Procurement orchestration is a game-changing strategy.
Powered by cutting-edge orchestration platforms, it harmonises automated business processes across teams and seamlessly integrates with existing systems. It’s the secret sauce for streamlining all procurement-related activities, wrapping around an organisation’s current infrastructure while catering to the diverse working styles and preferences of employees.
Unlike traditional tech solutions that simply pile onto an organisation’s existing stack, orchestration transforms how companies leverage their unique blend of people, data, and technology. Its true promise? Empowering internal shared service teams to take full control of the tools they use, breaking free from outdated, restrictive tech models. Legacy systems often isolate procurement functions, creating operational silos that slow down response times and hinder alignment with stakeholders.
Orchestration not only modernises procurement processes but also simplifies user experience. Gone are the days of drowning in unnecessary technology or forcing employees to adapt to clunky systems. Orchestration flips the script, making technology work for teams—not the other way around. It dissolves the silos that typically isolate working environments, creating a fluid ecosystem where stakeholders no longer need to log into ERP or P2P platforms just to submit or approve requests.
One of the most compelling aspects of orchestration is its adaptability. Orchestration layers can be implemented over existing infrastructure, enabling organisations to leverage their current investments while enhancing overall capabilities. Procurement orchestration doesn’t just connect systems; it connects people, innovation, and efficiency—unlocking a smarter, more collaborative way to work.
The journey to ORO Labs
ORO Labs is the procurement orchestration platform for modern companies. It is on a mission to make processes better, faster and more agile in procurement and supply chain. ORO offers self-driving workflows which enable more efficient, collaborative, compliant purchasing with a personalised user experience and smarter decision-making.
Dharani Jeyaprakasam is a Solution Design Architect at ORO Labs. Having previously served 17 years at IBM in a variety of roles, Jeyaprakasam joined ORO Labs after feeling dejected about whether orchestration mattered to the world. After speaking with CEO and founder Sudhir Bhojwani, she realised she wanted to join the journey. “I was just blown away by the passion that Sudhir showed. This is especially when it comes to the problems we were trying to solve,” explains Jeyaprakasam. “There was this honest person trying to give me the same information that I felt myself. He was honest and accepting that there is a flaw in the product and that is what we’re trying to fix. And that honesty was the real attracting factor for me.”
Shared Vision
Sabih Rozales is also a Solution Design Architect at ORO Labs. He explains that what brings employees within ORO together is having a shared vision to a common goal. For Rozales, he served 14 years at Vodafone prior to ORO Labs and it was the idea of discovering a simplified way of orchestration that convinced him about the career switch.
“I was really enjoying the orchestration journey because it was allowing us to build what we want rather than be framed from the solutions that we get from the market,” he discusses. “I questioned whether there was a better way of doing it and how we brought AI and intelligence into it too. After meeting with the founders of ORO and I was really impressed with what they have already built and their passion for the future and the roadmap ahead. It was quite an instant decision to leave after 15 years in a great company such as Vodafone and move to become part of a solution provider.”
Drawing on Experience
Both Jeyaprakasam and Rozales were involved in building custom orchestration solutions prior to the recent explosion of procurement orchestration tools which have provided them a front-row seat to recent transformation. “When I started in procurement, we used a tool called IBM Lotus Notes 20 years ago,” explains Rozales. “While it wasn’t officially an orchestration tool, it could handle various processes, like configuring workflows for expenses or procurement requests. However, as SaaS solutions emerged, we had to adapt our processes to fit their limitations, making procurement less user-friendly.”
Jeyaprakasam believes that one major challenge with building custom solutions is integration. She explains that connecting to various applications becomes a significant hurdle, especially when dealing with legacy systems like financial ERPs. “Developing in-house solutions often requires technical resources and results in a complex system architecture,” she explains. “For example, it once took us five months just to figure out integrations. This was because we lacked the necessary expertise for older systems. In my view, solving technology complexity is much harder than addressing process complexity.
Overcoming Disruption
“Custom-built products often become too technology-heavy, making updates and changes difficult. This is why I appreciate solutions that are easy to integrate. As a non-technical person with a process-focused background, I can explore and work with technology but can’t sit back and build codes. Yet, I was able to build processes within weeks at ORO Labs because the system is so user-friendly. Integrations that I once thought would take weeks now only take days. My biggest takeaway is that companies often overcomplicate their technology stack instead of buying off the shelf and putting it in.”
