From fragmented category approaches to one transparent, KPI-driven category management system

Supporting a national public-transport organization in strengthening category structures, governance, strategy logic, KPI steering and enablement across the procurement organization.

Ambition & Objectives

From category concepts to one practical management system for strategies, levers, KPIs and enablement.

The client aimed to further develop an established category-management approach towards stronger cross-divisional collaboration, a clearer category hierarchy, greater transparency on optimization levers and potential, systematic KPI-based performance steering and broader organizational mobilization.

Project overview / Approach

01 · Assess

Review category structures, existing methods, strategy maturity and KPI needs.

Explore phase →

02 · Structure

Support category hierarchy, strategic roadmap, handbook and portfolio logic.

Explore phase →

03 · Design

Develop pilots, category strategy days and practical concept elements.

Explore phase →

04 · Steer

Define KPI cockpit logic for Category Managers, competence center and boards.

Explore phase →

05 · Enable

Build refresh training, tools, best-practice exchange and mobilization rhythm.

Explore phase →

Impact & Results

The work supported the evolution of category management from individual methods and historical initiatives into a coherent steering approach: clearer category logic, stronger strategy quality, KPI transparency, pilot mobilization and practical refresh training for the procurement community.

Category structure: Market-internal review and support for Level 1/2 category structuring
Strategy & roadmap: Inputs to strategic category roadmap, handbook and improvement logic
KPI cockpit: Steering concepts for Category Managers, competence center and boards
Pilots & governance: Conceptual support for pilots, strategy days and decision formats
Training & mobilization: Refresh training, best practices, methods and tools transfer

Client Voice

“The strategic expansion of our commodity group management is a top priority for us. With the support of Carsten Vollrath and his team, we were able to realize important steps in expanding our methodological expertise and in deriving commodity group-specific optimization levers and sustainable procurement strategies.”