Spend analysis software
Are you tired of shuffling through stacks of receipts and spreadsheets to track your business expenses? It doesn’t have to be this way. Automating your spend analysis can help you gain real-time visibility into your company’s spending and help you track areas to cut costs and improve your bottom line.
Say goodbye to manual tracking and hello to smarter spend management. But why is automation in spend analysis so crucial, and more importantly, what does the absence of a good spend analysis software cost you? Let’s find out
As we move towards digitization, automation has become a non-negotiable element in business workflows. Domains like payrolls and T&E, consume massive manpower and are very time consuming. Which is why, it is no surprise that spend management software is on the rise this decade. In fact, the Mordor Intelligence found out that the spend analytics industry is growing at a whopping CAGR of 18.2%.
However, with the overwhelming number of spend analysis software options in the market, it can be challenging to know where to start. In this blog post, we’ve assembled a list of the 10 best spend analysis software.
We’ll explore the features, benefits, and pricing of each software in the list. Whether you’re a small business owner or a procurement professional, this list has something for everyone. So, let’s dive in!
List of top 10 spend analysis software
A comparison of spend analysis software
Software |
Key Features |
Integrations |
Pricing Model |
Customisable expense policies, Smart Audit |
Tally, Quickbooks |
Subscriptions |
|
Procure-to-pay, contract management, supplier management |
SAP ERP, Oracle ERP |
Subscriptions |
|
Supplier management, category management |
SAP ERP, Oracle ERP, JD Edwards |
Custom Pricing |
|
Procure-to-pay, spend analysis |
SAP ERP, Oracle ERP |
Custom Pricing |
|
Supplier management, custom reporting |
QuickBooks, NetSuite |
Subscriptions |
|
Savings management, procurement analytics |
SAP, Oracle, Coupa |
Custom Pricing |
|
Contract management, spend analysis |
SAP, Oracle, Coupa |
Custom Pricing |
|
Procure-to-pay, supplier management, expense management, spend analysis |
SAP, Oracle, NetSuite |
Subscriptions |
|
Spend analysis, procurement analytics, supplier management |
SAP, Oracle, Coupa |
Custom Pricing |
|
RFQ management, spend analysis, contract management, supplier network |
SAP, Oracle, NetSuite |
Subscriptions |
10 Best spend analysis software
1. Happay
Happay helps manage and streamline all sorts of corporate spending and employee reimbursements. Happay’s futuristic NextGen platform is a one-stop shop for expense management. Happay expense management system can help you save time and money while ensuring compliance and improving visibility into your company’s finances.
Features:
- Customisable expense policies and workflows to control spending and prevent fraudulent spending
- Seamless integration with accounting software like QuickBooks and Tally to ensure that expenses and reimbursements are synced with financial records
- Happay corporate cards have customized spending limits and controls for easier expense tracking
- Smart Audit feature to automate the audit process, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations
- Mobile app to simplify expense capture and categorization
- Analytics feature of the software helps CFOs and finance leaders in important decision making
- One-click reimbursements
Pros:
- Streamlined expense management with easy-to-track expenses and reimbursements.
- Customisable expense policies and payment terms to ensure compliance and reduce the risk of fraudulent activities.
- Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Happay Analytics offers advanced analytics and reporting features that help businesses gain insights into their expenses, identify trends, and help finance leaders make informed decisions.
Cons:
- Happay is a premium expense management solution and may not be affordable for small businesses or startups.
2. SAP Ariba
SAP Ariba is a cloud-based spend analysis software that helps businesses gain visibility into their spending habits and make data-driven decisions to reduce costs and improve efficiency. It offers a suite of e-procurement tools and analytics solutions that help streamline procurement processes, manage suppliers, and optimize spending.
Features:
- Automated data analysis to identify spending patterns and trends
- Customisable reports and dashboards for better spend analysis
- Supplier management tools for managing supplier relationships and optimizing procurement
- Direct B2B contacts and vendor base buildup
Pros:
- Customizable reports and dashboards allow businesses to track spending in real-time.
