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BCG Supplier Information Guide

The Enterprise Procurement and Payables (EP&P) team at BCG manages supplier relationships including sourcing, risk screening, onboarding, contracting, and payment processing. BCG commits to working with suppliers whose practices are consistent with our values and professional standards. The BCG Supplier Code of Conduct provides a full list of standards.

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BCG's Speak Up Line

If Suppliers wish to report questionable behavior, illegal or unethical behavior, or a possible violation of this Supplier Code of Conduct, BCG requests that they contact the BCG Speak Up Line.

Coupa Guidance for BCG Suppliers

BCG uses Coupa to enable supplier relationships through the  Coupa Supplier Portal, a network of over 9.5 million suppliers and 2,500 purchasing organizations.

Create your Coupa account today and reap the benefits the CSP unlocks. Learn more about the portal, registration and onboarding as a BCG supplier in this video:

For more information visit Coupa's website.

Country-Specific Guidance on How to Best Transact with BCG

To get tailored guidance, locate the country of the BCG office you are working with. Click on the country name to jump directly to the relevant section of the page.

Coupa Onboarding, Invoicing and Purchase Orders

Coupa Onboarding & Invoicing

Coupa Onboarding

Coupa Coming Soon

In case of questions, please reach out to us.

Contact BCG’s Procurement & Payables Team

Coupa Onboarding, Invoicing and Purchase Orders

This section applies to: Belgium, Canada, India, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

1. Register for Coupa Supplier Portal (CSP)

All transactions with BCG will take place via the CSP. It is free to use for BCG suppliers and is the recommended method for transacting with us. Use the CSP to submit invoices; using a different method could result in payment delays.

The CSP provides significant benefits for you, including:

  • Manage Purchase Orders you receive from BCG and invoicing directly against them. Invoices should include the Purchase Order number to ensure the correct matching for the purchase.
  • View status of invoices.
  • Update your company information in a controlled environment.

If you are being invited to participate in a BCG RFx or have been selected as a BCG supplier and do not already have a Coupa Supplier Portal account linked with BCG, your BCG contact will initiate creation of your account and will send registration instructions to you directly. Please save your login credentials.

  • If your company already has a Coupa Supplier Portal account (one that pre-dates your relationship with BCG), you can log into your existing account and link BCG as a new customer via the link provided on the 'Create an Account' page.

If you need to update any company details after registering, please contact us:

Contact BCG’s Procurement & Payables Team


2. Onboard as BCG supplier (for new suppliers only)

After you set up your account in the Coupa Supplier Portal and if you have been selected as a BCG supplier, you will be invited to complete a BCG questionnaire.

To facilitate the process, be prepared with the following information:

  • Supplier name and primary contact details.
  • Tax details (registration type, tax ID, GST/PAN Number).
  • Remit-to address.
  • Banking information (location, bank name, account number).
  • Banking supporting documentation. You must include supporting documentation to confirm your banking information.
  • Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and Purchase Order (PO) email.


Please consult the Supplier Onboarding Guides for geography specific assistance:

3. Complete risk assessment (for new suppliers only)

If BCG engages with you as a Supplier, risk screening and additional supplier risk questionnaires or due diligence checks may be required. The questionnaires may look into risk areas including Regulatory, Business Continuity, Fourth Parties and other due diligence questions. Information Security and Data privacy reviews may also be conducted by BCG’s Information Security team. BCG expects Suppliers to complete these questionnaires promptly once requested.

4. Start managing purchase orders and invoices

Suppliers in select countries will now be required to have a valid Purchase Order (PO) in place prior to fulfilling the delivery of any goods or services. Check the BCG PO Terms & Addendum for more information.

Purchase Orders will be required for all categories of spend unless stated otherwise by your BCG point of contact.

In the Coupa Supplier Portal, you will then submit your invoices against these pre-approved POs. Please help us direct BCG buyers to submitting POs through Coupa to ensure a breadth of benefits, for you and BCG:

  • Faster payment.
  • A more streamlined process.
  • Better visibility.

