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Tail Spend and Low Value Purchase Management

The long tail of small, one off purchases often accounts for a large share of suppliers and transactions while receiving almost no procurement attention. This course helps African organisations bring order to tail spend through catalogues, purchasing cards, consolidation and light touch controls that free buyers to focus on strategic categories. Delegates learn to reduce transaction cost without smothering the business in red tape.

What you will be able to do

  • Analyse tail spend to reveal fragmented suppliers and transactions.
  • Select the right buying channels for low value, high frequency purchases.
  • Design catalogues, purchasing cards and self service ordering controls.
  • Consolidate suppliers and rationalise the tail without disrupting users.
  • Apply proportionate approval and compliance controls to small purchases.
  • Measure transaction cost and track tail spend reduction over time.

Course outline

  1. 01Understanding the Tail of Procurement Spend
  2. 02Analysing Suppliers and Transaction Volumes
  3. 03Buying Channels for Low Value Purchases
  4. 04Catalogues, Cards and Self Service Ordering
  5. 05Supplier Consolidation and Rationalisation
  6. 06Proportionate Controls and Compliance
  7. 07Measuring Transaction Cost and Savings

Who should attend

This course suits procurement officers, category managers and accounts payable staff seeking to control the cost and risk hidden in small value purchasing.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendar
17 to 18 Aug 2026Johannesburg2R10,000
31 Aug to 1 Sep 2026Mauritius2US$1,100
7 to 8 Sep 2026Dubai2US$1,100
14 to 15 Sep 2026Lagos2US$1,100
21 to 22 Sep 2026Harare2US$1,100
28 to 29 Sep 2026Kampala2US$1,100
5 to 6 Oct 2026Dar es Salaam2US$1,100
12 to 13 Oct 2026Pretoria2R10,000
19 to 20 Oct 2026Cape Town2R10,000
2 to 3 Nov 2026Online2US$900
9 to 10 Nov 2026Mozambique2US$1,100
16 to 17 Nov 2026Cairo2US$1,100
23 to 24 Nov 2026Accra2US$1,100
30 Nov to 1 Dec 2026Lusaka2US$1,100
7 to 8 Dec 2026Kigali2US$1,100
14 to 15 Dec 2026Nairobi2US$1,100
21 to 22 Dec 2026Durban2R10,000

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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