- Supplier management tools improve procurement team efficiency.
Cons:
- SAP Ariba is a complex solution that requires significant setup and configuration, which can be time-consuming and challenging for small business units.
- The software can be expensive, which may not be feasible for small businesses with limited budgets.
- Some users have reported difficulty with the user interface and finding certain features.
Related Read: 5 Best SAP Concur Competitors
3. GEP Smart
GEP Smart is a spend management platform that helps organizations identify cost-saving opportunities and make informed procurement decisions. It offers a range of features that make it easy to analyze spending patterns and optimize procurement strategies from end to end.
Features:
- It is a spend analysis tool that allows you to get ahead of price variations and market fluctuations.
- Predictive analytics and market-index-based forecasting.
- Centralized communication system for easier collaboration with clients and other stakeholders.
Pros:
- Customisable dashboards that make it easy to focus on specific metrics and KPIs.
Cons:
- GEP Smart is a high-end software solution, which may be cost-prohibitive for some organisations.
- While the software’s interface is user-friendly, some advanced analytics features may require training and expertise to use effectively.
Also, Read: 10 Best Expense Management Software
4. Zycus
Zycus is a procurement software suite that offers a range of modules to help organisations streamline their procurement processes and reduce costs. Its flagship product, the Zycus Procure-to-Pay (P2P) solution, is designed to automate and simplify the procurement process from requisition to payment.
Features:
- Zycus P2P automates the procurement process from requisition to payment, allowing users to streamline their workflows and reduce costs.
- Zycus Contract Management allows users to manage contracts more efficiently by reducing the risk of non-compliance.
Pros:
- Sufficient storage
- Ideal software for auditing
- Zycus Supplier Management helps organizations manage supplier relationships more effectively, reducing risk and improving supplier performance.
Cons:
- Inadequate technical advancements
- Poor customer service
- Some of the software’s more advanced features may require training and expertise to use effectively.
Recommended Read: What is Procure-to-Pay Process (P2P) Cycle?
5. SpendHQ
SpendHQ is a cloud-based spend analysis software that helps organizations optimize their procurement spend and make informed decisions. The software offers a range of features to help users analyze spending patterns and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Features:
- SpendHQ offers advanced data visualization tools that make it easy to identify spending patterns and trends.
- The software allows users to customize their dashboards to focus on specific metrics and KPIs.
- SpendHQ uses advanced algorithms to automatically categorize spend data, making it one of the best spend management solutions out there
- The software provides real-time visibility into spending patterns and trends, allowing users to identify issues and take corrective action quickly.
Pros:
- SpendHQ’s contract management capabilities help organizations manage contracts and project management more efficiently and reduce the risk of non-compliance.
Cons:
- SpendHQ does not offer robust supplier management capabilities, which could be a drawback for organizations with complex supplier relationships.
Also, Read: 9 Best Vendor Payment Management Software
6. Sievo
Sievo is a cloud-based procurement analytics software that helps organizations gain insight into their procurement spend The software offers a range of features to help users analyze spending patterns, optimize procurement strategies, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Features:
- Sievo uses advanced algorithms to automatically categorize spend data, reducing the need for manual categorization.
- The software offers advanced data visualization tools that make identifying spending patterns and trends easy.
Pros:
- Maximizes the value of contract lifecycle by combining spend data with contract management solutions.
Cons:
- Sievo is an expensive and high-end software solution
Suggested Read: 10 Best Billing Software in India
7. JAGGAER
Earlier known as SciQuest, JAGGAER offers a cloud-based procurement SaaS, majorly used by higher education and government sectors. The software provides a range of features to help users streamline procurement workflows and improve spend management.
Features:
- Its source-to-settle solution provides visibility and compliance to the process
- JAGGAER offers comprehensive spend management capabilities, including spend analysis, sourcing, and contract management.