Please consult the Supplier Invoicing Guides for geography specific assistance:

Frequently Asked Questions: Purchase Orders and Invoicing

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Can I filter the list of Purchase Orders in my Coupa Supplier Portal to show only Purchase Orders that haven't been invoiced?

Yes, you can use the “Views” or “Filters” function to hide POs which are fully invoiced and have a “Closed” status. Note: Only select countries have Coupa Purchase Order functionality.

What is the purpose of PO acknowledgement by the supplier? 

This button lets users know you have seen the Purchase Order and can fulfill it by the promised date. You are encouraged to use this feature to alert the requester. You can also use the comments section at the bottom of the PO to communicate with the requester. Note: Only select countries have Coupa purchase order functionality.

How do I submit an invoice in Coupa?

You have the following options to create and submit an invoice in Coupa:

To create an invoice against a PO, log into CSP and find the BCG Purchase Order. Select the gold coin icon to create an invoice.  You may also use cXML, where you can automate the process of sending an invoice file using Coupa's standard cXML format.  

To create a non-PO invoice, log into CSP and navigate to the Invoices tab on the main menu. Click on the Create Blank Invoice button above the Invoices table. Refer to the invoicing instructions in the “How to Register as a BCG Supplier” section of this page. 

Alternatively, you may send your invoices over email in PDF format to the email addresses indicated in the linked invoicing instructions found in the “How to Register as a BCG Supplier” section of this page. However, that is not BCG’s preferred channel of receiving invoices and might result in longer lead time for payment. 

Do I need to include accounting information on cXML invoices?

Invoices against a PO do not need accounting information because that information is part of the requisition and is carried over to the PO. When an invoice references a PO line number, Coupa takes the accounting information associated with the line and adds it to the invoice. Submitting cXML invoices for non-PO orders is not currently enabled.

Coupa Onboarding & Invoicing

This section applies to: Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Vietnam

1. Register for Coupa Supplier Portal (CSP)

All transactions with BCG will take place via the CSP. It is free to use for BCG suppliers and is the recommended method for transacting with us. Use the CSP to submit invoices; using a different method could result in payment delays.

The CSP provides significant benefits for you, including:

  • Directly enter invoices into BCG's payment systems.
  • View status of invoices.
  • Update your company information in a controlled environment.

If you are being invited to participate in a BCG RFx or have been selected as a BCG supplier and do not already have a Coupa Supplier Portal account linked with BCG, your BCG contact will initiate creation of your account and will send registration instructions to you directly. Please save your login credentials.

If your company already has a Coupa Supplier Portal account (one that pre-dates your relationship with BCG), you can log into your existing account and link BCG as a new customer via the link provided on the 'Create an Account' page.

If you need to update any company details after registering, please contact us:

Contact BCG’s Procurement & Payables Team

2. Onboard as BCG supplier (for new suppliers only)

After you set up your account in the Coupa Supplier Portal and if you have been selected as a BCG supplier, you will be invited to complete a BCG questionnaire.

To facilitate the process, be prepared with the following information:

  • Supplier name and primary contact details.
  • Tax details (registration type, tax ID, GST/PAN Number).
  • Remit-to address.
  • Banking information (location, bank name, account number).
  • Banking supporting documentation. You must include supporting documentation to confirm your banking information.
  • Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS).

Please consult the Supplier Onboarding Guides for geography specific assistance:

3. Complete risk assessment (for new suppliers only)

If BCG engages with you as a Supplier, risk screening and additional supplier risk questionnaires or due diligence checks may be required. The questionnaires may look into risk areas including Regulatory, Business Continuity, Fourth Parties and other due diligence questions. Information Security and Data privacy reviews may also be conducted by BCG’s Information Security team. BCG expects Suppliers to complete these questionnaires promptly once requested.​

4. Start invoicing

All transactions with BCG will take place via the Coupa Supplier Portal. It is free to use for BCG suppliers and will be the recommended method for transacting with us. Use the CSP to submit invoices; using a different method could result in payment delays.