Reflecting on past experiences, Jeyaprakasam reveals that her team could have achieved significantly more with the correct tools. Jeyaprakasam explains that the supplier onboarding and intake processes she worked on at IBM were complicated by differences in categories and countries. “The tools we used often required technical expertise, so non-technical users like me couldn’t make changes on our own,” she tells us. “Even a small tweak, like changing a button from ‘Yes’ to ‘Approve’ had to go through the CIO or technology team. This meant long queues, multiple reviews, and a frustratingly slow process. With the tool I’m using now, I can easily make changes myself. If we had access to something like this back then, it would have made a huge difference. I’m sure IBM users would have been much happier.”
Transformational Tech
Rozales explains that ORO Labs technology is a game-changer because it breaks down silos and allows for better collaboration. According to Rozales, in previous projects he has been involved in, there was always a separation between the applications used by end-users and where processes, rules, and forms were set up. “With ORO, I feel like we’re creating a completely different experience,” he tells us. “Now, I can see what’s happening, understand what triggers what, and even share ideas to improve how things are prepared for customers. This transparency not only boosts confidence but also makes me feel like I’m part of the process. Customers, too, can see what’s going on and contribute ideas, like suggesting a question to add or changing the sequence of steps.”
In today’s world, businesses require different things than they did 20 years ago. Indeed, the procurement function has undergone a seismic technology transformation and the impossible is now possible due to an acceleration of next-generation digital tools. “The procurement tech industry has significantly evolved over the last decade, with many new solutions emerging, particularly for purchasing,” discusses Rozales. “One big challenge has been tying these solutions together. For example, whether someone is buying pencils, making a donation, or managing a large implementation project, they might need different tools and systems. But how do people know which tool to use or how to raise the right request?
“As systems became more complex, the lack of an orchestration solution made things harder. Whenever a new solution was introduced, there was always hesitation around whether this would make things even more complicated, or will it help business users easily find what they need. I think that’s one of the main problems that was holding organisations back as the cost is not just the implementation cost but also the price of bringing innovation to the organisation. I think that was too high.”
Unlocking Value
Despite still being relatively new within ORO Labs, Jeyaprakasam explains that the organisation provides a ‘family feel’ offering a great support system that truly makes a difference. “Coming from a well-established corporate career, there’s a safety net if things go wrong,” she tells us. “But here, everyone genuinely wants you to succeed, and that teamwork has been invaluable. Whenever I face a challenge, I just share it with the team, and within minutes, several people step up to help brainstorm solutions.
“The clients I’m working with are really seeing the value of orchestration. Some are in the POC stage, while others are already implementing ORO. What’s exciting is how much they trust us—not just to provide the tool but to guide them on their overall procurement processes. They look to us for advice on things like thresholds, process optimisation, and best practices, often asking, ‘Are we doing this right? What does the industry do?’ This trust and collaboration are significant wins for us. It’s not just about technology; it’s about becoming partners in shaping their procurement strategy. Seeing this play out in our current implementations has been incredibly rewarding.”
Future Focused
Looking ahead, Rozales is full of optimism about what the future of procurement looks like. He places particular emphasis on how ORO Labs can play its part in driving the function forward.
“ORO has become a strong, reliable solution that helps organisations effectively manage their needs,” explains Rozales. “Like everything else in life, ORO continues to evolve in positive ways. As new technologies emerge, they will likely become part of ORO’s orchestration capabilities. One of ORO’s key strengths is its simplicity. Users don’t need to worry about which tools they need to raise or track a request—ORO provides everything in one place. Looking ahead, I imagine a future where users might even interact with ORO through voice commands, similar to how we speak to some solutions today. This could mean using ORO not just on laptops or devices but having it act as a digital procurement assistant. Although this isn’t currently a roadmap feature, it’s exciting to think about ORO becoming more than just a tool—transforming into a true partner for its users.”
ORO Difference
Jeyaprakasam adds that where ORO is set to thrive in the market is by offering companies the potential to transform the way they manage their technology ecosystems. “Humanising the experience is exactly what we’re aiming for,” she says. “ORO is a highly procurement-focused product designed to address the specific challenges procurement teams face. Procurement is far from simple, and many companies struggle with issues like fraud and compliance violations, often resulting in costly fines.
“That’s where ORO stands out—it can become an essential part of a company’s DNA. By integrating seamlessly into their procurement processes, ORO helps organisations enforce checks and balances, ensuring compliance and reducing risks. This not only simplifies operations but also saves companies significant amounts of money by preventing compliance issues and potential lawsuits. That’s the exciting future we see for ORO—being the backbone of procurement technology.
“At a high level, I see ORO as becoming the DNA that connects all technologies together. The market is enormous, and many organisations aren’t even aware of orchestration. Some clients have 50 to 60 systems in place and struggle to manage them, leading to significant technology investments. With ORO, they could potentially simplify everything by eliminating unnecessary legacy systems. This one tool can streamline their operations and reduce complexity. That’s what excites me most about the future.”
