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Lab Pulse | Procurement Playbook

6 Reasons Why Generic Procurement Tools Don’t Work for Biotech

by ZAGENO
 | 8 min read

You wouldn’t use a general business CRM to manage clinical trials. So why are so many biotech companies still trying to fit generic procurement tools into specialized R&D workflows?

While procurement systems designed for other industries might check the boxes for basic sourcing or finance workflows, they often fall short in research-driven environments. Labs, after all, are sourcing way more than standard office supplies. They’re procuring antibodies, reagents, specialized chemicals, and scientific equipment from niche suppliers with unpredictable lead times and backorder risks.

Here’s why biotech teams often struggle with generic procurement tools, and why specialized biotech procurement tools are essential.

6 reasons generic procurement tools don’t work for biotech

1

SKU complexity overwhelms basic systems. Biotech R&D teams deal with millions of highly specialized SKUs, each with unique shelf lives, storage requirements, and use cases. Generic procurement tools weren’t built for this kind of complexity.

ZAGENO is. Our platform offers over 40 million SKUs from 5,300+ scientific suppliers, with intuitive search and comparison tools that are actually usable for scientists.

Explore how ZAGENO’s biotech procurement platform supports SKU complexity

2

Decentralized teams with centralized procurement needs. In biotech, research labs are decentralized but budgets, audits, and compliance are not. Generic procurement tools often fail to accommodate workflows where scientists across different research sites need to follow consistent processes and share vendor insights.

ZAGENO supports smart approval routing, real-time budget visibility, and centralized control across labs, maintaining compliance without compromising lab autonomy.

Explore the benefits of a centralized procurement process

3

Backorders and delivery delays are the norm, not the exceptions. Backorders, substitutes, and partial shipments are all too common in R&D procurement. Generic tools often leave these issues for lab managers to manually resolve with vendors.

ZAGENO actively manages things like order updates, substitutions, and supplier communications. Lab teams stay focused on science while we handle the logistics.

Meet ZAGENO’s lab supply purchasing problem solvers

4

Generic procurement software often creates more work. Many general-purpose tools require IT to create workarounds or custom reports just to meet basic procurement needs. That defeats the purpose.

ZAGENO is SaaS-based platform with built-in integrations to ERP and P2P systems, seamlessly connecting with SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Coupa, and more.

Learn more about ZAGENO's ERP and P2P integrations

5

Scientists shouldn’t need to become procurement experts. Generic tools often force scientists to become procurement experts just to get what they need. Poor interfaces, fragmented catalogs, and manual entry slow them down.

ZAGENO gives scientists a familiar, consumer-like experience. Side-by-side product comparisons, real-time availability, service-level agreement information, and one-cart checkout help streamline sourcing while still aligning with internal policies.

Learn more: Choosing the Right Biotech Procurement Solution: 7 Questions to Ask

6

Procure-to-pay (P2P) systems alone aren’t enough for biotech. While P2P platforms offer strong foundational procurement capabilities, they often lack flexibility and product depth needed for biotech lab supply.

ZAGENO complements existing P2P systems. By layering on top of platforms like Coupa, SAP, or NetSuite, ZAGENO expands product access, improves flexibility, and offers real-time updates without sacrificing control. Labs get the tools they need to stay agile, while finance and procurement maintain policy alignment and visibility.

Read more: Procure-to-Pay (P2P) is not a Silver Bullet for R&D Lab Supplies

Biotech requires purpose-built procurement tools

If your team is constantly struggling with your generic procurement tool, it’s time to reconsider your platform.

Industry experts agree: as biotech companies evolve, procurement needs to move beyond cost-cutting to become a driver of value and speed. In a recent Business of Biotech episode titled “Proactive Procurement Strategies For Biotech With Tom Wells", the discussion outlines the importance of aligning procurement with innovation and operational agility, something generic tools struggle to support.

Biotech workflows demand specialized solutions. The stakes are higher, the purchasing landscape more complex, and the pace of research too important to be slowed down by systems that weren’t designed for you.

ZAGENO is built for this.

1

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