How to Get the Most Out of Your GPO Membership
WHAT'S INSIDE:
- A GPO is a supplement to your procurement strategy — not a replacement for it
- SMBs and lean teams typically see the most immediate impact from GPO membership
- Even large enterprises benefit from GPOs in indirect spend and tail spend categories
- Una membership is always free with no contracts, no exclusivities, and no minimums
- The savings process moves from discovery call → cost analysis → supplier connection in days to weeks
- Member Experience provides ongoing support, regular check-ins, and continuous savings identification
Is a GPO Right for Your Business?
Some organizations, both large and small, operate haphazardly when it comes to purchasing and spend management. Processes are nonexistent, spend is out of control, and there is no trust amongst suppliers, leaving supply chains at risk. Companies are increasingly recognizing just how necessary it is to establish a comprehensive procurement program to streamline the way they purchase.
Could you build a holistic sourcing strategy on your own? Absolutely. But it takes time, you may face resistance from internal stakeholders, and you may feel pressure to deliver immediate savings. There's something to be said for breaking down the process and bringing in additional resources.
GET STARTED
Join for free and access over 2,500 pre-negotiated contracts and work with a real team to provide savings and value.
Here are the three questions to ask yourself when deciding whether a GPO is the right move:
01
How big is my procurement team?
Is procurement a one-person function or are there a handful of people who can help put a plan into action? Team capacity determines the speed at which you operate and the outcomes you're able to achieve. A GPO gives you access to more people and more expertise, effectively extending your team without adding headcount.
02
As an SMB, how can I save more when my spend volume is limited?
Small and medium-sized businesses are most likely to see significant savings through a GPO. The organization leverages the collective buying power of all its members to negotiate pricing with suppliers so SMBs purchase the goods they already need while accessing volume pricing they could never reach on their own.
03
As a large corporation, wouldn't we be better off negotiating directly?
For direct spend or highly strategic categories, possibly yes. But for indirect spend and tail spend categories, a GPO consistently delivers value even for enterprises. Adding a GPO to the mix — even for a single category — frees internal resources to focus on supplier relationship development and the top 20% of strategic categories where in-house expertise has the most impact.
The GPO's Role in Your Procurement Strategy
Any group purchasing organization you work with should come alongside and complement your existing sourcing strategy as a true partner — not compete with it or replace it. Group purchasing isn't the end-all-be-all and your GPO should know that.
At Una, we advocate for a comprehensive procurement strategy that incorporates a number of different sourcing options depending on your current structure, short-term challenges, and long-term objectives. The GPO's main goal is to provide immediate value to non-strategic spend, then over time look for additional ways to add value in reporting, data transparency, supplier accountability, and new categories.
"The right GPO understands that they are a supplement and that they want to come alongside their C-Suite strategy."
In practical terms: adding a GPO helps you create a well-rounded procurement function while getting assistance with strategy, contract negotiation, and supplier relationship management.
Your time is freed to focus on the categories and relationships that require your deepest expertise.
The Una Difference
Not all group purchasing organizations are created equal. In an industry focused on numbers and contracts, it's easy to get lost in the business of group purchasing. Una has built a team with the experience and skill to excel in this business, coupled with the passion and purpose to delight members and provide genuine value. Una is value-driven, member-centric, partner-focused, and committed to educating, advising, and enabling businesses to achieve savings.
Here are the ten differentiating products and services available to Una members:
Free Membership
Membership is always free to join and free to use. Every time you purchase through Una contracts, the supplier pays an administration fee. Una uses that fee to finance its services, keeping membership permanently free for members.
No Membership Contracts or Exclusivities
Una does not require members to purchase from specific suppliers or commit to a specified purchase volume. Unlike some larger GPOs, Una membership is free of contracts and exclusivities. Members pick and choose suppliers that best suit their needs and remain in full control.
Dedicated Account Managers
Members receive a dedicated account representative and customer experience manager that are both focused on building a strong relationship and providing white-glove service. Una's supplier relationships also give members access to account managers and national account directors at each preferred supplier.
Technology Compatibility
Una works with any procurement technology — all P2P tools, accounting platforms, and analytics tools. Una can help regardless of technical complexity, and is even ready to work with organizations that have no existing procurement tools in place.
