Procurement Academy

Procurement Fundamentals

What procurement is, how organizations operate, governance and compliance basics.

M·02Foundations

Sourcing Fundamentals

End-to-end sourcing from intake through supplier discovery, evaluation, and award.

M·03Core Processes

Source to Contract (S2C)

Complete S2C lifecycle: requirements, RFX, evaluation, award, and contract execution.

M·04Core Processes

Source to Pay (S2P)

How S2P extends S2C into purchase orders, invoicing, three-way match, and payment.

M·05Foundations

RFX Explained

When to use RFI, RFP, RFQ, or RFS and how to structure each one effectively.

M·06Technology

Technical Architecture

Identity management, data models, security, and deployment for sourcing platforms.

M·07Core Processes

Supplier Management

Supplier segmentation, performance management, risk assessment, and relationship strategies.

M·08Core Processes

Contract Management & Negotiation

CLM, contract types, negotiation strategies, key terms, and compliance monitoring.

M·09Core Processes

Category Management & Strategic Sourcing

Spend analysis, Kraljic Matrix, category strategies, and total cost of ownership.

M·10Technology

Enterprise Systems Integration

How sourcing platforms integrate with ERP, CLM, S2P, ITSM, SSO, and data warehouses.

M·11AI & Automation

AI in Procurement

How AI transforms sourcing through automation, intelligent decision-making, and enhanced efficiency.

M·12AI & Automation

MCP in Procurement

How Model Context Protocol connects AI systems with your procurement tools and ERPs.

M·13AI & Automation

RFX Automation

Automate RFP, RFQ, and RFI processes with AI — from document generation to compliance.

M·14Foundations

RFX vs RFP

Side-by-side comparison of RFI, RFP, and RFQ — and how to choose the right approach.

M·15Technology

Source-to-Contract Platforms

Key features, evaluation criteria, and implementation guidance for S2C platforms.

M·16AI & Automation

AI Vendor Independence

How to avoid AI vendor lock-in when selecting AI-powered procurement platforms.

M·17AI & Automation

AI-Driven Procurement Automation

How AI procurement platforms transform sourcing end-to-end from intake through award.

M·18Ops & Governance

Audit-Ready Compliance

Build continuous compliance into sourcing with automated policy enforcement and documentation.

M·19Ops & Governance

CLM Implementation Guide

Step-by-step: building the business case through post-launch CLM optimization.

M·20Ops & Governance

Parts Standardization

Consolidate specs across business units to aggregate demand and reduce supply chain complexity.

M·21Technology

Best RFP Software

What to look for in RFP software: features, AI capabilities, and how to evaluate options.

M·22Foundations

Direct vs Indirect Procurement

How spend is categorized, key differences in strategy and risk, and when to apply direct sourcing.

M·23Core Processes

Direct Materials Sourcing

BOM-driven planning, supplier qualification, make vs buy decisions, and pricing models for direct spend.

M·24Core Processes

Direct Sourcing Strategy

Build a systematic direct sourcing program: bypassing distributors, developing suppliers, and optimizing TCO.

Module Details

Module 1: Procurement Fundamentals

Learn what procurement is, why it matters, and how modern procurement organizations operate with proper governance and compliance.

Lessons:

What is procurement and why it matters
Procurement operating model basics
Stakeholders, approvals, and governance
Ethics and compliance overview
Procurement maturity models
Common procurement challenges

Next up: Sourcing Fundamentals

Module 2: Sourcing Fundamentals

Master the end-to-end sourcing process from intake through award. Learn how to define requirements, discover suppliers, run competitive events, and evaluate proposals.

Lessons:

Intake and requirements definition
Market research and supplier discovery
Competitive events and supplier communications
Evaluation and scoring basics
Award decision making
Negotiation fundamentals
Supplier Q&A management

Next up: Source to Contract

Module 3: Source to Contract (S2C)

Understand the complete S2C lifecycle from sourcing through contract execution. Learn about standard artifacts, workflows, and auditability requirements.

Lessons:

S2C definition and stages
Standard artifacts (requirements doc, RFX, scorecards, award memo)
Contracting workflow basics
Legal review, redlines, and approvals
Auditability and decision records
Contract lifecycle management

Next up: Source to Pay

Module 4: Source to Pay (S2P)

Learn how S2P differs from S2C, understand buying channels, purchase order processes, invoicing, and supplier onboarding.

