Introducing Procurement Transformation at UVA

Modernizing our Procurement Function

At UVA, procurement is more than purchasing goods and services; it’s a vital part of advancing our mission in education, research, and healthcare. To better serve that mission, we’ve launched Procurement Transformation, a strategic realignment to create a smarter, more connected procurement ecosystem.

This initiative is about more than just technology. It’s about reducing manual processes, increasing transparency, and creating a seamless experience for both our colleagues across Grounds and suppliers. By modernizing how UVA sources, contracts, and partners with suppliers, we unlock time and resources that can be directed to advancing the University’s mission.

Our Goal

This transformation positions Procurement Services as a trusted partner across Grounds. We aim to deliver a seamless procurement journey, from sourcing to payment. Through updates to our team structure, technology, and end-to-end processes, we’re setting UVA procurement up for long-term success and resiliency.

What’s Happening Now

Procurement Transformation preparatory work has been underway this summer:

• Team updates: Procurement Services has a new structure, with team members stepping into new roles to better support UVA’s buying needs.  Read more about the team changes
• Infrequent Payee Pilot: We’ve launched a pilot process to simplify how occasional or one-time payees are managed. Once complete, we’ll share the results with finance partners across Grounds. 
• Technology improvements: Workday Strategic Sourcing is next on the horizon, with guided buying and supplier onboarding coming soon. The project team is looking forward to continuing to engage with our partners across Grounds as we make progress on this next phase of transformation.  
• Website launch: A new website is underway to provide a one-stop hub for project details, resources, and updates. 

Looking Ahead

We recognize that change can raise questions, especially with many initiatives happening across UVA. The goal of Procurement Transformation is simple: to improve the procurement process from start to finish and leverage UVA’s buying power more effectively. 

This is about creating a procurement experience that is modern, people-centered, and mission-driven. We’ll share updates regularly as the project progresses this fall and winter, and we invite you to join us on this journey toward a smarter, more connected UVA procurement future.