When we set out to create an AI-powered platform that makes procurement delightful, a success story like SSM Health is exactly what we had in mind. SSM Health is a $10.5 billion non-profit healthcare system that has always prioritized innovation in its operations. As former customers of Scout RFP, a procurement tool we created back in 2014, SSM Health entered its transition to Levelpath with high expectations. Their journey reflects more than just a software upgrade, it is about partnership, innovation, and continuous improvement.
In these video interviews, Rachel Kegel, Director of Sourcing Operations, and Mike McDonough, System Director for Sourcing and Vendor Management, share how Levelpath has helped transform SSM Health’s sourcing operations and enhance procurement transparency.
Overcoming Obstacles: Transparency and Workflow Hurdles
Before implementing Levelpath, SSM Health encountered significant challenges in its sourcing and procurement processes. Requesters would submit forms without understanding the process, which in turn created confusion and delays. They relied heavily on emails and shared drives, which led to fragmented communication and challenging collaboration. With 20+ hospitals and nearly 40,000 employees, they realized the need for a solution that could streamline procurement while also providing transparency and accountability.
When involving external teams for approvals and reviews, the absence of a single, unified system also presented challenges. Internal teams frequently struggled to track request statuses or identify pending approvals due to the lack of a clear, standardized workflow.
Empowering Teams with an Adaptable Platform
SSM Health found more than just a tool with Levelpath; they found a solution tailored to their needs. The user-friendly design and efficient workflows enabled SSM Health to reduce the guesswork and enhance collaboration.
Their procurement experience was improved by two key elements:
- Pathfinder: To avoid confusion, the Pathfinder interface guides requesters to the relevant forms and resources. This front-door experience helps to streamline requests and provide a delightful intake experience.
- Customizable Workflows: Tailored workflows for their processes that integrate approvals and reviews from multiple teams have boosted their collaboration across the organization and provided teams with the tools they need to work together.
The transition to Levelpath brought immediate improvements to SSM Health’s procurement operations. Requesters quickly embraced the new system, praising its intuitive design and transparency. Sourcing teams benefited from automated communications as it allowed them to reduce time spent on manual follow-ups.
Real-time request monitoring empowered managers with enterprise-wide visibility at every step, routing all requests to the appropriate sourcing manager and leading to faster approvals. The result? Less friction, faster decisions, and a more connected enterprise procurement ecosystem.
A Partnership Fueled by Trust and Innovation
SSM Health chose Levelpath not only for its capabilities but also for our trusted relationship. Their previous experience with us assured them that Levelpath would bring forward-thinking solutions to their future procurement challenges.
They are excited about the platform’s advancements in AI and contract management and are eager to leverage the upcoming contract renewal workspace and external team integrations.
“The rate that Levelpath is developing is astronomical,” Rachel remarked. “More innovation is coming, and we are trying to prepare for that in small increments along the way.”
That kind of partnership, where technology evolves alongside its users, is exactly what we set out to build. Mike echoed the same sentiment, emphasizing the strength of our working relationship: “The team listens, they partner with us, and they are helping us mature our function as an organization.”
We are grateful to work with the amazing team at SSM Health once again and continue our partnership in building solutions that power their mission.
Want to hear the full story? Watch Mike and Rachel’s testimonial videos to see their experiences firsthand. When you are ready to transform your procurement operations, explore Levelpath’s solutions and discover how we can help simplify, streamline, and optimize your processes, from start to finish.
— Michaela