AI in procurement: prices, invoices and terms Catch price deviations before you pay
The prices are on your supplier invoices, but the same item has a different name in every company. Our procurement analytics matches them and makes prices comparable at item level. After that we check new invoices against order price and terms on an ongoing basis.
Procurement
DataClue applies AI and analytics in procurement: our procurement analytics compares your supplier invoices at item level and shows price increases, price differences and unused terms. An ongoing invoice check then tests new invoices against order price and framework terms. What matches goes through. Deviations go to your procurement team with all documents.
Where procurement loses money today
- Prices rise step by step. At item level this often only shows in the annual review.
- The same items are bought at different prices in different companies, plants or projects, often bypassing the framework agreement.
- Supplier negotiations lack a fact base per item because the data is spread across invoices and ERP exports.
Typical starting points in procurement
The same item costs something different at every company. Deviations only show on the invoice. Your procurement decides which supplier to renegotiate with.
Prices and suppliers
The same items appear under different names on the invoices of several companies, and comparing prices is manual work.
- Runs automatically
- Matching identical items and comparing prices across suppliers, sites and time.
- Your team decides
- Assessing the price variances and prioritising supplier talks.
Metric, e.g. price deviation per item
Invoice check
Price deviations from the quote often only show on the invoice.
- Runs automatically
- Match of invoice and delivery note against the order price; what matches goes through.
- Your team decides
- Deviations in quantity, price and date.
Metric, e.g. price deviations caught before payment
Terms and discounts
Agreed discounts and payment terms are not used in all units.
- Runs automatically
- Check of every invoice against the agreed terms, unused discounts flagged.
- Your team decides
- Harmonizing terms, prioritizing payment runs.
Metric, e.g. share of discounts taken
From a one-off price comparison to an ongoing invoice check
- Data-driven decisionsPrice and term levers per supplier and item, prioritized for your next supplier talks. The starting point is procurement analytics.
- AI-supported workflowsAn ongoing invoice check against order price and framework terms. Deviations above the threshold go to your procurement team with all documents.
- Program steeringFor the rollout of a procurement platform: steering from system selection through go-live, with a handover to your organization.
It starts with your supplier invoices.
Procurement analytics
Item-level spend analysis: we analyze your supplier invoices and show price deviations, price increases and differences in terms.
Procurement analytics for construction
The same analysis for construction companies, with building materials bought across many companies and projects.
What this looked like in practice
- Up to €50ksavings per supplier and yearItem-level price deviations uncovered in a construction company’s invoices
- Pilot on planfirst companies live on schedule, first orders placed through the systemGroup-wide procurement system: bundling potential across more than €450m of spend
All client examples are anonymized.
Procurement
Frequently asked questions
What can AI take over in procurement?
Mainly work with many similar documents: matching identical items despite different names, comparing prices across suppliers, sites and time, checking invoices against order price and terms. Unlike a spend analysis by category, this goes down to the single item. Negotiation and supplier selection stay with your procurement team.
What data do you need?
We need the invoices of the suppliers and the period you select. In which format, for example as an export from your ERP system, we clarify in the first check.
Do you also negotiate with suppliers?
On request we support supplier negotiations or lead them for you. You decide which levers to pursue.
How is our invoice data protected?
We process it confidentially and under the GDPR. Access, storage location and deletion are agreed together before the analysis.
Contact
Where is your procurement losing money?
Tell us about your suppliers, units and invoice data. We tell you openly where procurement analytics or an ongoing invoice check would start.
