The Rise of Procurement as a Service

In this episode of Sourced by Cofactr, Ed Dodd unpacks a seismic shift in hardware operations: the rise of Procurement-as-a-Service (PaaS). With Cofactr’s platform now free to start, Ed reveals how hardware teams can offload sourcing, supplier management, and logistics—without losing visibility or control.

This episode dives into the economics and structure behind fractional procurement. From variable cost models and RACI frameworks to SLAs that guarantee performance, Ed breaks down how on-demand procurement teams deliver speed, expertise, and risk mitigation at scale.

Through real-world examples, he shows how top hardware teams are cutting sourcing cycle times by 30%, reducing redesigns by 20%, and freeing engineers from the spreadsheet grind. Whether you’re leading NPI cycles or managing supplier chaos, this is a roadmap for scaling smart—turning procurement from a bottleneck into a strategic advantage.

What is Sourced by Cofactr?

Sourced by Cofactr is hosted by Ed Dodd. From Navy destroyer ships to Fortune 500 supply chains, Ed brings 30+ years of experience understanding why things break - and how to prevent it. He helps hardware teams bridge the gap between “how it’s always been done” and “how it needs to be done,” without breaking the bank or losing compliance.

Cofactr (YC W22) is building the future of hardware operations. Each episode cuts through the noise to show how modern teams streamline procurement, source with confidence, and build resilient supply chains that scale.

When Ed’s not untangling supply chain puzzles, he’s running D&D campaigns for his five kids - because whether it’s hardware or heroes, good systems are all about planning ahead and adapting when things don’t go as expected.
Visit us at: https://cofactr.com

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