National Fuel builds a more connected procurement process with Gainfront

The challenge: fragmented supplier data and demanding compliance requirements

National Fuel Gas Company achieved over 98% accuracy in supplier data enrichment after deploying Gainfront's SRM suite, resolving duplicate records and streamlining onboarding, sourcing, and supplier inclusion across its energy and natural gas operations.

National Fuel needed a more consistent way to manage supplier information, onboarding, and sourcing while supporting its supplier inclusion program.

One of the most significant challenges was duplicate supplier data. The same supplier appeared in multiple records originating from different sources, making it difficult to maintain accurate, complete supplier profiles.

Supplier compliance was another critical priority. Collecting onboarding documents, capturing certification data, and tracking renewals required a more streamlined process. Given the nature of National Fuel’s business, keeping supplier documentation current was essential to procurement oversight.

The company also needed to connect its corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives, particularly supplier inclusion, with everyday procurement activities.

Why Gainfront: a modular suite configured around the business

Gainfront is a supplier relationship management platform. National Fuel selected its modular SRM suite to support onboarding, sourcing, and supplier inclusion across its natural gas operations.

National Fuel selected Gainfront’s SRM suite to support supplier onboarding, sourcing, and supplier inclusion.

A central factor in the selection was Gainfront’s modular approach. The platform allows workflows to be configured around National Fuel’s business rules, aligning procurement processes with the company’s requirements.

That flexibility also supports a practical approach to cost. National Fuel can deploy the capabilities it needs today and expand its use of the suite as requirements grow. This makes Gainfront a budget-conscious choice for building a procurement program over time.

Embedded supplier inclusion capabilities were another key differentiator in the selection. By bringing CSR into the procurement suite, Gainfront connects inclusion objectives with the processes used to discover, onboard, and engage suppliers.

Implementation: workflows built on National Fuel’s business rules

Gainfront’s team completed National Fuel’s onboarding, establishing the foundation for its use of the SRM suite across onboarding, sourcing, and supplier inclusion.

The implementation focused on configuring workflows to reflect National Fuel’s business rules and addressing the supplier information challenges that had complicated procurement operations.

More reliable supplier data with AI

Gainfront’s AI capabilities addressed duplicate supplier records and enriched supplier information, achieving over 98% accuracy in supplier data and enrichment results.

More reliable supplier profiles provide a stronger foundation for sourcing, onboarding, and supplier inclusion activities. They also reduce the need to reconcile inconsistent information from multiple sources.

Faster, more intuitive sourcing

National Fuel uses Gainfront’s intuitive RFP automation, enhanced by AI capabilities and access to a rich supplier database, to streamline sourcing.

Together, these capabilities help procurement teams identify potential suppliers and manage RFP activities more efficiently. The deployment is expected to deliver over 37% improvement in RFP process efficiency.

Streamlined onboarding and stronger compliance oversight

Gainfront brings supplier onboarding documents and certification data into a structured workflow, with timely renewal notifications to help teams keep records current.

For National Fuel, this addresses a major operational pain point: maintaining visibility into supplier compliance requirements throughout the supplier relationship.

By streamlining document collection, capturing certification information, and supporting renewal tracking, the platform is expected to deliver over 33% improvement in supplier onboarding efficiency.

Supplier inclusion embedded in procurement

Gainfront makes supplier inclusion part of the procurement process, connecting National Fuel’s program with supplier onboarding and sourcing.

This integrated approach supports the company’s CSR objectives by giving procurement teams the capabilities to incorporate supplier inclusion into their daily work. It was a meaningful differentiator in National Fuel’s selection of Gainfront.

Dedicated support for teams and suppliers

Gainfront provides dedicated live support for both National Fuel’s internal teams and its suppliers.

Direct access to a support resource helps users navigate workflows, resolve questions, and complete required steps. Extending that support to suppliers adds value throughout onboarding and ongoing participation.

A foundation that can grow with National Fuel

National Fuel’s deployment brings together configurable workflows, AI-supported supplier data, sourcing automation, compliance oversight, and supplier inclusion within one modular suite.

With onboarding complete and supplier data accuracy improved, the engagement establishes a foundation for further efficiency gains, and gives National Fuel room to expand its procurement capabilities as its needs evolve.