Opstream vs. Zip: A Competitive Take on Procurement Orchestration
In the world of procurement orchestration, two heavyweights dominate the field: Opstream and Zip. Both have been lauded by industry analysts, such as Gartner and IDC, for their cutting-edge solutions in spend management and procurement optimization. But what sets them apart? Well, that’s exactly what we’ll dive into.
A Quick Glimpse at the Players
First things first, both Opstream and Zip are considered leaders in procurement orchestration. Gartner has named them as innovators, and IDC’s 2024 MarketScape recognized both platforms as “leaders.” So, it’s clear they’re both at the top of the game, offering real value to businesses in streamlining procurement processes. However, despite their shared accolades, their approaches are quite different.
Focus Area: All-Inclusive vs. Finance-Centric
One of the main distinctions between these two platforms is their focus. Zip’s origins are in the intake-to-pay solution space, primarily aimed at helping finance and accounts payable (AP) teams with purchase approvals and payments. Zip is all about making life easier for the procurement and finance teams. If your goal is only to streamline the purchase approval process, Zip could be a great option.
On the other hand, Opstream casts a wider net. It offers a holistic approach to vendor lifecycle management – covering everything from vendor onboarding, risk management and compliance monitoring. It also goes beyond contract renewals to automate any key date in the vendor journey, including crisis response. In short, Opstream breaks down silos between departments like procurement, finance, IT, legal, and even security. So, while Zip focuses on procurement intake, Opstream’s more like a multi-functional orchestrator across the entire company.
AI: Powered Automation: Robot Overlords (Just Kidding)
Here’s where Opstream flexes its muscles: Agentic AI-powered automation. Opstream leverages its proprietary Data Synthesizer Engine (DSE), which isn’t just a fancy name — it’s a fully autonomous engine that drives workflows across all data attributes. It’s not a suggestion engine; it does the work for you. Think automatic updates to ERP systems, opening support tickets, enforcing policy checks, you name it. It’s an AI-powered powerhouse that learns over time, making your workflows smarter with every task.
Zip, while still leveraging AI, is more about assistance rather than full autonomy. Zip’s AI features include helpful tools like an assistant that speeds up request handling, but it requires user input to make things happen. It’s more about giving users a helping hand than taking the reins.
Integrations: Custom-Fit vs. Pre-Built Library
When it comes to integrating with other enterprise systems (like ERPs, CRMs, etc.), both platforms do the job, but they go about it differently.
Opstream’s integrations are custom-built in-house, meaning it tailors each connector to the customer’s environment using advanced AI agents. This means faster adaptation when systems change, and a seamless connection between procurement, finance, legal, and IT systems. And when new systems come into play? No problem. Opstream’s in-house integration means it can handle even the most unique IT setups.
Zip, on the other hand, provides a library of pre-built integrations, which makes setup faster for standard systems. However, if your company uses something a bit more customized, you might need third-party help (hello, integration platforms) or wait for Zip to develop a new connector.
Data Management: Flexibility vs. Standardization
Data is king in procurement orchestration. Opstream shines here with its custom unified data model. It can handle messy, unstructured data from legacy systems, spreadsheets, and emails without requiring major cleanup upfront. This flexibility means Opstream synthesizes and consolidates all spend data, giving you a single source of truth right from the start.
Zip, on the other hand, is designed around structured data. It works best when your organization has cleaned, standardized data about purchase requests, vendors, and invoices. If your data is all over the place, Zip might ask you to clean it up first, whereas Opstream doesn’t need you to be perfectly organized to get the best results.
Workflow Flexibility: No-Code Customization vs. Template-Based
Both platforms offer configurable workflows, but the level of customization differs.
Opstream is like the DIY workshop of procurement orchestration: you can set up highly customized, no-code workflows on the fly. Want to trigger a contract renewal when a vendor’s certification expires? You got it. Need to alert someone when a budget threshold is near? Easy. Opstream’s Data Synthesizer Engine can work with any data point across your tech stack to drive workflows, making it incredibly versatile.
Zip, on the other hand, offers workflow templates for standard procurement processes like vendor requests or purchase approvals. While you can adjust these templates, the system isn’t as flexible when you need it to trigger workflows based on external data or complex conditions.
Implementation Speed: Fast and Agile vs. Standard SaaS Speed
When it comes to implementation speed, Opstream is the clear winner. It offers impressive go-live times as fast as 2 weeks, even for Fortune 200 companies, with an average implementation time of 45 days. Thanks to its in-house integrations and no-code setup, no implementation partners are required (yes, even for Fortune 200s). This means your company can get started and start seeing value quickly, without the added expense of third-party consultants.
Zip also offers fast deployment but may require a bit more time if complex integrations are involved. For large enterprises, Zip’s deployment may stretch into a few months, especially when working with implementation partners, which can be costly.
Real Results: Customer Success Stories
Don’t just take our word for it—let’s look at the results.
Take LastPass, for example. After replacing a legacy intake tool with Opstream, they reduced their average request handling time by 73%, from about two weeks to just 72 hours. This efficiency allowed their procurement team to shift focus to more strategic tasks, while also improving the experience for employees requesting purchases.
Or consider Exegy, a financial tech firm. Their rapid implementation of Opstream meant they could automate tedious manual tasks almost overnight, freeing up time for more strategic initiatives like cost optimization. Additionally, Exegy uses Opstream for direct procurement, streamlining their entire procurement process for even greater efficiency
Conclusion: Opstream's Edge
So, which one should you choose? Well, if you’re looking for an end-to-end, company-wide orchestration platform that goes beyond just procurement, Opstream is your pick. With Agentic AI-powered automation, advanced workflows, and the flexibility to integrate and synthesize data across the organization, Opstream delivers a future-proof solution for businesses that want to scale their procurement processes.
Discover the Opstream Difference
Ready to see how Opstream can transform your procurement operations? Book a demo today to learn more about how we can help you streamline your processes and optimize procurement.