The first trace of procurement Throughout ancient history , there are many examples of a procurement concept . Whilst the process was far from what it is today , the Egyptians used scribes to manage the supply of materials when building the pyramids . The scribes recorded the amount of materials and workers required to complete the task , tracking orders through to fulfilment .

Word War I and World War II Despite making positive headway in solidifying its importance in the industry , the World Wars stunted efforts to drive procurement initiatives . Efforts shifted from adopting a strategic procurement approach to focusing efforts on obtaining enough raw materials , services and supplies during the depression .

Procurement starts to gain recognition Despite being recognisable in a base , crude form for many years , procurement ’ s role in organisations wasn ’ t recognised until the 1800s In 1887 , during the industrial revolution , procurement began to solidify its importance . Marshall Kirkman ’ s book , The Handling of Railway Supplies , details procurement ’ s strategic contribution to the railroad industry .

16 May 2022