1
of 5— Gather your category data
What you'll accomplish
You'll be able to create a professional category strategy one-pager for any spend category — covering market context, sourcing approach, risk assessment, and savings targets — that demonstrates you're managing procurement strategically, not just placing orders.
What you'll need
- A Claude account at claude.ai (free or Pro)
- Your spend data for the category (annual spend, number of vendors, key items)
- Basic knowledge of the category (you already have this from buying experience)
- Time needed: 30-45 minutes first time; 15-20 minutes for subsequent categories
- Cost: Free (Claude free tier)
How-To Guide: Build a Category Strategy Document with Claude
Step 1: Gather your category data
Before starting, note down for your category:
- Annual spend (total and by top vendor)
- Number of active vendors
- Key items or services purchased
- Current contract status (open PO, annual contract, multi-year contract)
- Pain points (supply disruptions, price volatility, quality issues)
- Strategic importance (critical to operations vs. indirect/MRO)