- JAGGAER’s procure-to-pay capabilities help organizations streamline procurement processes, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
- The software’s e-sourcing feature makes it easy to create and manage RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs.
Pros:
- Robust vendor punch out capabilities
- Logical UI, which allows easy transaction entry
- JAGGAER offers strong customer support, including onboarding, training, and ongoing technical support.
Cons:
- The software has limited customization options, which could be a drawback for organizations with unique procurement needs.
- According to a user on Trustradius, Software updates are quite average
Also, Read: Strategic Procurement: Definition, Goals, and Process
8. Coupa
Coupa is a cloud-based procurement software that helps organizations manage their procurement processes, automate workflows, and improve spend management. The software offers a range of features to help users streamline procurement workflows and improve supplier relationships.
Features:
- Coupa sourcing helps conduct events, with a feature to add project briefs to the sourcing events.
- Coupa’s procure-to-pay capabilities help organizations streamline procurement processes, and reduce costs.
- The software offers advanced expense management capabilities, including travel and expense management, invoicing, and payment processing.
Pros:
- Good user experience
- Coupa offers a comprehensive set of procurement features, making it a one-stop shop for procurement needs.
- Coupa’s supplier management capabilities help reduce risk and improve supplier performance.
Cons:
- Does not support full-fledged accounting
- Does not have a project accounting suite which might pose a challenge for project-driven organizations.
Suggested Read: 9 Best Accounting Software for Small Business
9. Simfoni
Simfoni is a cloud-based procurement software that utilizes ML and AI to step up the major aspects of procurement. The software offers a range of features to help users streamline procurement workflows and improve spend management.
Features:
- Esourcing for Streamlined RFx management
- AI-enabled spend analytics solution to restructure data into actionable insights
- The software offers a mobile app that allows users to manage procurement processes on the go.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface and requires no or minimal training.
- Better visibility of organizational spending
- Easy to generate spend reports
Cons:
- Limited supplier network: Simfoni may have a limited supplier network, which could be a drawback for organizations with complex procurement needs.
- Unintuitive classification of data
Also, Read: 11 Best Online Business Payment Solutions
10. ProcurePort
Procureport is a cloud-based procurement platform that helps organizations automate their procurement processes, manage supplier relationships, and improve spend management. It integrates seamlessly with third-party ERPs and requires minimal configuration.
Features:
- Automates the entire source-to-pay procurement process.
- Procureport offers advanced analytics capabilities that help users identify areas of potential savings and optimize procurement strategies.
Pros:
- The software allows users to create custom workflows and approval processes, making it easy to tailor the software to specific business needs.
- Procureport’s interface is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, requiring minimal training.
- Procureport offers affordable pricing plans, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Cons:
- Reporting system needs improvements
Quick Read: What is Cloud ERP Software and How does it Work?
What is spend analysis software?
Spend analysis software is a type of software that helps organizations analyze their spending data to gain insights into their procurement process, identify cost-saving opportunities, and improve overall financial performance.
Spend analysis software collects data from multiple sources, such as invoices, purchase orders, and other financial documents. The software then categorizes the spending data into different categories, such as by supplier, product, or department. This allows businesses to see how much money they are spending on additional products or services and to identify areas where they may be overspending or where they can negotiate better pricing.
Once the data has been collected and categorized, spend analysis software can generate reports and visualizations to help businesses understand their spending patterns and identify areas for improvement. These reports can include information such as total spending by category, supplier, and department. The software can also help identify duplicate payments, late payments, and other errors resulting in unnecessary costs.
Spend analysis software can be especially useful for businesses with complex procurement processes, multiple locations, and large volumes of spending data. By using spend analysis software, companies can gain a better understanding.
Spend analytics vs spend analysis:
Spend analysis refers to collecting, cleansing, classifying, and analyzing procurement data to gain insights into spending patterns, identify opportunities for cost savings, and improve overall procurement performance. Spend analysis aims to provide visibility and transparency into an organization’s spending and help decision-makers make data-driven decisions.
