Oboloo launches free online procurement course for SMEs

Oboloo has launched a free online procurement course for small and medium-sized enterprises aimed at businesses with little or no formal procurement experience.

The programme, Procurement Foundations, comprises 10 modules of 15 minutes each, with short assessments at the end of each section. It targets SME owners, finance teams, and staff who buy goods and services or manage supplier relationships as part of their work.

The launch reflects growing attention on how smaller businesses handle day-to-day purchasing decisions as higher operating costs and tighter margins put pressure on cash flow. Many SMEs make supplier and spending decisions without specialist training, even though those choices can affect cost control, contract terms, and operational risk.

The course covers core procurement topics including defining business needs, selecting suppliers, negotiation, contracts, supplier management, risk, and value for money. Oboloo presents it as an entry-level introduction rather than a technical qualification.

The initiative comes as procurement practices, once associated mainly with larger companies, become more visible for smaller firms looking for savings beyond headcount reductions or cuts to core activity. For many SMEs, supplier spending is one of the largest areas where management decisions can quickly affect margins.

Course focus

Oboloo says the teaching is intended to be practical and accessible, with real-world examples and no requirement for previous procurement experience. The format appears designed to appeal to business users who may not have time for longer formal training courses.

The approach also reflects a wider shift in business education towards shorter online modules that fit around daily work. In procurement, the audience extends beyond dedicated buying teams to founders, operations managers, and finance staff, especially in smaller companies where responsibilities are often spread across a small number of employees.

Adam Thomas outlined the thinking behind the launch.

"The start of a new school year is a timely reminder that we can all learn something new and find ways to do things a little better. Unlike some of the things we learned at school, these are practical skills you can use every day. For SMEs keeping a close eye on cash flow, learning how to spend smarter, choose the right suppliers and get better value can make a real difference to the bottom line," said Adam Thomas, Co-Founder, Oboloo.

Purchasing training can directly affect smaller businesses because procurement decisions often sit close to immediate financial pressures. Choices on supplier selection, payment terms, contract scope, and specification can influence both costs and resilience, particularly when businesses are dealing with inflation, supply uncertainty, or changing demand.

Wider pressure

Oboloo is positioning the course around the idea that better buying decisions do not always require complex systems or specialist departments. Instead, it focuses on basic processes and judgement that can reduce waste and improve outcomes in routine spending.

The message may resonate with SMEs that have traditionally relied on informal habits or longstanding supplier relationships rather than structured procurement methods. In many smaller organisations, purchasing authority is spread across departments, making it harder to maintain consistency in price, supplier performance, or contract oversight.

Oboloo describes itself as a procurement software provider focused on SMEs. Its broader offering includes tools for sourcing, supplier management, contract management, and savings management, although the new course is being offered separately as a free training resource.

Free education has become a common way for software companies to build awareness among potential users, particularly in business functions where digital adoption remains uneven. In procurement, smaller companies have often lagged behind large enterprises in formal processes, training, and systems, partly because of cost and partly because dedicated procurement roles are less common.

Thomas also set out the company's view of the subject. "Good procurement is really just common sense. Get the basics right and you can make better supplier decisions, avoid unnecessary costs and risks, and make every pound work harder," said Thomas.