Lessons:

How S2P differs from S2C
Buying channels (catalog, spot buy, guided buying)
Purchase order process overview
Invoicing and three-way match basics
Supplier onboarding and master data basics
Payment processing and reconciliation

Next up: RFX Explained

Module 5: RFX Explained

Understand when to use RFI, RFP, RFQ, or RFS and how to structure them effectively.

Lessons:

RFI vs RFP vs RFQ vs RFS definitions
When to use each and when not to
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Simple examples of each format
RFX structure and best practices
Supplier response management

Next up: Technical Architecture

Module 6: Technical Architecture for Modern Sourcing

Learn identity management, data models, security, and deployment options for sourcing platforms. For procurement and IT professionals.

Lessons:

Identity and access management (SSO, SCIM, RBAC)
Data model basics
Audit logging principles
Security and compliance
Extensibility concepts (webhooks, SDK, custom fields)
Deployment options and non-functional requirements

Module 7: Supplier Management & Relationship Management

Master supplier segmentation, performance management, risk assessment, and relationship strategies to build strategic supplier partnerships.

Lessons:

Supplier segmentation
Supplier performance management
Supplier risk assessment
Supplier relationship management (SRM)
Supplier development and improvement programs
Supplier diversity and inclusion
Supplier exit strategies

Next up: Contract Management & Negotiation

Module 8: Contract Management & Negotiation

Learn contract lifecycle management, contract types, negotiation strategies, terms and conditions, and contract compliance to protect your organization.

Lessons:

Contract lifecycle management (CLM)
Contract types and when to use each
Negotiation strategies and tactics
Key contract terms and conditions
Contract renewal and termination
Contract compliance and monitoring
Redlining and version control
Contract management best practices

Next up: Category Management & Strategic Sourcing

Module 9: Category Management & Strategic Sourcing

Master category management, spend analysis, category strategies, and strategic sourcing to optimize procurement value and drive business results.

Lessons:

Category management fundamentals
Spend analysis and category segmentation
Category strategies using the Kraljic Matrix
Market analysis and supplier intelligence
Total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis
Category planning and roadmaps
Category-specific sourcing approaches

Module 10: Enterprise Systems Integration

Learn how sourcing platforms integrate with enterprise systems including ERP, CLM, S2P, ITSM, SSO/IdP, and data warehouses. Understand integration use cases and prioritization strategies.

Lessons:

Common enterprise systems that integrate with sourcing platforms
Integration use cases for ERP, CLM, S2P, ITSM, SSO/IdP, and data warehouses
How to prioritize integrations based on business value
Integration patterns (API-first, event-based, file-based) and when to use each
Best practices for enterprise system integration

Next up: AI in Procurement

Module 11: AI in Procurement

Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing procurement through automation, intelligent decision-making, and enhanced efficiency. Learn practical approaches to implementing AI in your procurement operations.

Lessons:

Introduction to AI in procurement
AI-powered sourcing and supplier discovery
Automated RFX creation and evaluation
Intelligent spend analysis and category insights
AI for contract analysis and risk assessment
Implementing AI with governance and controls
Measuring AI ROI in procurement

Next up: MCP in Procurement

Module 12: MCP in Procurement

Learn how Model Context Protocol (MCP) enables AI systems to seamlessly connect with your procurement tools, ERPs, and data sources for intelligent automation and insights.

Lessons:

Introduction to Model Context Protocol (MCP)
MCP architecture and components
MCP use cases in procurement
Implementing MCP in your procurement stack
Security and governance for MCP
Best practices and future of MCP

Module 13: RFX Automation

Learn how to automate RFP, RFQ, and RFI processes with AI — from document generation and vendor management to compliance automation and ROI measurement.

Lessons:

Why automate your RFX process
What can be automated in RFX
Implementation roadmap
Measuring ROI of RFX automation
Getting started with RFX automation

Module 14: RFX vs RFP — Choosing the Right Approach

Understand the differences between RFX, RFP, RFQ, and RFI. Learn when to use each procurement document type and how to choose the right approach for your sourcing needs.

Lessons:

Understanding RFX: the umbrella term
Side-by-side comparison of RFI, RFP, RFQ
How to choose the right RFX type
Managing all types in one platform

Module 15: Source-to-Contract Platforms

Everything you need to know about selecting and implementing an S2C platform — from key features and evaluation criteria to standardizing RFX across business units.

