CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY | PROCUREMENT TRANSFORMATION
How one of AU’s “Big 4” banks transformed their sourcing, contracting and purchasing processes on budget and on time, without a hitch
THE COMPANY
Founded in 1911, Commonwealth Bank has been Australia’s trusted financial partner for over a century
Since its founding in 1911, Commonwealth has grown into one of the largest and most respected banking institutions in Australia. Today, it stands proudly in the 49th position among the “Top 1000 World Banks,” a testament to its financial strength, customer focus, and enduring legacy. From personal banking to business solutions, Commonwealth Bank continues to lead the way, helping Australians achieve their financial goals and securing a prosperous future for generations to come.
THE CHALLENGE
Commonwealth Bank’s struggled with inconsistent procurement processes
Commonwealth Bank had been using the SAP Ariba Source to Pay solution for over 15 years. Over time, the bank faced a growing problem: sourcing, contracting, and purchasing processes that were inconsistent and often non-compliant.
The bank needed to regain control. The goal was clear: revitalise the SAP Ariba solution to meet the bank’s high standards and ensure reliable, intelligent spend management moving forward.
Bloom was an outstanding delivery partner for a challenging remediation. They closely managed all aspects of the work, took great care to ensure the delivery was “right the first time” and displayed exceptional interpersonal skills at managing different relationships.
Fiona Barnes, ANZ Finance Project Manager
THE SOLUTION
Commonwealth Bank partnered with Bloom to modernise their SAP Ariba procurement process
Through a thorough analysis of the existing processes that identified pain points in the existing process, Bloom focused on three core initiatives that guided the transformation of Commonwealth Bank’s procurement solution:
- BAU solution and environment management – Ensuring the ongoing management and maintenance of the SAP Ariba environment to support consistent, compliant procurement operations.
- Risk-based source to contract management and execution – Implementing a risk-focused approach to sourcing and contract management, enhancing the reliability and effectiveness of procurement decisions.
- SAP Ariba guided buying design and deployment – Redesigning and deploying the Guided Buying feature to streamline purchasing processes and improve user adoption across the organisation.
THE OUTCOME
Through our collaboration, Commonwealth Bank achieved a significant uplift in procurement efficiency, governance, and user adoption
- Seamless execution - All three programs were delivered on time, within budget, and with exceptional quality, ensuring a smooth transition with zero go-live issues.
- Strategic foundation - The partnership established a robust framework for future enhancements, enabling Commonwealth Bank’s procurement operations to adapt and scale in alignment with ongoing product innovations.
- Capability uplift - With the help of Bloom Consulting, skills and capabilities of the existing team were enhanced, ensuring long-term sustainability and effective management of the BAU environment.
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