On the other hand, Spend analytics uses data analytics tools and techniques to analyze spending data and identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for cost savings. Spend analytics involves applying statistical and machine learning techniques to large data sets to gain insights and identify opportunities for improvement.
In short, spend analysis is the process of collecting and analyzing procurement data, while spend analytics uses data analytics tools and techniques to analyze spending data.
How to choose the best spend analysis software?
Choosing the best spend analysis software can be a challenging task as there are many options available in the market.
Here are some factors to consider when selecting a spend analysis software:
1. Data integration
Ensure that the software integrates with the various data sources you use, including financial systems, procurement systems, and supplier databases. It should be able to extract data from these sources and consolidate them into a single platform for analysis.
2. Data quality
The software should be able to clean and normalize the data automatically to ensure accuracy and consistency. This is important to ensure that the insights generated from the data are reliable.
3. Customisation
Look for software that allows for customization to meet your specific business needs. It should allow you to create custom dashboards, reports, and metrics that align with your business goals.
4. Analytics capabilities
The software should have robust analytics capabilities, including data visualization, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling. It should identify trends, patterns, and anomalies in the data and provide actionable insights to help make better decisions.
5. User interface
The software should have a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and use. It should be intuitive and allow users to find the information they need quickly.
6. Support and training
Look for a software that provides adequate support and training to help you get the most out of the software. This includes access to customer support, training resources, and user communities.
7. Cost
Finally, consider the cost of the software and ensure that it fits within your budget. Look for software that provides value for money and has a transparent pricing model.
By considering these factors, you can select a spend analysis software that meets your business needs and helps you achieve your procurement goals.
Suggested Read: What is Invoice Management?
How can Happay help your business grow?
Happay can help your business grow in many ways. With Happay, your business can achieve the following:
- Improved spend visibility
- Better budget management
- Streamlined procurement process
- Enhanced supplier management
- Insights into spending patterns
By using Happay, you can gain greater control over your procurement process, optimize your spending, and drive the lifecycle of your business growth.
Bottom line
Optimizing spend management is a crucial aspect of any business, and having the right spend analysis software can make all the difference. At
Happay, we understand the importance of efficient procurement and have developed state-of-the-art expense and spend management software that helps companies to manage their expenses effectively, streamline their procurement process, and achieve their business goals.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you optimize your end-to-end spend management and achieve your procurement goals.
FAQ’s
Performing spend analysis can be boiled down to these six steps:
1. Determine the sources of information
2. Consolidate your spend data on a single database
3. Find and correct errors in transactions
4. Aggregate similar suppliers into common groups
5. Classify and categorize your spendings
6. Analyze your spend data using KPIs like savings, cost avoidance, etc
SAP spend analysis is a software tool that helps businesses analyze their spending patterns, identify opportunities to reduce costs, optimize procurement processes, and improve supplier relationships. It gives businesses a comprehensive view of their spend data, allowing them to make more informed decisions and better manage their expenses.
There are generally three types of spend analysis:
1. Basic spend analysis: This involves gathering spend data and organizing it into categories to identify the top spend categories and suppliers.
2. Advanced spend analysis: This involves analyzing spend data in more detail, including identifying trends, outliers, and opportunities for optimization.
3. Predictive spend analysis: This involves using advanced analytics techniques, such as machine learning, to forecast future spend patterns and identify potential risks or opportunities.
The benefits of the best spend analysis software include
1. Improved visibility and control over spend data
2. Identification of cost savings opportunities
3. Increased efficiency in procurement processes
4. Improved supplier management and relationships
5. Better risk management and compliance
6. Enhanced strategic sourcing capabilities.
Spend analysis is a general term that refers to the process of analyzing an organization’s spend data, while SAP spend analysis specifically refers to the spend analysis software tool provided by SAP. SAP spend analysis is designed to integrate with other SAP procurement and supply chain solutions, providing users with a more comprehensive view of their spend data and procurement processes.
Discussion about this post