A pioneering approach to sourcing: Embedding Local Content and sustainability in a leading transport tech firm

Our client, a leading transport technology company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, recognised a significant opportunity to leverage its supply chain to help drive the overall corporate strategy, particularly through increasing Local Content and improving sustainability practices.

Looking to maximise impact, the client partnered with us to deliver a transformation, with a focus on improving efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance and integrating Local Content and sustainability into operations. 

The scope of this transformation stretched beyond optimising procurement processes: it reshaped the business’s entire sourcing approach, with a steadfast commitment to creating value through industry-leading practices, Local Content, and sustainability at its core. 

Challenges and approach

Our client reshaped their entire approach to procurement and supply chain, seamlessly integrating efficiency, compliance, Local Content, and sustainability into their ecosystem.

Breaking free from rigid procurement practices

Previously, the procurement function was stuck in prescriptive ways of working, following outdated and rigid procedures. This was stifling strategic thinking and implementation of best practices, therefore hindering value capture. Recognising the need for change, the client empowered their procurement team to think more critically and proactively. This shift encouraged the team to delve deeper into their categories and apply strategic sourcing principles to their initiatives. 

Investing in people: Coaching for growth

The previous ways of working restricted Procurement’s opportunities for innovation and growth. We collaborated closely with the client to transform the team’s approach, coaching them through ‘in-flight’ initiatives to provide hands-on learning. These practical, real-world experiences gave the team the confidence to handle pressures from other internal teams and helped them evolve into proactive contributors, confidently applying their expertise and influencing outcomes across the business. 

Shifting perceptions of Procurement’s role

Procurement was perceived within the business as an administrative function that required substantial guidance. To shift this perception, the team delivered extensive awareness programmes – including senior leadership awareness sessions, business sector lead collaboration sessions, and on-the-ground business owner workshops – to showcase the value procurement brings. These initiatives highlighted Procurement’s role as a strategic partner, encouraging the business to involve Procurement early on in new processes, creating opportunities for value creation from the start.

Advancing Local Content and Sustainability in Procurement and beyond

To drive improvements in local content practices, the client-Efficio team established a Local Content baseline, a robust reporting infrastructure, and a growth roadmap for strengthening regional economic contributions. 

Meanwhile, a thorough carbon footprint analysis pinpointed emissions hotspots, enabling our client to implement targeted, quick-win carbon reduction initiatives. To encourage teams beyond Procurement to embrace this culture of sustainability, company-wide webinars were held to raise awareness and align the organisation’s operations with its environmental and sustainability goals.