Lessons:

What is a source-to-contract platform
Essential features to look for
Standardizing RFX across business units
Source-to-contract vs source-to-pay
Implementation timeline

Module 16: AI Vendor Independence

Learn what AI vendor independence means, why it matters for procurement, and how to avoid vendor lock-in when selecting AI-powered procurement platforms.

Lessons:

Why AI vendor independence matters
Signs of AI vendor lock-in
Open standards, APIs, and data portability
Evaluating platforms for independence
Building a multi-model AI strategy

Module 17: AI-Driven Procurement Automation

How AI-driven procurement automation and artificial intelligence procurement platforms transform sourcing end-to-end — from requirements through contract award.

Lessons:

How AI-driven automation differs from traditional tools
Core capabilities of an AI procurement platform
Key use cases from intake to award
Implementation roadmap
Measuring ROI of AI procurement automation

Module 18: Audit-Ready Compliance for Procurement

Build continuous compliance into your sourcing process. Learn about audit-ready compliance platforms, automated policy enforcement, and documentation best practices.

Lessons:

What is audit-ready compliance
Cost of non-compliance and manual audit prep
Core features of compliance platforms
Automated policy enforcement
Building an automated audit readiness program

Module 19: CLM Implementation Guide

Step-by-step guide to implementing contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems — from building the business case through post-launch optimization.

Lessons:

What is CLM and why implement it
Building the business case
Selecting the right CLM platform
Configuration and data migration
Rollout strategy and change management
Integration with sourcing systems

Module 20: Parts Standardization Across Business Units

How to consolidate specifications across business units to aggregate demand, negotiate volume discounts, and reduce supply chain complexity.

Lessons:

Why parts standardization matters
Identifying standardization opportunities
Platforms and tools for standardization
Building a governance framework
Measuring volume discounts and TCO reduction

Module 21: Best RFP Software for Procurement

What to look for in RFP software — features for large teams, AI capabilities, compliance tools, and how to evaluate the right platform for your organization.

Lessons:

What to look for in RFP software
Essential features for large teams
AI capabilities in modern RFP platforms
Compliance and audit trail requirements
How to evaluate and compare RFP software

Module 22: Direct vs Indirect Procurement

Understand how procurement spend is categorized, what separates direct from indirect purchasing, and why the distinction shapes your sourcing strategy.

Lessons:

What is direct procurement — definition and examples by industry
What is indirect procurement — spend categories and tail spend
Key differences: strategy, risk, governance, and organizational ownership
Applying sourcing strategy by category using the Kraljic Matrix

Next up: Direct Materials Sourcing

Module 23: Direct Materials Sourcing

Master the operational practices behind direct materials procurement — from BOM-driven planning and supplier qualification to make vs buy analysis and pricing models.

Lessons:

BOM-driven sourcing: how demand shapes supply
Supplier qualification and the Approved Supplier List (ASL)
Make vs buy: when to source externally
Supply continuity: dual sourcing and risk management
Pricing models: fixed price, cost-plus, market index, and LTAs

Next up: Direct Sourcing Strategy

Module 24: Direct Sourcing Strategy

Build a proactive direct sourcing program — segmenting spend strategically, bypassing distributors, developing supplier capability, and measuring program performance through TCO.

Lessons:

Segmenting direct spend: strategic, leverage, and bottleneck materials
Bypassing distributors: direct-from-manufacturer sourcing
Supplier development: building capability in your supply base
Total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis for direct materials
Measuring direct sourcing program performance

Downloadable Templates

Practical templates and checklists to help you run sourcing events more effectively. Each template solves a specific problem in the procurement process.

RFP Checklist

Ensures you don't miss critical steps when creating an RFP. Covers requirements validation, stakeholder alignment, supplier selection, timeline planning, and legal review.

Requirements Readiness Checklist

Validates that requirements are complete, clear, and ready before creating an RFX. Prevents rework and supplier confusion. Covers functional, non-functional, and business requirements.

Evaluation Scorecard Template

Standardized scoring framework for evaluating supplier proposals. Includes criteria definition, weighting, scoring scales, and evaluator assignments. Ensures consistent, objective evaluation.

Supplier Q&A Log Template

Tracks supplier questions and your responses during RFX periods. Prevents duplicate questions, ensures timely responses, and maintains transparency. Includes question categorization and response ownership.

Award Memo Template

Documents the award decision with rationale, evaluation summary, and approval chain. Essential for auditability and stakeholder communication. Includes cost analysis and risk assessment.