#United States #Higher Education #Carlsbad #Unimarket #Cooperative Services

Strengthening Procurement Partnerships in Higher Education

In a prominent move to enhance procurement efficiency in the education sector, Unimarket and E&I Cooperative Services are thrilled to announce their upcoming joint webinar. Scheduled for February 11, at 3 PM Eastern, this live session promises valuable insights into cultivating robust procurement partnerships in higher education.

Unimarket, recognized globally for its innovative source-to-pay solutions, has teamed up with E&I Cooperative Services, a unique nonprofit cooperative exclusively catering to the needs of educational institutions. The webinar will delve into strategies that colleges and universities can employ to transition from mere transactional purchasing to collaborative, value-driven procurement models.

With rising pressures on educational institutions to curtail costs, maintain compliance, and extract maximum value from limited resources, forming strong procurement partnerships has become integral to long-term success. The event will explore how collaborative approaches can help institutions achieve significant value over time. Key focus areas will include enhancing trust, promoting open communication, and aligning objectives among partners.

Diving deeper, attendees will learn about how coordinated partnerships can simplify complex procurement processes while delivering improved outcomes for all stakeholders involved on campus. This partnership signifies Unimarket's accessible suite of services to educational institutions through E&I’s competitively solicited contract portfolio. By leveraging the cooperative model, E&I aims to deliver greater economic value while fostering compliance and strategic engagements that support educational practitioners in reducing both costs and inefficiencies.

The partnership addresses several common challenges faced by institutions, such as fragmented procurement workflows and disjointed systems. By fostering closer collaboration between procurement teams and partners like E&I, institutions can streamline operations, enhance user engagement, and promote sustainable procurement practices.

Phil Kenney, CEO of Unimarket, encapsulated the essence of the webinar: “EI Cooperative Services plays a vital role in helping institutions unlock greater value through collaboration, not just contracts. Our webinar offers a unique perspective on how solid partnerships—including between educational institutions, cooperatives, and technology providers—can contribute to more effective and resilient procurement ecosystems.”

E&I Cooperative Services boasts over 85 years of expertise in cooperative sourcing and supplier relationship management, helping its members extend value beyond mere pricing through strategic and personalized support.

The format for the live webinar will include an interactive discussion segment alongside a Q&A session, allowing attendees to gain practical insights they can leverage within their own institutions. Prospective participants interested in attending can register through the link provided by Unimarket.

In conclusion, both Unimarket and E&I Cooperative Services are committed to enhancing higher education procurement strategies. By sharing valuable knowledge and fostering collaborative approaches, they seek to empower educational institutions to thrive despite resource limitations. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights that could transform your institution’s procurement practices.