Caught between increased labor costs, supply chain issues and budgetary constraints, educational institutions need to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs while keeping the campus community satisfied and engaged.

Group purchasing organizations (GPOs) can offer campuses valuable solutions to help achieve these goals. Here's how a GPO like Entegra can help your campus improve its operational efficiency:

1. Savings Solutions – University GPOs like Entegra can help campuses save money and streamline procurement processes. By leveraging the collective purchasing power of multiple institutions and other organizations, GPOs negotiate better pricing with vendors and offer discounts on a wide range of products and services. This makes it easier for campuses to purchase goods and services, while also reducing the administrative burden of managing multiple suppliers.
2. Purchasing from Local and Minority Suppliers – Entegra provides colleges and universities access to local and minority suppliers through our Local and Direct and Diverse-Suppliers Programs. These options allow campuses to source products from local vendors, provide economic opportunities to communities and reduce transportation costs and emissions. College procurement teams can also rely on GPOs like Entegra to vet vendors to ensure that products are of high quality and meet the specific needs of each campus.
3. Energy Management – Energy costs are a significant expense for campuses, and energy management is an essential aspect of campus operations. Entegra offers energy management solutions that help campuses reduce energy consumption, lower costs and improve sustainability. These solutions may include energy audits, lighting upgrades, HVAC improvements and switching over to renewable energy options. This not only helps campuses manage their budgets better but also reduces the overall carbon footprint of the institution.
4. Staff Training – GPOs like Entegra can provide training for campus staff to help them stay up to date on food service best practices and new technologies. This training can help staff identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements while promoting sustainability initiatives. We also offer resources and tools to help campuses track and measure their sustainability performance.
5. Back of house optimization – With campuses relying more on temporary workers and student workers to meet labor needs, back of house optimization can reduce friction and improve efficiency. For instance, reconfiguring workstations and workflows can be easier for new team members to pick up tasks or creating clear instruction lists above each workstation. With Entegra’s Culinary Services, we can help you with optimizing your operations to improve efficiencies.

Entegra solutions

GPOs like Entegra offer a range of valuable solutions to help campuses improve their operational efficiency, reduce costs and engage students and the campus community. Partnering with a GPO like Entegra can help your campus achieve its operational goals and support a more sustainable future. Campuses can also leverage our procurement and industry experts to save time, solve issues and tackle challenges on the horizon.

For more information on how we can benefit your college or university, contact our procurement experts or call 1-866-Entegra.

May 18, 2023