The reality of retail’s diverse needs is that different stores need different things, especially when stores are spread across multiple regions.  

And at the same time, stores in both markets should be able to purchase from the same company-wide marketplace of suppliers who have been vetted by the procurement team. 

One of the big challenges with procurement in retail is handling suppliers for indirect procurement purchases across multiple stores. While there are common supply needs across all stores like cleaning products, office supplies, and fixtures, there are also unique items needed especially when stores are spread across multiple regions. For example: a store in Phoenix needs solar window film while another location in Buffalo needs ice melt, but stores in both markets should be able to purchase from the same company-wide marketplace for store supplies. 

Vendor consolidation can help cut costs and simplify workflows but, with the diverse needs of stores across a wide geographic area, cutting suppliers isn’t easy.  

Consider this: 

Streamline multi-supplier store purchases  

Make it easy for stores to buy from many suppliers as it is to buy from one. With Varis, transform how your retail stores handle orders from a large number of indirect procurement suppliers.  

On the Varis purchasing platform, store associates can shop across any number of your approved suppliers within a single search bar. All approved suppliers are displayed within a single platform, eliminating having to visit different supplier websites or catalogs, making it easy to compare products and prices. Store level operational efficiency then becomes easier to maintain even with multiple suppliers. This is the power of a consumer-like, one-stop purchasing platform.  

As John Chavarria, VP at Veyer states: “Having a one stop store that provides a catalog of items we purchase on a regular basis, offers our order replenishment a more efficient tool for our daily users, freeing up their time to focus on other tasks.” 

Increase spend visibility to increase contract compliance  

One major hurdle in retail procurement is the lack of clear insight into indirect spending. Varis tackles this by consolidating spend data onto a single platform, giving a transparent view of the procurement process from order to fulfillment. This clarity is not just for keeping efficiency with suppliers, but also lays the groundwork for consolidation. 

Spotting a consolidating opportunity comes after detailed analysis of spending patterns. Our team of category consultants helps leaders identify where efforts are spread across too many suppliers. This can be a key step toward making informed decisions on reducing suppliers and gaining sharper pricing.  

When buying through approved suppliers feels complicated or limited, store associates might choose easier, unapproved ways to buy what they need. Varis helps increase contract compliance—and decrease rogue spend—from anywhere between 60-90% on average.   

With every supplier displayed within a single platform, retailers can encourage the right buying behaviors, so store associates can get the products they need from pre-approved contracts with their best pricing.  

“It’s simple to search across the different suppliers and find exactly what I need – everything is loaded in the same shopping experience; I don’t have to jump to other supplier websites to compare pricing.” Jason S. – store manager 

Reducing inefficient spend

Use Varis to help navigate these indirect purchase complexities. Our enterprise-grade solution can manage various supplier catalogs and help drive towards consolidation—and simplification. With a unified platform and real-time spend data, Varis sets the stage for more strategic supplier relationships. 

Retail chains can support the variety and volume of suppliers required across their regions while still driving efficiency and standardization. Varis marks the beginning of a streamlined procurement journey, arming strategic leaders with full visibility and efficiency. 

Ready to think strategically about procurement? Reach out to the Varis retail team to get started.