Please can you share some points & insights into how a procurement suite such as COUPA, IVALUA, ZYCUS, PRM360 adds value on top of generic ERP solutions such as SAP, ORACLE, Microsoft Dynamics, JD Edwards, etc?     The generic ERP solution ticks are many of the functionalities that we require as a procurement function, but there could be some reason that this industry of Procurement suite exists. What are their USPs?

In my experience, ERPs like SAP or Oracle are strong systems of record, but they’re not built for how procurement actually operates day to day. Procurement suites add value through better user experience, faster configurability, and deeper source-to-pay visibility without heavy IT dependency. They connect sourcing, contracts, spend, and supplier performance in a closed loop, which ERPs struggle to do natively. Most importantly, they drive higher adoption, better compliance, and faster procurement-led change rather than ERP-led customization.

IMO, the ePro suppliers have found a sweet spot that traditional ERPs do not serve or do not serve as well as the market desires. Examples are catalog guided buying (think Amazon), Supplier Risk Management, and Service contracts. User interfaces tend to me more modern and require configuration (can be done by the business) over customization.

These are primarily cloud-based procurement SAAS products that are relatively more user friendly with advanced UI/UX  and quicker to deploy. These products also offer enhanced collaboration, real-time data access, and scalability, beyond what generic ERPs provide. They facilitate global supplier networks, streamline communication, and enable efficient, centralized procurement management with improved data security and lower IT overhead.

Our Strategic Sourcing and Accounts Payable team moved form SAP Ariba to Coupa early 2017. Coupa offered a higher (read intuitive) user experience but like any system, relies upon strong user training, adoption and adequate resource capacity to maintain key metadata. Compliance to supporting Policies and Standards and routine audits of information is required to ensure accuracy and to identify Users that require additional training. Coupa is a modular build and therefore can grow with adoption. Whilst not a unique feature, it is important to be aware of when researching market options against business requirements and a phased development. An additional benefit of aligning yourself to an ambitious organisation is the integrity and investment behind their product development roadmap. It remains to be seen how this highly fragmented market evolves and there is increasing evidence of some larger players adopting API capabilities allowing best of breed options to "plug in". Ensuring therefore, that your preferred ERP solution has alliances to non-core expertise and will integrate to them is key.

Would be the pricing and Forecasting