Arab Supplies and Trading Company (ASTRA Group), using the services of Aregon — a leading regional management consulting firm, has successfully launched its new centralized purchasing and procurement system for all their indirect materials, supplies and services for the group’s 35 business units, companies, and subsidiaries. “ASTRA Group has already achieved savings ranging from 10 percent - 24 percent for different commodities with an average savings rate of 13.5 percent. But we are not merely talking money here, by implementing the best practices in strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management and enabling the requisition and purchase order processes with the appropriate e-procurement technology, we have achieved a great leap forward toward efficiency and responsiveness,” Ghassan Akeel, ASTRA Group deputy managing director commented.