Effective MRO management supports operational continuity by maintaining assets, minimising lead times, and controlling costs. Though often seen as indirect spend, MRO can represent a significant long-term investment in manufacturing—and strategic sourcing can unlock cost savings, improve efficiency and reduce risk.
Industries where MRO is crucial
Manufacturing – equipment upkeep, spare parts and safety gear.
Pharmaceuticals – lab equipment maintenance and cleanroom supplies.
Automotive – machinery repairs, tools and lubricants.
Energy and utilities – pipeline maintenance and drilling equipment.
Construction – heavy machinery servicing and PPE.
Healthcare – medical device repairs and sterilisation supplies.
Transport and logistics – fleet maintenance and warehouse equipment.
Food and beverage manufacturing – production line maintenance and sanitation supplies.
Types of MRO supplies
MRO inventory must carefully balance the procurement of frequently used supplies with items that are needed less often. The foundation for streamlining this process lies in unifying and organising data across all MRO-related purchases. Types of MRO sourcing typically fall into two categories:
Specialty parts: essential, operation-critical components that must be on hand at all times to maintain production continuity.
Industrial equipment and spare parts – bearings, motors, pumps, belts and other machine components.
Tools and consumables – hand tools, power tools, lubricants and cutting fluids.
Commodities: regularly used items for general maintenance and safety purposes.
Safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) – gloves, goggles, helmets and other safety gear.
Facility maintenance supplies – cleaning agents, HVAC components and janitorial products.
MRO tail-spend challenges
In fast-paced industries like manufacturing, minimising downtime and lead times is crucial. Delays in securing essential MRO supplies can cause costly disruptions, impacting both productivity and revenue. Rising supply chain complexities, increasing costs, and fragmented procurement processes mean that businesses must adopt smarter solutions for operational continuity.
A robust procurement platform with an integrated marketplace can be a game-changer for managing MRO tail-spend, helping firms streamline operations, control costs, and safeguard business continuity.
Manufacturers trust Unite
Struggling with rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and compliance hurdles? Simplify and secure your manufacturing procurement with a single, powerful platform. Discover how Unite can help you cut costs, prevent downtime and strengthen your supply chain.
Key challenges in MRO procurement
Lack of visibility and control – ad-hoc purchasing leads to inefficiencies and cost overruns.
Fragmented supplier base – managing multiple suppliers increases complexity and administrative burden.
Lead time uncertainty – poor visibility into supplier lead times results in stocking issues.
Compliance challenges – regulatory and sustainability requirements add pressure on procurement teams.
Expert insights
Steffen Hammerla, Head of Supplier Management (DE) Unite, shares valuable insights on how digitalisation and marketplace solutions help businesses tackle MRO procurement hurdles.
He answers key questions about challenges in MRO procurement, why strategy matters, and the role of the digital marketplace in improving buying.
How an all-in-one marketplace solves MRO challenges
Unite provides a centralised platform for all MRO procurement needs, offering a comprehensive marketplace with over 7.3 million MRO articles from over 700 vetted suppliers.
Here’s how Unite stands out
Visibility and control: manufacturers can consolidate their ad-hoc purchasing into one streamlined solution, reducing complexity and increasing efficiency.
Supplier optimisation: instead of relying on a single supplier, Unite enables access to multiple trusted vendors while maintaining a single contractual partner.
Operational efficiency: features like Smart Basket optimisation and cross-catalogue search functionalities enable quicker procurement processes, allowing teams to focus on strategic tasks rather than administrative duties.
Compliance and sustainability: Unite ensures compliance with industry regulations, reducing procurement overhead while maintaining sustainability goals.
Commitment to sustainable procurement
Unite is dedicated to fostering sustainability within its marketplace by collaborating with environmentally conscious buyers and suppliers to enhance supply chain sustainability. The e-procurement platform incorporates sustainability factors, including price/quality comparisons and green spend reporting, to support responsible procurement decisions. We offer a sustainability certificate filter for our most-sold product categories, which helps buyers to easily find and compare sustainable products. The number of sustainable products offered is increasing continuously.
In 2024, Unite achieved the EcoVadis Gold rating, reflecting significant sustainability efforts and placing the company among the top 5% of evaluated organisations. This certification assists Unite's customers in meeting their sustainable procurement requirements and ensures a responsible supply chain.
Future-proof your MRO procurement with Unite
Managing MRO efficiently is no longer optional—it’s a strategic necessity. Unite’s robust procurement platform with integrated marketplace, helps manufacturers achieve seamless, cost-effective, and resilient MRO procurement. By reducing lead time risks, streamlining supplier management, and ensuring compliance, Unite enables businesses to focus on what truly matters—keeping production moving without disruption.
Seamless integration with SAP Ariba, Onventis, Jaggaer and Coupa
Unite integrates with leading e-procurement systems offering:
Access to pre-vetted suppliers and millions of tail-end products.
Streamlined purchasing within SAP, Onventis, Jaggaer and Coupa for fast, compliant ordering.
Advanced search functionality, price validation and real-time benchmarking, which helps procurement professionals analyse their purchasing behaviour and supplier pricing, and also contract terms align with industry standards or best practices.
The integration into e-procurement systems, based on Unite’s dynamic and flexible search solution, offers customers instant and seamless access to a large B2B assortment of millions of MRO articles across 12 countries. Immediate access to this extensive selection reduces time and effort for procurement professionals, thereby minimising process costs for businesses.
At Unite, we understand that a digital-first approach and a trusted marketplace pave the way for overcoming traditional MRO procurement challenges, resulting in a more agile, cost-efficient, and resilient supply chain.
The right partner for every need
With Unite’s diverse network of solutions, consultancy, and implementation partners, you’ll always find the perfect fit to help your business thrive.
Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) procurement is the process of sourcing MRO supplies/items used to maintain business operations but not part of the end product. This includes tools, safety gear, cleaning supplies, spare parts and office consumables.
Efficient MRO procurement reduces downtime, controls operational costs, and ensures equipment reliability. Streamlining this process boosts productivity, improves inventory management, and supports supply chain continuity.
Businesses often face fragmented suppliers, poor visibility, lead time uncertainty, and compliance issues when sourcing MRO supplies.
Unite's single creditor solution offers centralised access to 7.3 million MRO articles from 700 vetted suppliers, and integrated tools that reduce complexity and enhance operational control.
A digital procurement platform streamlines sourcing and enables faster, more cost-effective decision-making.
With tools like sustainability filters, green spend reporting, and C02 reporting, Unite helps buyers prioritise eco-friendly choices and achieve compliance goals.