Innovation and digitalization

Another focus for procurement is innovation management and further developing the digitalization strategy and roadmap. This takes two approaches: “guided sourcing” for putting product group strategies into action and “guided buying” for digital, seamless, user-centered processes. Using the in-house procurement app DB Marketplace enables an end-to-end, (partially) automatic process from request to invoicing. The procure-to-pay process is being further developed together with Group Accounting, FINANCE4DB and the business units. About 1.1 billion orders were processed in 2020 through the DB Marketplace order channels, SAP individual orders, and framework agreements that enable buyers to order themselves. Other focus areas in digitalization include big data analyses to support the product group strategies and operational processes, as well as the new Supplier Management and Rating Tool (SMaRT). The SMaRT platform enables even more efficient and transparent cooperation with our suppliers.