Why your colleagues pay less for the same thing

It’s not a negotiation problem. It’s a visibility problem.

By Jeppe Jørgensen, Founder — Onpoint

How it happens

Two teams buy the same thing.

  • Same supplier
  • Same product
  • Different price

No coordination.

No shared data.

One team renegotiates.

Another doesn’t.

One keeps an old price.

Another accepts a new one.

No one knows.

Why this keeps happening

  • Invoices are isolated Each team only sees their own.
  • No shared price reference No one knows what others paid.
  • Decisions happen locally Every team solves it their own way.

So the same purchase ends up at different prices - across the company.

What changes when Prices are visible

Bring invoice data together.

Now you can:

  • see what others paid
  • compare suppliers instantly
  • spot inconsistencies

Price stops being hidden.

And starts being managed.

Start with what you already have

You don’t need a new system.

Start with your invoices:

  • upload what you have
  • compare across teams
  • find the same items

That’s enough to uncover:

  • price gaps
  • missed savings
  • inconsistent buying

What this means

  • A clear "best known price"
  • Fewer accidental overpayments
  • Better negotiations - based on facts

Summary

  • The same items are often bought at different prices
  • Not by choice - but by lack of visibility
  • The data already exists
  • Once visible, the problem disappears

Frequently asked questions

How common is it for departments to pay different prices for the same item?

Very common. Without a shared price list or centralised purchasing, each department negotiates separately. Prices drift over time and no one tracks them.

How do I find out what my colleagues are paying?

The data is in your company's invoices. Gather them in one place and compare prices for identical items across departments.

Should procurement be handling this?

Ideally yes, but most procurement teams don't have visibility at the department level. In practice, the manager with invoice access is usually the first to spot it.

Can prices really vary that much for the same item?

Yes. Differences of 20-30% on the same item from the same supplier are not unusual. At volume, that adds up quickly.

What's the first step to fixing it?

Pull your invoices and look at your top 10 items. Compare what you paid against other departments or time periods. The gaps usually surface immediately.

See what others pay - and pay the same

Compare prices across departments using your invoice data