Unilever boosts procurement processes

Deal with IBM aims to improve management and compliance

Unilever is streamlining its procurement capabilities

Unilever has signed a contract with IBM to support the management of procurement for its European non-production items (NPI) operation.

The deal is expected to allow the consumer goods manufacturer to improve management as well as enhance business governance and process compliance over a two-year phased programme.

Unilever's European procurement system will receive additional functionality from an integrated procure-to-pay process, which it is hoped will drive significant benefits.

Routine elements of Unilever's NPI procurement will be serviced by IBM from Hungary and the hosted global procurement system will be implemented in Europe with maintenance services carried out in India.

This follows the two firms' existing relationship in procurement implementations for other regions and the current finance business services agreement in Europe.