Purchases made outside of established procurement contracts and processes, typically resulting in higher costs, compliance risks, and lost negotiating leverage.
Maverick spend refers to purchases made outside of established procurement contracts, preferred supplier agreements, and approved buying channels. This uncontrolled spending typically results in higher costs, compliance risks, and lost negotiating leverage.
Studies estimate that maverick spend accounts for 20-40% of total procurement spend in many organizations. Reducing it through guided procurement systems, policy enforcement, and user-friendly purchasing tools can generate significant savings. Understanding maverick spend is important context for procurement-focused manufacturers and buyers on FindMyFactory.