions and some support videos here and there that will guide somebody along on how to set it all up, but a consultant would be the most efficient way to shine a light on how to get this particular function to work in the best way for the unique needs of the company.

2Keeping Track of Spending

It might not seem like such a big deal, but keeping track of all of the money that goes into and out of a company can be challengingIn order to get the most out of a Coupa investment the company that is putting it to use should know all of the ins and outs of the platformOne of the great features that the application has to offer is that it has the ability to keep track of every cent that goes into and out of the company, as well as forecast the incoming and outgoing transfers.

With the help of a consultant the software can be dialed in to record every penny, every day, and even optimize ways to spend…but we will get to that later

3Smart Contract Management

One of the most demanding tasks for a procurement professional is to keep on top of all of the contracts that are established with vendors and suppliersThe Coupa platform is able to manage vendors and contracts with the help of artificial intelligence and a strategic administration technique.

In addition to a consultant being able to teach businesses how to get the most out of their sourcing strategies, the contract management capabilities are are an advantage that can only be used correctly if completely understoodA consultant can show the company how to set up the platform to keep track of all of the contracts, enforce the contract agreements, and renew, or cancel contracts that are about to expire.

4Optimal Spending Opportunities

Another advantage that the Coupa platform has to offer is that it can forecast optimal spending opportunitesBased on the current spending trends and the history of the trends the software is capable of forecasting where the best places for spending can be. 

This is another feature that the software offers that is not readily understood by the average userA seasoned guide can show a company how to set up this function and get th best out of it based on the times and the situation of the business.

5Automated Procurement

Procurement automation may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but it is a reality in these technological timesOf course, the automation process will need to be monitored and kept on track, but the grunt work that it takes to make it all come together can be taken care of by the software.

Since a consultant that is trained in the deepest parts of Coupa will have extensive knowledge of the way that Coupa works, and the way that the procurement process works you will have the advantage of knowledge and technology if you choose to get a consultant to help you automate the process.

6Administration 

Administrating the software application is not a job for people that want to use guesswork and exploratory measuresA software application of this caliber can not be “figured out” and learned along the wayWhen it comes to getting the administration system right, there has to be a professional involved.

Of course, Coupa will not leave any company alone to figure out this part of the implementation on their own, however, having a consultant on hand to show the way that it all works can be a huge advantage for the company.

Setting up the platform will consist of strategic user and group creation that goes beyond the scope of a standard type of knowledgeA consultant will be able to guide the company through the administration process and help to develop a platform that works for the company and allows it to do the business it needs to do without hindrance.

7Training and Further Learning

Of course, like everything else, Coupa is constantly evolving and expandingOne of the responsibilities of a consultant is to keep up to date with the latest upgrades and releases of versions of the software.

A consultant can come into the company and train all of the employees on how to use the software for the tasks that they are needed to know how to do in order to do their jobInstead of reading tons of tutorial paperwork, or watching cheap videos on how to use new things in the upgrades a consultant can come in and show the entire company what is new and what next can be expected from the software implementation.

Conclusion

The seven reasons we have listed here are only a drop in the bucketThe reasons to hire a consultant to help with a Coupa implementation are pretty much as vast as the program itselfThere is no reason to try and figure it all out without helpHire a professional and make life easier.