Achieving the New Net Zero Normal – A Starter Guide for Membership Bodies

More and more, organisations are recognising that by placing sustainability at the heart of cost management and procurement solutions, it can improve cash-flow, increase customers, inspire employees, reduce risk and enhance reputations.

Strong ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) credentials will become increasingly important. Balancing operations, innovation and membership ambitions with effective cost management, spend, procurement and cash-flow can be a challenge for so many membership organisations and so our recommended starting point is always what are you spending now, across which categories and are you confident that you are getting value for your spend.

Save On Business as Usual Costs.

So how can Membership Organisations balance the need to manage costs more effectively, create savings and reinvest in products and services that are ESG compliant and in the age of Net Zero?

Have you recently reviewed and audited your spend, whether that’s across Utilities & Energy, Office Buildings, Marketing Services, Business Services, Digital and IT services, CRM, Print, Publishing & Postage, Technology, Telephony, Compliance, Insurance and Waste, for example:

• How long have your supplier contracts been in place?
• When was the last time you reviewed them?
• Are you confident you are getting the best possible price and value?
• What are your plans to enhance your membership offering and what tools and technology will be required to support those ambitions?
• Do you have the in-house expertise to ensure your existing and new supplier relationships and contracts are delivering the best value?
• Are your suppliers on the path to ESG compliance and what are their plans for Net Zero?

ESG Compliance in the Age of Net Zero

Naturally, every organisation wants to reduce costs, increase cash-flow and invest for growth and sustainable cost management and procurement practices can do just that. In the age of Net Zero, understandably, many don’t know where or how to start.

But you really can make a difference, there are rewards for ESG compliant organisations and we can all help, even by for example:

• Placing sustainability at the heart of digital and marketing services requirements.
• Setting up a hybrid office working infrastructure with the right IT services and tools.
• Thinking about the type, price and value of the systems, processes and platforms such as websites and CRM and the opportunity to optimise or change.
• Reviewing and auditing business supplies: packaging, archive, storage and stationery.
• Changing the organisation’s use of energy whether that’s lighting, gas, electricity or water to more sustainable and renewable solutions.
• Reducing the amount of paper (daily use and membership magazines) recognising the carbon footprint that is taken up by fulfilling & distributing print formats.

Making a Difference that Matters

With a more lasered focus on spend, operations and procurement of a wide-range of product and services, our experience shows that there are savings to be made, you can secure better value for your spend, that it is worth regularly reviewing and auditing your costs and that mutual value for both the organisation and supplier can be achieved.

And as we navigate a post crisis cost management and procurement path, the need to align with the principles and criteria of Net Zero will be key.

Auditel help membership organisations navigate a procurement path that ensures they are getting the best possible value for their spend. For more information, please contact Gavin Miller.