Personalized Consulting
Una's team helps identify blind spots in spend visibility, reviews how purchasing is currently set up, and pinpoints the areas where savings are available. Experience guiding thousands of organizations enables Una to find opportunities that would take internal teams months to surface alone.
Defining Success Together
From day one, Una commits to determining what success looks like for each member ensuring both parties are aligned on goals, timelines, and clear expectations before purchasing begins. Success is defined on the member's terms, not the GPO's.
Education
There is often a gap in understanding what a GPO is and how it saves money. Una closes that gap from the first interaction by explaining who they are, what they do, how they make money, and their strengths so members know exactly what they're entering into.
Spend Analytics & Reporting
Beyond a preliminary analysis, Una works closely with members to understand spend categories, current suppliers, budget, and spend history then presents a strategic plan unique to their needs. Analytics and reporting are complimentary, with no additional fees.
2,500+ Unique Contract Offerings
Over 2,500 contracts available across indirect spend categories. If Una doesn't have a contract for a needed category, Una likely has a network connection and will actively pursue that contract on the member's behalf.
Speed to Service & Responsiveness
Una's "keep it moving" mentality means Sourcing Advisors respond personally within 24 hours of any inquiry unlike some larger GPOs where requests go unanswered for days. Tools and processes are in place specifically to remove bottlenecks and accelerate member results.
The Savings Process
Una is a sourcing accelerator on a mission to increase organizations' profitability using group purchasing. The next three stages outline exactly what to expect after signing up, from first conversation to actively saving on pre-negotiated pricing.
01
Discovery Call
After expressing initial interest, the first step is a 30-minute discovery call with a Senior Sourcing Advisor. Think of it as a two-way interview — both parties determine whether there's potential for a good fit before any commitment is made.
WHAT UNA WILL ASK
- What are your goals and problems to solve?
- Which categories are you looking to address?
- What does your current spend look like?
- What does success look like for you?
WHAT TO PREPARE
Be ready to gather historical spend data to bring to the cost analysis. Una sets the timeline and identifies potential savings opportunities during this call — the cleaner your data, the faster the next step moves.
02
Cost Analysis
Una's Sourcing Advisors work with you to conduct a cost analysis one category at a time. This is where Una rises above other solutions, taking over the time and effort typically spent sourcing in-house or through a consultant.
HOW IT WORKS
WHERE TO START
03
Supplier Connection
Una's pre-negotiated contracts are already in place. The vetting and negotiation has been done. Based on information from your discovery call and cost analysis, Sourcing Advisors walk you through the supplier catalog and recommend those best suited to your needs.
WHAT UNA HANDLES
TIMELINE
Ongoing Support: Member Experience
After working with Sourcing Advisors to connect to initial savings, members are introduced to Una's Member Experience team which is the department dedicated to ensuring positive experiences, ongoing savings, and continued success throughout the membership.
Regular Check-ins & Reviews
Member Experience conducts regular check-ins to ensure members have what they need and to identify additional savings opportunities. Quarterly or annual reviews keep a pulse on spend and contract utilization making sure members aren't leaving money on the table.
Supplier Issue Resolution
Member Experience acts as the member's touchpoint for all customer service and support while working with Una's suppliers, communicating directly with the supplier on the member's behalf to resolve any issues quickly.
Year-End Spending Reports
Annual reports give members clear visibility into what they purchased, when they purchased it, and which supplier contracts were utilized providing the data needed to make informed decisions for the year ahead.
Performance Surveys
Regular performance surveys collect feedback to provide insight into how Una can improve its processes to better serve members ensuring the relationship continuously evolves to meet member needs.
Referral Program
Members earn a bonus for referring other organizations to Una. As an added thank you, new members also receive a welcome bonus after their first qualifying purchase. Ask your Member Experience representative for terms and conditions.
Starting With One Category
Una advises starting with a single category to prove the process works and to demonstrate savings before expanding. After that, members decide whether to continue working through additional categories.
A group purchasing organization levels the playing field so any-sized business can buy like the big corporations especially in indirect spend categories.
Ready to Start Saving Money, Time & Effort?
Join Una today. Membership is always free and there are never any contracts, purchasing requirements or exclusivities.