Editors: You are welcome to reprint the following tips, as long as the contact information at the end is included.

How to sustain annual cost reductions with spend management software

1. Install the right solution the first time. When you first invest in a spend management solution, make sure it has the needed functionality, that it will grow with your company, that the service agreement meets your needs, and that product upgrades will follow.


2. Develop a plan to implement products. Design a plan, with the assistance of employees, that will guide the company through the entire implementation process, phase by phase. Don’t stop with just one component — slowly implement all the components of a product. If you are only using one component of a spend management solution, then you are not truly managing your entire spend.
   
3. Enforce and entice use of the solution. Many times employees will try a new solution or business process but unless business rules are in place to enforce and reward use or discourage non-use, employees will go back to the old way of doing business.
   
4. Upgrade. Keep up-to-date on product upgrades and maintenance to your system. New features and functionalities might provide more visibility, more reporting, or an easier way purchase.
   
5. Understand the process. If employees aren’t using the system, then companies are not saving money. Don’t force a cultural shift — these things cannot happen overnight. Instead, slowly bring users into the fold by gently moving them towards the system.

Tips provided by Tehseen Ali, President & CEO of Verian Technologies. Contact Tehseen Ali & Verian Technologies at or 800-672-8776.

Editors: Tehseen Ali is also a source for stories on e-Procurement, invoice reconciliation, asset management, expense management automation, and trends in the spend management industry.  To set up interviews with Tehseen, please contact Anna Rushing, PR Coordinator, at or 704-602-3372.