Looking for Feedback on My IT Procurement Idea
Asked by
CuriousPeanut89
Hey everyone! I just started at a new company this week, and my IT manager asked me to find some hardware on Amazon, compile it into a spreadsheet, and send it back to him so he could place the orders. I spent a couple of hours researching monitors, keyboards, and mice to get that done.
This got me thinking: what if there was a way for the IT manager to send me a unique, secure link with a budget (like $500) that expires in 48 hours? I could then choose the products I want directly from Amazon, enter my address, and get everything shipped to me. It kind of feels like a more convenient version of DocSend for purchasing.
Is this kind of system available? If not, do you think companies would actually pay for something like this? I really believe it could save IT teams a lot of time every week and eliminate the need for this long spreadsheet process.
Answers
Privacy.com allows you to share cards with preset amounts and timeline limits, which closely aligns with your idea. It’s not perfect, but it might suit your needs!
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In my experience, most companies have a standard setup: you get specific equipment pre-approved by your organization, like a laptop and peripherals, and it’s all managed without much fuss from the team. But I guess it varies!
CuriousPeanut89: It's a smaller org for me. They let us choose most of the IT stuff, maybe that’s unique to my new workplace.
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I know some companies use a system where they share an Amazon wishlist. You can add items you want, share the list, and then someone else buys it for you. It's not exactly what you have in mind, but it could work.
CuriousPeanut89: Have you ever used that? I’ve not heard much about it.
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That sounds a lot like using an Amazon Business account, where admins can set spending limits for different users in the organization. It could streamline your process quite a bit if that's an option!
CuriousPeanut89: Can they actually send me a unique link with a budget and a list of products to choose from?
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What you're describing is somewhat similar to pre-approved product lists. Some companies use these, so you just pick what you need directly off that list without needing to worry about links or anything like that. It definitely simplifies things!
CuriousPeanut89: Would that be a link from a VAR like SHI or CDW?
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CuriousPeanut89: Wow, I didn't know this was a possibility! I’ll definitely check it out, thanks!