Strategic control in services procurement restored 

Fragmented processes and rising costs

A leading European media organisation faced growing pressure in services procurement.

Operating across Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Norway, each business unit managed services procurement activity independently. Workflows were fragmented, visibility was limited, and spend continued to rise. Without standard oversight, supplier selection and tender management varied widely. Duplication increased, pricing drifted, and opportunities to reduce costs were lost. Leadership also lacked the insight required to track spend or forecast future needs; a critical gap as budgets tightened. The organisation required a unified, transparent approach to restore control and unlock measurable gains.

Standardisation and intelligent reporting

Pontoon delivered a structured model that shifted client's services procurement from reactive activity to strategic control. We deployed the SOW module within the VMS, supported by a Power BI dashboard delivering real time reporting. This became a full process redesign. We standardised tendering through a preferred supplier list, introduced managed selection workflows, and supported each stage of the RFP and SOW lifecycle — from drafting and approvals to payment oversight. By combining automation with governance, the organisation gained the clarity required to take data driven decisions and reduce inefficiencies.

Visibility restored. Savings unlocked. 

Since launch, Pontoon has managed more than 1,000 SOWs, with €130 million tracked, and now oversees over 90 active SOWs representing €12 million in spend. Improved pricing discipline and stronger supplier management have delivered 5% annual cost savings. The organisation now benefits from full visibility across all services procurement activity, enabling smarter resource allocation, stronger compliance, a stable foundation for future growth.