Sourcing and Procurement Outsourcing Services

Cura Resource Group

What Are Procurement Outsourcing Services?

Procurement outsourcing services hand some or all of a company’s buying to an outside provider. The provider finds suppliers, requests quotes, negotiates terms and places orders on the client’s behalf.

Cura Resource Group provides sourcing and procurement for B2B, wholesale and ecommerce brands. Because Cura also runs warehousing and shipping, purchased goods can be received, stored and shipped by one provider.

Procurement as a service lets you use a provider’s buying team for chosen categories or projects, instead of hiring your own.

What Is the Difference Between Sourcing and Procurement?

Sourcing is finding, vetting and choosing suppliers. Procurement is the full buying process that follows, from purchase order and delivery to invoice and payment.

The practical line in sourcing vs procurement is timing: sourcing ends once a supplier is chosen, while procurement continues for as long as you buy.

What Do Sourcing and Procurement Services Include?

Sourcing and procurement services usually include five activities: supplier sourcing, quotes and negotiation, purchase orders, supplier management and inbound coordination.

  • Supplier sourcing. Finding and vetting suppliers that meet your quality, cost and delivery needs.
  • Quotes and negotiation. Requesting quotes, comparing them and agreeing price, terms and lead times.
  • Purchase orders. Placing orders and confirming what was ordered, when and at what price.
  • Supplier management. Tracking supplier performance and resolving late, short or damaged deliveries.
  • Inbound coordination. Arranging how purchased goods travel to the warehouse and get received.

What Are the Benefits of Cura Sourcing and Procurement?

Cura sourcing and procurement brings five benefits: cost savings, expert advice, efficiency, quality and flexibility.

How Does Procurement Outsourcing Work?

Procurement outsourcing works in five steps: needs assessment, supplier sourcing, quotes and negotiation, ordering, and receiving and delivery.

Sourcing: choose the supplier

Procurement: order and deliver

1

Needs assessment

Agree what to buy, specs, volumes and budget

2

Supplier sourcing

Find and vet suppliers against the brief

3

Quotes and negotiation

Compare quotes and agree price and terms

4

Ordering

Place purchase orders and track each one

5

Receiving and delivery

Receive, store and ship from Cura warehouses

How procurement outsourcing works · Cura Resource Group

Step 1: Needs Assessment

The team works with you to understand your procurement needs: what to buy, the specifications, expected volumes and budget. That brief sets the rules for every supplier search that follows.

Step 2: Supplier Sourcing

Supplier sourcing uses procurement sourcing tools and expertise to find the best suppliers for each need. Each candidate is checked against the brief before any quote is requested.

Step 3: Quotes and Negotiation

Quotes and negotiation compare shortlisted suppliers on price, quality, lead time and terms. The agreed terms are written down so every later order follows them.

Step 4: Ordering

Ordering places purchase orders with the chosen supplier and tracks each one until it ships. Late or short orders get chased before they turn into stockouts.

Step 5: Receiving and Delivery

Receiving and delivery bring purchased goods into a Cura warehouse, where they are checked and stored until orders ship. Cura then ships them by parcel, LTL or FTL to your customers or sites.

When Should You Outsource Procurement?

Outsource procurement when buying takes more time, supplier knowledge or reach than your team has. Watch for these signs:

  • Buyers spend more time chasing orders than finding better suppliers.
  • You are entering a new product category or supplier region.
  • Late or short supplier deliveries keep causing stockouts.
  • Purchased goods arrive in one place but need storing and shipping from another.

Planning how much to buy comes first, so procurement works best alongside demand planning that forecasts what you will need.

Sourcing and Procurement With Cura Resource Group

Cura Resource Group has run third-party logistics since 2008. It operates warehouses in Memphis, Tennessee; Riverside, California; and Carolina, Puerto Rico, where purchased goods can be received and stored.

From there, Cura ships by parcel, LTL or FTL, domestic and international, through its shipping logistics services. International shipments can move through freight forwarding for international cargo, and clients get a real-time view of their inventory.

Sourcing and Procurement FAQ

What is procurement outsourcing?

Procurement outsourcing means handing some or all of your purchasing to an outside provider. The provider finds and vets suppliers, negotiates prices and terms, places purchase orders and follows up on deliveries. You keep control of what to buy and the budget, while the provider runs the buying work day to day.

Is sourcing the same as procurement?

No. Sourcing is the part of buying that finds, vets and selects suppliers. Procurement is the wider process that also covers purchase orders, receiving, invoices and payment. Sourcing usually happens once per category or contract, while procurement continues for every order placed with the chosen supplier.

What does procurement as a service include?

Procurement as a service usually includes supplier sourcing, quotes and negotiation, purchase orders, supplier follow-up and inbound coordination. You pay for the buying work you use instead of hiring a full team. It suits companies with seasonal buying, new product categories or projects that need extra purchasing capacity.

When does outsourcing procurement make sense?

It makes sense when buying pulls time away from running the business. It also helps when you enter new categories or supplier regions, or when supplier delays keep causing stockouts. One provider can then handle buying, warehousing and delivery together.

Can Cura store and ship the goods it sources?

Yes. Cura Resource Group operates warehouses in Memphis, Riverside and Carolina, Puerto Rico, where purchased goods can be received and stored. Cura then ships orders by parcel, LTL or FTL, to domestic and international destinations, so sourcing, storage and delivery sit with one provider.

Let’s Build a Smarter Supply Chain Together

Reach out to us for a free consultation, and let’s find the right sourcing and procurement solution for your business.

Overhead view of three warehouse workers between orange pallet racks, one carrying a cardboard box while two others review the next shipment.