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5 ways a GPO can help colleges and universities combat inflation

March 13, 2023

Colleges and universities are facing budget pressures with rising costs for goods and services, which can put a strain on their financial resources.

However, there is a solution that can help universities combat inflation and save money: Higher Education Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) like Entegra.

At Entegra, we can support university operations and procurement teams who need solutions to combat inflation. By leveraging our purchasing power, we negotiate with suppliers to secure better pricing, resulting in substantial cost savings for our clients. These savings can be allocated to other areas of the university to alleviate budgetary and financial pressures.

Higher education institutions can also access Entegra‘s Local and Direct Program, enabling universities to purchase from a wide range of local suppliers, helping to support the local economy. By sourcing products and services from local businesses, universities not only support communities but also help to reduce transportation costs and emissions.

So, how exactly can University GPOs like Entegra help combat rising prices? Here are five ways:

Purchasing power — Higher education procurement teams are able to tap into Entegra’s buying programs, which leverage over $30 billion in annual purchasing power to negotiate better prices and discounts from vendors and suppliers. This can help offset the impact of inflation on the cost of goods and services.

Food savings — Entegra helps colleges and universities save in dozens of categories, including food and beverage, supplies, services, equipment and more. Through our culinary services, we’re able to support university dining teams with menu optimization and SKU rationalization, enabling food service directors to improve efficiencies and reduce costs while keeping meals tasty and on-trend for students.

Streamlined procurement process — University GPOs like Entegra provide a streamlined procurement process for participating institutions. We help university food service teams save time and resources by accessing a pre-vetted network of vendors and suppliers, including diverse and minority-owned businesses, that offer competitive pricing and high-quality products and services.

Access to products and services — Beyond food, Entegra also provides access to a wide range of specialized products and services at deviated prices for the colleges and universities in our program. This includes technology solutions and office supplies as well as landscaping and waste management services. By accessing these specialized products and services through us, universities can benefit from economies of scale and reduced costs.

Improved budget management — Education procurement partners like Entegra can help higher education institutions to manage costs better by providing lower pricing, cost savings and the full support of our procurement experts. This means that universities can better forecast their expenses and allocate their resources more effectively, navigating supply chain challenges and rising costs.