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, recognized 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 maximize 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 optimizing 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Previously, the procurement function was limited by rigid, outdated procedures that stifled strategic thinking and the implementation of best practices, ultimately hindering value capture. Recognizing the need for change, the client empowered their procurement team to think more critically and proactively. This shift encouraged the team to dive deeper into their categories and apply strategic sourcing principles to their initiatives.

Investing in people: Coaching for growth

The previous ways of working limited Procurement’s opportunities for innovation and growth. We worked closely with the client to transform the team’s approach, coaching them through ongoing initiatives to provide hands-on learning. These practical, real-world experiences gave the team the confidence to manage 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 viewed within the business as an administrative function that required significant guidance. To change this perception, the team implemented extensive awareness programs—including senior leadership awareness sessions, collaboration sessions with business sector leads, and hands-on workshops for business owners—to showcase the value Procurement brings. These initiatives highlighted Procurement’s role as a strategic partner, encouraging the business to involve Procurement early in new processes and 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 baseline for local content, a robust reporting infrastructure, and a growth roadmap to strengthen regional economic contributions.

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