Compare Biotech Procurement Solutions - Features, Fit, and Red Flags | Blog | ZAGENO

Choosing the right biotech procurement solution for your organization isn’t easy. Between marketplace tools, punchout catalogs, P2P systems, ERP-native modules, and specialized platforms like ZAGENO, the options can blur together quickly.

In this article, we break down the most common types of procurement tools used in biotech and life sciences. We’ll show you what to prioritize, what to question, and where the real differences emerge, especially when it comes to integration, usability, supplier access, and support.

Common types of procurement solutions

Before comparing features and platforms, it's important to understand the different types of procurement solutions available. Each category brings its own strengths and limitations when applied to the fast-moving, compliance-sensitive world of biotech.

Procurement solutions compared

Now that we’ve defined the major types of procurement solutions, here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you evaluate how they stack up across the areas that matter most to biotech organizations.

How ZAGENO works with (or without) other systems

ZAGENO is designed to flex around your existing procurement tech stack. Whether you’re using punchout catalogs, an ERP procurement module, or a full-scale P2P platform, ZAGENO can act as your lab-facing layer while syncing cleanly with back-end systems.

• Using punchouts? ZAGENO consolidates all suppliers into one meta-search and cart, eliminating the need to toggle between vendor-specific punchouts.
• Using ERP modules? ZAGENO plugs into platforms like SAP and Oracle to extend functionality to the lab without disrupting financial workflows.
• Running a P2P system? ZAGENO supports native integration to feed POs, invoices, and approval logic directly into your P2P workflows.
• No system in place yet? ZAGENO can serve as your standalone procurement hub, bringing structure and control without the cost or complexity of a full ERP.

Whether you need a turnkey solution or a modular upgrade to what you already use, ZAGENO brings flexibility and focus to biotech procurement.

Why biotech teams choose ZAGENO

ZAGENO was designed specifically for life sciences. That means everything from the vast supplier catalog to approval routing was built with your workflows in mind. Labs get a familiar, searchable interface. Finance and procurement get integration, control, and compliance.

ZAGENO also helps leading biotech teams overcome common procurement bottlenecks, whether they're scaling operations, relocating labs, or simply optimizing day-to-day lab purchasing.

Here are a few real-world outcomes:

• A biotech incubator saved $1.3M in labor costs by consolidating procurement with ZAGENO
• One team achieved 91% automation in lab supply ordering, avoiding $132K in costs
• A small biotech increased supply orders by 545% while saving 2,900 hours

And because it’s a true SaaS platform with hands-on support, ZAGENO can scale with you, without overloading IT.