Case Study: Los Alamos National Laboratory achieves 18× faster procurement with SAP Ariba

How Can Digitalized Procurement Support Rapid Organizational Expansion

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a US$4 billion defense and security research organization with about 13,800 employees, faced a major procurement challenge as it prepared for rapid operational growth and a 250% projected increase in contingent labor. Paper-based processes and limited visibility across a roughly 2,000-strong supplier network made it slow and difficult to meet strict compliance requirements and scale purchasing workflows efficiently.

LANL implemented SAP Ariba, SAP Fieldglass, SAP Signature Management and SAP Services to digitalize sourcing, contracts, contingent workforce management and e-signatures, with extensive user and supplier consultation for smooth adoption. The result: transactions are processed more than 18× faster, commercial purchases under $250,000 now take under 8 hours (down from 30 days), 100% of managed spend is on Ariba, and the lab now has greater transparency, faster payments, improved supplier relationships and the agility to reconfigure processes as needs change.

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Christine Hipp

Head of Procurement Center of Excellence