Please consult the Supplier Invoicing Guides for geography specific assistance:​

Coupa Onboarding

This section applies to: Kuwait, Lebanon, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Arab Emirates

1. Register for Coupa Supplier Portal (CSP)

All transactions with BCG will take place via the CSP. It is free to use for BCG suppliers and will be the recommended method for transacting with us. Use the CSP to submit invoices; using a different method could result in payment delays.

The CSP provides significant benefits for you, including:

  • Directly enter invoices into BCG's payment systems.
  • View status of invoices.
  • Update your company information in a controlled environment.

If you are being invited to participate in a BCG RFx or have been selected as a BCG supplier and do not already have a Coupa Supplier Portal account linked with BCG, your BCG contact will initiate creation of your account and will send registration instructions to you directly. Please save your login credentials.

If your company already has a Coupa Supplier Portal account (one that pre-dates your relationship with BCG), you can log into your existing account and link BCG as a new customer via the link provided on the 'Create an Account' page.

If you need to update any company details after registering, please contact us:

Contact BCG’s Procurement & Payables Team

2. Onboard as BCG supplier (for new suppliers only)

After you set up your account in the Coupa Supplier Portal and if you have been selected as a BCG supplier, you will be invited to complete a BCG questionnaire.

To facilitate the process, be prepared with the following information:

  • Supplier name and primary contact details.
  • Tax details (registration type, tax ID, GST/PAN Number).
  • Remit-to address.
  • Banking information (location, bank name, account number).
  • Banking supporting documentation. You must include supporting documentation to confirm your banking information.
  • Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS).

Please consult the Supplier Onboarding Guides for geography specific assistance:

3. Complete risk assessment (for new suppliers only)

If BCG engages with you as a Supplier, risk screening and additional supplier risk questionnaires or due diligence checks may be required. The questionnaires may look into risk areas including Regulatory, Business Continuity, Fourth Parties and other due diligence questions. Information Security and Data privacy reviews may also be conducted by BCG’s Information Security team. BCG expects Suppliers to complete these questionnaires promptly once requested.​

4. Start invoicing

You must be completely onboarded to be paid.

  • Coupa Invoicing is not yet live in your geography. Please consult the Supplier Invoicing Guides below for geography specific assistance.
  • If your geography is not listed, please reach out to your BCG contact for invoicing instructions.

Please consult the Supplier Invoicing Guides for geography specific assistance:​

Coupa Coming Soon

As Coupa Supplier Portal is not yet live in your region, the local BCG finance team will contact you to complete onboarding and answer any questions you might have.

BCG is rolling out use of the CSP globally, so you can look forward to seeing it in your market soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Coupa Supplier Portal Registration

Can I register for the Coupa Supplier Portal with BCG?
BCG manages supplier onboarding through the Coupa Supplier Portal for most countries. If you are not in one of these countries, BCG will ask you to onboard through a separate process outside of the Coupa Supplier Portal.

How much does it cost to join the Coupa Supplier Portal?
Coupa does not charge suppliers to join or use the Coupa Supplier Portal.

Can I forward the Coupa Supplier Portal registration request to someone else in my company?
Yes, you can forward the invitation before creating an account in the Coupa Supplier Portal. You will need to click the “Join and Respond” option provided in the welcome email and forward the invitation to the correct company representative. Please note that the invitation can only be forwarded to another party within the same company email domain.

Why have I not received the email invitation to join Coupa?
Check your spam/junk email folder. If you still cannot find the email invitation, contact  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com.

Coupa Supplier Portal Account Management

Why am I unable to log into my CSP account?
Make sure you have followed the login instructions for the CSP. If you still have issues, reset your password. If the problem persists, contact  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com.

I reset my password, but I still can’t log in. What should I do?
Check that you are using the correct  link to log in. If the issue persists, you can connect to the chat option available in Coupa for further assistance.

