Ostopalvelut

Ostopalvelut, or procurement services, are the activities by which an organization obtains goods, services, and works from external suppliers. The aim is to secure the right products at the right time, at the best value, while managing risks and ensuring compliance. Ostopalvelut covers the full procurement cycle from needs assessment and market analysis to supplier selection, contracting, ordering, invoicing, and contract management, and continues with supplier performance monitoring and contract renewal or termination. It also includes strategic activities such as category management, supplier relationship management, and considerations related to sustainability and ethics.

Delivery models for ostopalvelut vary. Some organizations perform procurement internally, either centralized or decentralized; others use external procurement service providers or procurement-as-a-service arrangements. In the public sector in Finland, procurement is governed by national and European law, including the Act on Public Procurement and Concessions and related directives. Public procurement often relies on centralized arrangements or portals, with bodies like Hansel providing procurement support and category management, and the HILMA online system used for publishing procurement notices to ensure transparency.

Benefits of ostopalvelut include cost savings through standardization, greater transparency, improved compliance, and enhanced supplier performance. Challenges can include the need for advanced technology integration with enterprise resource planning systems, data quality and governance, change management, and maintaining competitive supplier markets in dynamic conditions.