TL;DR: Why Small Teams Are Going Big with Procurement Automation
- In 2025, many public procurement teams have only 1–3 staff members, yet expectations continue to rise.
- These small teams are leveraging procurement automation to scale capacity, reduce burnout, and increase impact.
- Manual procurement processes waste time and money—on average, projects take 87–138 hours and cost thousands to execute.
- Automation helps streamline intake, sourcing, contracting, purchasing, and invoicing—freeing teams to focus on strategic goals.
- Full-cycle digital procurement tools save agencies an average of $34K+ per project, reduce late payments, and enable proactive spend control.
- Procurement automation empowers small teams to punch above their weight and deliver better results for their communities.
The Reality of Small Procurement Teams
In cities, school districts, and public agencies across North America, many procurement teams are incredibly lean. In fact, according to the 2025 State of Public Procurement report, the majority of agencies operate with just 1 to 3 professionals managing intake, sourcing, contracting, and invoicing—often across multiple departments.
Despite these tight teams, expectations keep growing. These procurement professionals are expected to drive savings, meet compliance requirements, onboard suppliers, and respond to urgent requests, all without burning out. It’s a high-stakes balancing act. And manual processes only make things harder.
Manual Procurement: Heavy Lift, Hidden Costs
Let’s break it down:
- The average procurement project takes 87.1 hours to complete, according to National Cooperative Procurement Partners.
- Complex projects can take 138.7 hours—that’s more than 3 full work weeks.
- Even routine projects consume nearly 43 hours.
That’s time procurement teams don’t have, especially when operating with such limited headcount.
Manual workflows also carry a hidden price tag:
- Purchase orders cost $100 each, on average, according to the American Productivity & Quality Center.
- Contract creation costs can range from $7,000 to $50,000, depending on complexity, according to Procurement Tactics data.
The result? Teams are overwhelmed, timelines stretch, and dollars are lost to inefficiencies.
Enter Procurement Automation: The Force Multiplier
Procurement automation is giving small teams a new way to scale their impact.
Digital tools eliminate redundant tasks and enable staff to spend more time on strategy, compliance, and collaboration. From intake forms that route requests automatically, to contract templates that reduce review cycles, automation is transforming how procurement gets done.
The outcomes speak for themselves:
- Agencies using Euna Procurement’s full-cycle platform save an average of $34,761.72 per project through more efficient sourcing, contracting, and supplier management.
- Teams report faster turnaround times, better supplier collaboration, and fewer late payments.
- With tools like AI-powered cart optimization and marketplace insights, even small teams can make data-driven purchasing decisions at the point of need—not weeks later.
Real Results from Real Agencies
At Arlington ISD, automation helped their procurement team achieve 100% full-cycle automation, cutting timelines and leveraging AI to identify savings opportunities during shopping.
Chicago Public Schools used Euna’s AI-powered Savings Advisor to save over $1.7M, simply by identifying better-value products before POs were issued.
These stories prove that the right tools give small teams the ability to operate like large ones.
The Emotional Payoff: Less Stress, More Impact
Automation isn’t just about speed and savings; it’s about people. It’s about helping dedicated public servants avoid burnout, reduce stress, and focus on work that matters.
Imagine getting hours back in your week. Imagine fewer fire drills. Imagine walking into leadership meetings with data that proves your impact.
That’s the power of procurement automation.
Want to See the Full Picture?
The 2025 State of Public Procurement report reveals how small teams across North America are using technology to thrive in an era of economic volatility, staffing shortages, and rising expectations.
📥 Download the full report now.
FAQ: Procurement Automation for Small Teams
What is procurement automation?
Procurement automation refers to using digital tools to streamline sourcing, contracting, purchasing, and invoicing—reducing manual effort and improving efficiency.
Is procurement automation only for large agencies?
Not at all. Small teams gain just as much value from automation because it helps them scale their capacity and eliminate low-value tasks.
What’s the ROI of procurement automation?
Agencies using full-cycle platforms like Euna Procurement report average savings of $34K+ per project, along with reduced cycle times and improved compliance.
