Procurement orchestration: Effortless experiences without sacrificing compliance

Procurement orchestration has become a game-changer for businesses looking to make procurement processes easier to navigate by occasional business users while improving compliance with current policies. A recent webinar from Procurement Leaders brought together procurement pros from Roche, Gilead Sciences, and ORO Labs to discuss what’s driving the shift toward orchestration, how it helps companies make the most of their existing tools, and the real benefits teams are seeing.

Why companies are turning to procurement orchestration

Many organizations start looking at orchestration when their existing procurement processes hit roadblocks. Bottlenecks, slow approvals, and compliance headaches make it clear that a new approach is needed. As Jennifer Sieber, Global Procurement Head of Systems & insights at Gilead Sciences, put it, "We had too many bottlenecks. Orchestration was the obvious way to connect everything and get things moving."

As businesses grow and procurement complexity increases, teams struggle to scale existing processes efficiently. Traditional procurement workflows often require excessive manual intervention, creating inefficiencies that impact decision-making. Companies recognize that procurement orchestration can provide a single source of truth, enabling faster execution and improved visibility across the entire organization.

Getting more from your procuretech investments

A big question leaders ask is: "Why do we need another tool when we’ve already spent so much?" The reality is that orchestration isn’t about adding more tech—it’s about getting more out of what you already have. Patrick Foelck, Head of Insights & Enablement Procurement at Roche, shared, "We had all these great tools, but they weren’t talking to each other. Orchestration helped us finally make full use of them and boost our ROI."

Organizations often invest in best-in-class procurement solutions, but without orchestration, these tools operate in silos, making it difficult to optimize workflows. Procurement orchestration integrates disparate systems, allowing procurement teams to leverage automation, eliminate redundancies, and improve overall efficiency. Instead of replacing existing procuretech investments, orchestration enhances them, maximizing value without requiring a complete technology overhaul.

Making compliance easy without frustrating users

Traditionally, procurement teams have had to choose between strict compliance or a smooth user experience—but orchestration makes it possible to have both. Describing her experience with procurement systems prior to joining ORO as Principal Solutions Architect, Dharani (DJ) Jayaprakasam, explained, "People avoided our procurement system because it was a hassle. Orchestration made it intuitive, so now more people actually use it—and compliance is way up."

One of the biggest risks in procurement is maverick spend, where employees bypass approved purchasing channels due to friction in the process. A seamless user experience is key to preventing this behavior. By making procurement intuitive and embedded within employees' daily workflows, orchestration increases adoption, compliance, and spend visibility. With intelligent approval workflows, procurement teams can ensure compliance without slowing down purchasing.

Proving the value of orchestration

Beyond getting more out of existing systems, orchestration brings other major perks: faster approvals, less admin work, and better teamwork across departments. Companies investing in orchestration are focused on proving its impact through metrics like shorter cycle times, stronger policy adherence, and better supplier relationships. Sieber added, "We’re measuring improvements in cycle times and compliance rates to show the real value orchestration brings."

Tracking the impact of orchestration is critical for demonstrating ROI. Organizations are seeing measurable improvements, including:

• Reduced cycle times, with approvals that previously took weeks now completed in days.

• Higher compliance rates, as automation ensures policies are followed without adding friction.

• Improved supplier management, with better data visibility enabling strategic decision-making.

Unique challenges in life sciences

Procurement in life sciences comes with extra complexity, from strict regulations to managing intricate supplier networks. Orchestration helps by creating structured yet flexible workflows that meet regulatory needs while staying user-friendly. Foelck emphasized, "Our industry is one of the most regulated, and orchestration helps us stay compliant while making procurement simpler for everyone."

Life sciences procurement teams deal with specific challenges, such as clinical trial supply chain management, regulatory approval cycles, and strict supplier qualification requirements. Orchestration streamlines these processes by automating compliance checks, reducing administrative burden, and enabling procurement to adapt quickly to changing regulations.

What’s next for procurement orchestration?

More businesses are realizing the power of orchestration, and key trends are emerging:

• More AI and automation to make procurement smarter and faster.

• Stronger focus on user experience, ensuring procurement tools are easy to use.

• Integration with ESG and sustainability goals, aligning procurement with corporate values.

• Expanding orchestration beyond procurement, connecting with finance, legal, and supply chain functions for a more seamless operation.

• Greater adoption in regulated industries, where compliance and efficiency must go hand in hand.

Companies are also exploring how orchestration can facilitate supplier diversity initiatives, improve risk mitigation, and enhance cost control strategies. As procurement becomes more strategic, orchestration ensures that organizations remain agile, compliant, and efficient.

Procurement orchestration is changing the game. By bringing existing systems together, making processes more user-friendly, and keeping compliance tight, it’s helping businesses get the best of both worlds. As Jayaprakasam summed up, "Orchestration isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about making procurement a strategic enabler for the whole business." As more companies jump on board, orchestration is set to keep driving efficiency, cutting risk, and saving money.

Watch the full on-demand webinar above to learn more about how procurement orchestration can transform your organization. Hear firsthand from industry experts about the impact of orchestration and how it can help organizations navigate today’s procurement challenges with confidence.