Technology Selection: Guaranteeing the Right Tools for Maximum ROI

Choosing the right procurement technology is a critical investment that defines your future efficiency. Our Technology Selection service provides the expert, impartial guidance you need to navigate the crowded vendor landscape. We ensure the software you choose is scalable, user-friendly, and, most importantly, aligns perfectly with your commercial goals for a measurable return on investment.

7 Step Solutions have delivered a step change improvement in our Procurement culture and performance, aligning Procurement activity to business goals alongside rapid delivery of cost, process and technology improvements.

Chief Procurement Officer for a £600mil private sector organisation

They truly understood our business and delivered a solution that was not only commercially robust but also perfectly aligned with our strategic objectives.

Head of Finance, European Private Equity Firm

7 Step Solutions are my go-to partner for Procurement support. Whether a cost out project, M&A support or a strategic procurement transformation initiative, 7SS white glove service and commercial acumen has consistently delivered a high return on investment.

Partner - global investment firm focusing on acquiring and transforming companies across diverse industries worldwide

Their speed and agility were remarkable. They quickly integrated with our team and delivered a tangible, positive impact on our bottom line.

COO, Global Logistics Company

I required a partner that could provide cost effective augmented Procurement expertise and resource on demand. 7SS ticked all the boxes. What is also great about 7SS is I feel they really understand my sector, care about my business and deliver real outcomes. Their reputation as commercial and procurement experts is well deserved.

Principal, Value Creation

If you are looking for a partner that can integrate seamlessly into your organisation, reduce costs, improve business profits and Procurement performance, I would highly recommend 7 Step Solutions.

Chief Financial Officer for a £1bil private sector organisation

7 Step Solutions helped us redesign our marketing procurement, which led to a 20% reduction in agency costs and a £1.8M annual saving.

Marketing Director, American Manufacturer

7 Step Solutions have supported our business at pace to deliver rapid savings and sustained profit improvement. Having an expert, flexible and scalable partner for projects and peaks in demand has been invaluable to our success.

Operating Partner - leading alternative investment firm focused on Private Equity, Private Credit, and Real Estate

7 Step Solutions bring a real laser like focus and commercial aptitude, considering not just Procurement supply side activity like some advisories, but business wide efficiencies, savings and improvements along with first class change management.

Director - global investment firm overseeing £20b portfolio

7 Step Solutions significant reputation in Private Equity is a testament to their commercial and procurement expertise, white glove service, working at pace and delivering tangible results consistently. It is easy to understand how these key qualities I have witnessed for many years have transferred in their services to multi-sector industries.

Director - Global Investment Firm

Impartial Expertise for Informed Investment

Technology selection is often complex and fraught with risk. Our process minimises that risk. We are technology-agnostic, meaning our recommendations are based solely on the best commercial and functional fit for your business, not on vendor incentives. We ensure your new systems enhance process efficiency, improve user experience, and drive measurable value.

What Expert Technology Selection Delivers

Guaranteed ROI Alignment
We quantify the commercial benefits of proposed systems, guaranteeing your technology investment is focused on measurable profit improvement and value creation.
Reduced Implementation Risk
Our methodical approach minimises costly mistakes during the selection phase, setting up your subsequent implementation for success.
Optimised Licensing Costs
We leverage our commercial negotiation expertise to secure optimal terms and licensing agreements, reducing your long-term software expenditure.
User-Centric Design
We ensure the selected tools integrate seamlessly with your desired future state, improving User Experience and driving high adoption rates across the business.

Our Comprehensive Selection Process

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Requirements Gathering & Prioritisation

Defining functional, technical, and commercial requirements aligned with your overall Digital Strategy.
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Vendor Benchmarking & Screening

Impartial assessment of the market landscape, narrowing options to the best-fit S2P, Spend Analytics, or specialist tools.
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RFP/Tender Management

Executing a rigorous, fair, and transparent tender process (RFP) to secure competitive proposals and optimal commercial terms.
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Business Case & Financial Modelling

Developing a robust business case that quantifies the Return on Investment (ROI) and supports internal sign-off.

Our proven process

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Data Collection & Analysis
We begin by examining all relevant spend and contract data to build a clear baseline of your current situation.
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Interview
We engage with key business buyers and stakeholders to understand your buying processes and requirements, filling in the crucial details that data alone cannot provide.
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Baseline & Opportunity Development

We benchmark your current state against industry best practice to identify tangible opportunities for savings and value creation.