Can I edit my company information if it is already signed up to the Coupa Supplier Portal?
Yes, please contact  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com to update your company’s information on the Coupa Supplier Portal which ensures updates are reflected in the BCG system.

How can I submit a banking change request for my current/next payment?
To submit a banking change request for your current or next payment, please contact  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com. In your email, use the subject line "Banking Change Request" to ensure your message is addressed promptly, and include the new bank details.

How long will my account be kept active in the Coupa Supplier Portal?
There is no auto-deactivation process for supplier records in Coupa. Your account will remain active unless you or the BCG business owner request to deactivate your supplier record.

Onboarding

What information do I need to provide on the Onboarding form?
BCG collects supplier information related to bank details, tax details, remit-to address, contact details, suppler diversity, and codes of conduct.

I have provided onboarding information by email to my BCG point of contact, why am I getting reminders to complete the Coupa form?
It is likely that your BCG contact provided your details to us at our support email address to onboard you in BCG System. BCG is not authorized to create your account in the Coupa Supplier Portal (CSP) so it is mandatory for you to fill in the Coupa form and submit for approval. Please look for the Coupa Supplier Invitation email sent to you at the registered email address and follow the instructions to register yourself in Coupa Supplier Portal.

Where is the Onboarding form located in my CSP account?
Click on the notifications tab on the top right corner of CSP, or the profile option to locate the form sent to you.

Can I complete the Onboarding form in my native language?
Yes. You can select your preferred language by hovering over the “English (US)” button at the bottom of the screen. Please note, this functionality is only available for Coupa standard fields, not the complete form will be translated into your native language.

How soon do I need to complete the risk questionnaires?
BCG expects suppliers to complete the questionnaires promptly upon receiving them to ensure a smooth and timely assessment process. Delays in completing the questionnaires may impact the assessment process.

Where can I access any risk questionnaires I am assigned?
All questionnaires that you are assigned will be available in your Coupa Risk Assess portal dashboard. You will receive separate emails for each questionnaire you are assigned, and you can gain access to that questionnaire directly from that email.

What are the typical risk areas covered in the questionnaires?
The questionnaires typically cover areas such as regulatory compliance, business continuity, fourth-party risks, information security, data privacy, and other due diligence questions relevant to the engagement. For assistance in filling out these questionnaires, consult the respective Supplier Onboarding Guide in the “Registering as a BCG Supplier” section of this page. Certain documentation may be required along with your answers.

Are there separate assessments for information security and data risk?
Yes, separate assessments for information security and data risk may be assigned to suppliers in addition to the general risk questionnaires. These emails are sent separately, so be vigilant to ensure you complete all the risk requirements.

Invoicing

Can I submit invoices for payment in my Coupa Supplier Portal?
BCG manages invoices through the Coupa Supplier Portal in most countries. If you are not in one of these countries, then the Coupa invoicing functionality will not be available, and we ask you to please reach out to your BCG contact for invoicing instructions.

Can I submit an invoice once I have completed the supplier onboarding form?
Once our Supplier Onboarding team has received the completed Coupa form from you, your information will undergo a risk screening process which will take approximately 24 to 48 hours. You will receive confirmation of onboarding as soon as the screening is successfully completed. After that, you can create your invoice in Coupa Supplier Portal / invoice via the indicated way.

Why can't I see my transactions or see the BCG tab to list my transactions in CSP? 
It is likely that you registered for CSP using a different email address from what BCG used for the invitation. Please contact  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com and ask for another invitation using the address you registered with.

Should I load all invoices into CSP? 
Yes, we strongly encourage suppliers to submit invoices electronically via the Coupa Supplier Portal when possible. You can also upload invoices against all POs visible in the portal, if applicable.

What types of files can I attach to an invoice?
For invoice image scans, attachments must be of PDF. However, other supporting documents can be in the format of XLSX, PNG, GIF, JPG, PEG, PJPEG, or TIFF.

