MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile network operator, has embarked on a groundbreaking transformation of its procurement operations, partnering with UAE-based consultancy Agility Arabia to implement one of the telecom industry’s most ambitious Agile procurement initiatives. This transformation, undertaken within MTN’s Global Sourcing and Supply Chain (GSSC) division, exemplifies a shift towards greater agility, transparency, and operational effectiveness across the company’s procurement processes.
Operating in 16 African markets and serving over 291 million customers, MTN faced increasing business complexity that demanded more adaptive and efficient procurement practices. The GSSC division, which oversees sourcing, supply chain, and vendor management for 17 operating entities within the group, was identified as a key lever for strategic transformation. To address these challenges, MTN turned to Agility Arabia, a Dubai-based consultancy recognised for its pioneering Agile procurement expertise and status as the UAE’s first Scrum.org Professional Training Network™ member.
Together, MTN and Agility Arabia introduced a Lean Agile Procurement (LAP) framework to replace traditional waterfall methodologies with an adaptive, iterative delivery model. The phased rollout, launched in early 2023, quickly demonstrated significant improvements within six months. Strategic Request for Proposal (RFP) timelines were shortened by up to 55%, translating into substantial annual savings while enhancing procurement responsiveness. Additionally, 84% of the GSSC staff actively engaged in Agile projects, and the Agile Net Promoter Score (NPS) doubled within three months. The transformation also saw the establishment of 13 high-performing Agile teams that matured into self-managing units, with over 80% of employees expressing strong confidence in the new framework. Anonymous surveys revealed that 74% of staff felt the Agile approach improved their job performance.
Andrew Savage, MTN’s Global Lead for Procurement Excellence, acknowledged Agility Arabia’s pivotal role in the effort, noting their extensive involvement in coaching, mentoring, and aligning the teams with Agile methodologies. He highlighted the tangible benefits, including a marked improvement in RFP cycle times and heightened engagement across the organisation, which underscore the success of the collaboration.
The procurement transformation was not without its hurdles. Resistance to change, coordination across multiple time zones, and applying Agile outside of its traditional software development context posed challenges. Agility Arabia countered these issues by embedding experienced coaches within MTN’s teams to provide continuous, hands-on support. This facilitated the consistent application of Scrum events, backlog management, and customer-centric planning techniques such as proto-personas and relative estimation. Ongoing training, weekly knowledge-sharing sessions, and upskilling initiatives for Scrum Masters were integral to sustaining the transformation momentum.
MTN’s Agile procurement journey aligns with a broader corporate strategy centred on embedding a “Digital DNA” approach within its operations. This initiative emphasizes data-driven decision-making, advanced analytics, and agile practices to enhance responsiveness and supply chain resilience. Dirk Karl, MTN’s Group Executive and Chief Procurement Officer, has highlighted the comprehensive adoption of Agile and iterative sourcing models, with all procurement staff certified as Scrum Masters and organised into cross-functional agile squads—a move that significantly improved throughput times and operational agility.
Agility Arabia’s track record in Agile procurement extends across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with notable collaborations including Emirates Airlines, Ooredoo, and Riyad Bank, where they have successfully reduced RFP cycles and enhanced supplier collaboration. Their expertise in transitioning procurement functions from traditional models to adaptive Agile frameworks has made them a sought-after partner in the region.
Looking ahead, MTN plans to expand Agile adoption across other business functions, leveraging enterprise-level coaching and further integration of Lean Agile Procurement practices to reinforce its digital transformation ambitions. The success of this initiative has already garnered industry recognition, with MTN and Agility Arabia jointly shortlisted for the 2024 Excellence in Procurement and Supply Consultancy Project of the Year, alongside multiple other nominations.
Agility Arabia’s embedded, people-first coaching approach and practical application of Agile beyond IT sectors suggest a scalable model for enterprise-wide change. Meanwhile, MTN’s efforts have set a benchmark in the telecom industry for blending Agile methodologies with procurement, demonstrating how digitally enabled agility can unlock operational efficiencies and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Together, MTN and Agility Arabia exemplify how strategic partnerships and innovative frameworks can transform traditional corporate functions, delivering tangible business value and positioning organisations for success in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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