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Validation & Recommendation
We validate our findings with your team and present a clear, prioritised delivery roadmap based on value versus ease of implementation.

Case Studies

Led S2P and S2C technology assessment, business case, and market engagement for a leading UK&I food wholesaler

Business Challenge

A leading UK&I food wholesaler sought to unlock greater value from procurement by using technology to drive efficiencies in contract and supplier management. Procurement’s role was historically limited to indirect, reactive spend of £700M within a £5B business, with previous business cases failing to secure executive buy-in. To address this, the company engaged external experts to assess current maturity, evaluate market solutions, and build a robust, ROI-focused S2P and S2C business case to support future investment.

Solution

7SS took a structured, data-led approach to define the as-is state and identify improvement opportunities. Spend, contracts, and policies were analysed to establish a clear baseline, then validated through interviews with key buyers to understand real-world processes and capability. The findings were benchmarked against best practice to develop sourcing strategies by category, and a delivery roadmap was created to prioritise actions by ease and benefit — forming the foundation for implementation.

Outcomes

The project successfully secured CFO approval to invest in procurement technology, beginning with S2C modules as a proof of concept and progressing to full S2P implementation. Delivered on time and to budget in 10 weeks, it provided a clear roadmap and critical path for rollout. The trusted partnership led to further engagement, with 7SS supporting market assessment, partner selection, and system integration planning.

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Led S2P and S2C technology assessment, business case, and market engagement for a leading UK&I food wholesaler

Business Challenge

One of Europe’s leading aviation services companies had purchased an off the shelf Source to Pay (S2P) product (Zycus) to help them better control and manage Procure to Pay (purchasing and invoice management and data analytics), as well as benefit from Source to Contract (S2C) topics such as Sourcing and Contract Management, as well as Risk Management and potential future Supplier Management modules.

Solution

7 Step Solutions was engaged to provide the essential Business Integrator Support for the full Source to Pay (S2P) technology implementation. Acting as the “glue” between the technical vendor and the client’s commercial, finance, and legal teams, we defined the roadmap, managed stakeholders, and ensured that all overlooked S2P elements, from master data cleansing to process redesign and training, were executed to guarantee project success and maximise commercial return.

Outcomes

This successful transformation was achieved by positioning 7 Step Solutions as the essential Business Integrator, ensuring the complex global S2P implementation was delivered on time and to budget. The project achieved successful go-live across 296 locations in 44 countries, providing the client with critical commercial stability and enhanced governance. Our team acted as a trusted business partner to the CPO and CIO, securing operational objectives and even winning trust to manage additional project sourcing activities.

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Sustainability & £438M Spend - we helped a global research facility embed environmental procurement policies to cut 64% of their CO2 emissions.

Business Challenge

The client was an international organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control as the world’s largest international police organisation headquartered in Lyon, France, with seven regional bureaus worldwide, and a National Central Bureau in all 196 member states.

Solution

7 Step Solutions provided expert, focused guidance on leveraging AI in procurement technology for this International Law Enforcement Agency. The solution centred on designing and facilitating a major global workshop to re-establish the benefits of their existing system and provide actionable insights, including real-life case studies of AI utilisation. This internal alignment was supported by additional market assessment to guide their future technology selection.

Outcomes

The project successfully embedded an AI readiness roadmap into the client’s global procurement function. By designing and facilitating a major global workshop, 7 Step Solutions provided expert insights, real-life case studies, and a clear strategy on how to leverage AI within the existing S2P system. The outcome included a detailed roadmap with recommendations for maximising AI across Source to Pay activities, leading to an immediate referral to another public sector client.

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Why partner with 7 Step Solutions?

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Deep Commercial Expertise
Our team of experts has decades of experience managing and optimising spend, with a mindset honed in the demanding world of private equity.
Global Reach, Boutique Focus
With offices in London, Boston, and Zurich, we offer international capabilities combined with a personal, relationship-driven service.
Guaranteed ROI
We are so confident in our ability to deliver results that we provide minimum ROI guarantees, ensuring you see a clear return on your investment.

FAQs

No. We are technology-agnostic and fiercely independent. Our only allegiance is to ensuring the technology delivers the best commercial outcome for your business.
Yes. We provide full lifecycle support through our Business Integrator Support service to ensure seamless implementation and adoption.
We pride ourselves on Speed and Agility. We execute rapid but rigorous assessments to deliver a clear recommendation and business case in a focused timeframe.
We specialise across the entire procurement technology landscape, including S2P suites, Spend Analytics, and specialist tools for areas like contract and supplier management.

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