Why utility analysis software is indispensable in purchasing
Strategic purchasing is no longer just about cost optimization. In addition to price and quality, criteria such as innovative strength, partnership quality, delivery reliability, and ESG compliance are becoming increasingly important.
FUTURA – the software for utility analysis in purchasing – makes these factors comparable and measurable. The solution is fully SAP-integrated, documented in an audit-proof manner, and creates an objective basis for decision-making that balances strategic goals, risks, and economic efficiency.
award projects or investments: Combining qualitative and quantitative criteria to make informed decisions.
Supplier selection for new product groups: Objective comparison of new suppliers based on individually defined criteria.
Evaluation of service offerings: Quality, competence and service level become measurable and comparable.
ESG-compliant procurement decisions:
Sustainability and compliance aspects are systematically taken into account.
Framework contract negotiations and supplier development: Weighted analyses show potential for improvement and create argumentation security.
How FUTURA's utility analysis software works
The FUTURA utility value analysis software digitizes the entire evaluation process and fully integrates it into your tenders and contract awards. All steps are standardized, traceable and audit-proof - directly in SAP S/4HANA.
Define criteria
Price, quality, service, sustainability or innovation are defined as evaluation criteria.
Determine weighting
The software reflects strategic priorities - e.g. prioritizing sustainability over price.
Record offers digitally
Suppliers enter prices and responses directly in the system - without Excel or media disruptions.
Automated scoring
FUTURA automatically evaluates offers according to the defined criteria and weightings.
Results report & ranking
Clear reports with scores, deviations and audit documentation - ideal for management and auditing.
Make a decision
Objective, comprehensible and strategically sound selection of the best overall offer.
Experience FUTURA Smart live
On the safe side - FUTURA as a decision-making platform
With FUTURA, purchasing teams define weighted evaluation criteria that correspond exactly to the company's objectives - such as sustainability, security of supply or innovation capability.
Various methods such as point evaluation, pair comparison or scenario analysis can be mapped flexibly - at product group or project level. In this way, decisions are fact-based, comprehensible and documented across teams.
Core functions of the FUTURA software for utility value analyses
Scoring matrix & evaluation
All evaluations are automatically incorporated into a transparent matrix - strengths and weaknesses are immediately visible.
Compliance & traceability
Each assessment step is documented in an audit-proof manner - weightings and changes can be traced at any time.
Cross-team evaluation
Purchasing, engineering and quality assurance evaluate together - FUTURA automatically consolidates all results.
Save time through automation
No Excel sprawl: structured, digital workflows save time and avoid errors.
Fully SAP-integrated
The FUTURA utility value analysis software is seamlessly integrated into SAP S/4HANA - for an end-to-end procurement suite.
Why FUTURA's utility value analysis software pays off
Standardized evaluation logic
All tenders are based on the same, comprehensible criteria.
Audit-proof basis for decision-making
Audit-proof documentation, ideal for management and compliance.
Faster award processes
Automated workflows reduce coordination and speed up decision-making.
Reproducible results:
Standardized evaluation logic creates comparability across projects.
More decision-making certainty
Transparent weightings and simulations minimize wrong decisions.
Cross-team acceptance
All participants evaluate on the same data basis - objectively and comprehensibly.
SAP-integrated implementation
No interface problems, no system breaks - all data remains in the SAP context.
SAP-certified • Go live in 4-8 weeks • Ready-to-run
Would you like to make your sourcing processes transparent and SAP-integrated?
Talk to us about your options with FUTURA Smart.
Practical examples: Utility analysis software in action
A machine manufacturer is planning to invest in a new production system. Three suppliers have similar prices, but differ in terms of service, delivery time and energy efficiency.
Challenge:
Excel-based comparisons do not provide a consistent result - qualitative factors such as sustainability or ease of maintenance are difficult to measure.
Use of FUTURA:
The project team defines criteria and weightings directly in FUTURA. The software simulates various weightings (e.g. sustainability higher than price) and immediately shows the effects.
Result:
The decision is made objectively in two days instead of two weeks. The most sustainable offer prevails transparently - fully documented for auditing and management. Weeks prepared.
An IT company is looking for a solution for international project management. Three providers score points in different areas: price, functionality, references.
The challenge:
In addition to price, integration capability and project experience are decisive factors. Subjective assessments make comparison difficult.
Use of FUTURA:
With FUTURA, all criteria are defined and weighted centrally. The software records supplier responses digitally, automatically creates a scoring matrix and visualizes differences.
Result:
The provider with the best strategic fit is awarded the contract. The transparency of the weightings leads to a high level of acceptance among IT, purchasing and management.
An industrial group invites tenders for cleaning and maintenance services throughout Europe. The requirements vary from country to country and the offers vary greatly in terms of price and quality.
The challenge:
The evaluation should be centrally comparable, but locally implementable - without Excel proliferation and without media disruptions.
Use of FUTURA:
All country teams evaluate decentrally in FUTURA. The software automatically consolidates into a uniform scoring matrix and shows the ranking, deviations and audit trail.
Result:
The tendering period is reduced by 30%. Decisions are documented in a standardized, comprehensible and ESG-compliant manner.
An energy supplier is planning the procurement of transformers. Price, energy efficiency and delivery time are equally important - but the team's priorities differ.
Challenge:
There is no objective method for comparing different weightings and making the effects visible.
Use of FUTURA:
All criteria are defined in the system. The team then simulates three scenarios:
A: Focus on price
B: Focus on efficiency
C: Balanced.
FUTURA automatically calculates new scorings and rankings.
Result:
Management recognizes the long-term benefits of a greater emphasis on efficiency. Decisions are data-based, comprehensible and audit-proof.
FAQ - frequently asked questions about FUTURA's utility value analysis software
What is software for benefit analysis in purchasing?
A digital solution that automatically evaluates and weights price, quality and sustainability criteria - for objective, audit-proof decisions.
What is the advantage over Excel?
FUTURA eliminates manual formulas, version chaos and intransparency. All weightings, scorings and results are documented, comparable and audit-proof.
When is a benefit analysis software useful?
Whenever there are several offers with different strengths or qualitative factors (service, innovation, ESG) are decisive.
How exactly does FUTURA Smart provide support?
Standardized questionnaires
Automatic scoring and reporting
Audit-proof documentation directly in SAP
Our Solutions – Sourcing in S/4HANA
Sourcing processes end-to-end in the SAP core
Issue requests for complex services and projects
Systematically qualify and manage suppliers
More on background & practice in the blog
Why Excel checklists are not suitable for supplier qualification
Supplier selection in purchasing: 5 criteria – this is how they become effective
RFI in purchasing: How structured market surveys can provide target-oriented clarity
Get started quickly, work easily, scale flexibly – ready for real SAP purchasing?
FUTURA extends SAP S/4HANA with end-to-end sourcing processes—SAP-native, without middleware, and without a second system environment. Live in 4–8 weeks.
Get to know FUTURA in action – based on your own scenarios. Free of charge, no obligation, specific.
Do you have questions or want to integrate FUTURA into your S/4HANA project? We speak your language – and that of your IT.
FUTURA Smart at a glance – compact, practical, to the point.