In schools and educational institutions around Australia, the back-to-school is in full swing. With a new year comes a brand new buying season, along with all the potential stress for administration, finance and groundskeeping staff that comes with it.
But back-to-school buying doesn’t have to be an unpleasant or tiresome task, especially with the right team on board to optimise your educational procurement processes for better efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The bulk buying advantage
By simplifying and streamlining procurement, schools can take greater advantage of a bulk buying process, freeing up more resources while also keeping costs low.
Cost-efficiency at scale
Keeping your education space in top condition requires constant maintenance. This means regular purchasing of cleaning supplies and specialist gardening and landscaping equipment, along with the replacement costs of regular tools and hardware needed to keep these spaces safe and functional.
Bulk buying empowers educational institutions to leverage economies of scale, driving down per-unit costs. This strategic approach enables schools to allocate financial resources more judiciously, fostering a conducive learning environment without compromising quality.
Buy by the bucket
School administrators are usually left with the tough task of scouring seemingly endless websites or stores for the best possible price on classroom materials and maintenance supplies. It can be a daunting and often tedious task that takes away from other more pressing or important tasks.
With custom lists or ‘buckets’ available to select from depending on school size and supply requirements, buying in bulk is quicker, easier and more organised. It also provides schools with a one-stop-shop solution, eliminating the need to search across multiple platforms and stores for the right items at the right price point.
More time educating, less consolidating
Opting for bulk purchases simplifies the procurement of supplies for educators and purchasing personnel, offering a vital time-saving advantage.
Acquiring items for all your school needs allows teachers and administrators to maximise their often-stretched budgets. Another positive flow-on effect is minimised personal expenditure from teachers and schools, an unfortunately common occurrence reported in many schools.
The practice of more coordinated school ordering not only guarantees essential item availability throughout the year. It also streamlines and reduces the complexities of the reordering process. With less time spent jumping from invoice to invoice, finance and procurement personnel can instead enjoy greater transparency over the spending process, and better project future spend for next year.
If you’re looking for a better way to manage your school’s procurement program, we have the answer. Whether it’s time to give the classrooms a fresh coat or the grounds need some tending to, our partnership with Bunnings Trade grants you exclusive access to an expanded range of maintenance essentials, low pricing and easy-to-use reporting tools.
Source: Procurement Australia