How do I add shipping charges to an invoice?
You can add shipping charges at the bottom of the invoice for the entire invoice or at the line-item level for specific goods.

What does the “Export to” button do?
You can export the rows to a CSV file, an Excel document, or bulk export legal invoices in a compressed (.zip) file. By default, the maximum number of rows you can export is 200,000. If you try to export a larger table, you will receive an error message stating that only 200,000 rows are exported. When you export a table with fewer than 500 rows, the file downloads to your computer immediately. When a table has more than 500 rows, you receive the exported file zipped in an email.

How long are legal invoices available for download?
Invoices in the CSP are available for you to download if you are connected to BCG through the CSP. You can also develop an internal process for downloading and storing these invoices in a separate electronic archive of your choice.

Where should I check if my invoice isn’t registered?
In the CSP main menu, click on the Invoices tab and look for invoices that are still listed as drafts. They must be edited and then submitted. If the invoice is not there, it's not in the system.

Why can't I edit/void/delete a submitted invoice? 
Once an invoice has been submitted, it cannot be changed in any way. This ensures invoice processing integrity. Please contact  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com.

How do I credit or cancel an invoice that has already been billed?
To create a credit, enter a negative quantity. Once an invoice is submitted, it cannot be changed.

Can I reuse an invoice number once BCG has deleted it on their end?
It is not advisable to use the same invoice number again if the invoice has already been deleted by BCG.

Will BCG use the bank details I specify in the CSP?  
No, BCG will continue to use the existing banking details in our Vendor Master data. If you need to change your bank details, please contact BCG Procurement support team at  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com.

Payment on Submitted Invoices

If I’m using the Coupa Supplier Portal, who is responsible for paying me?
BCG is still responsible for paying you directly. You can follow the status of your invoice and payment through the portal.

How do I know if my invoice has been approved for payment?
The invoice approval status will appear in your CSP account under the Invoice history. If registered with the CSP, you will receive an email and notification from Coupa when an invoice is approved for payment.

Once an invoice has been approved, what do I do next?
Nothing! The invoice is in the queue, and you'll be paid based on the payment terms you have with us.

What does "Pending Receipt" mean?
This status shows that BCG is receiving the goods/services into their system. Once the BCG buyer enters the receipt, the invoice is matched against it.

What does the status "Pending Approval" on an invoice mean?
It means your invoice requires BCG internal review and approval. Once approved, your invoice will be paid according to the payment terms.

What does the status "Tolerance Hold" on an invoice mean?
It means your invoiced amount differs from the PO by more than BCG allows without manual approval. If an invoice has been on hold for a while, ask the BCG support team to review it.

What do I do if an invoice was rejected?
When an invoice is rejected, BCG will provide details explaining the rejection in the comments section at the bottom of the invoice. If you are not clear on the reason, you can either enter questions into the comments section on the invoice which will be sent to the requestor, or contact the requestor for further details to resolve the matter. Once confirmed, all you need to do is to create a new invoice to replace the one that was rejected.

How will I be notified that my invoice was paid?
Remittance advice will be generated and automatically sent to suppliers via email once the invoice has been paid.

How do I check if an invoice has been paid?
Payment information for your invoice will appear in your CSP account under the invoice history. If registered, you will receive an email and notification from Coupa confirming approval for payment. For questions regarding payment information, contact  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com.

I submitted an invoice, but I was never paid. What do I do?
The likely reason is that your account was not fully onboarded into the Coupa Supplier Portal, or you have not completed all the Risk components. Please complete all items to ensure you are paid for any submitted invoices. If you still need help, contact  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com.

How do I create a credit memo?
There are two options to create and submit a credit memo:

  1. Using the Coupa Supplier Portal (CSP)
    a. After logging in you can find the BCG Purchase Order. Select the red ‘coins’ icon to create a credit memo.
    b. To create a non-PO credit memo, please navigate to the Invoices tab on the main menu and click on the Create Credit Note button above the Invoices table.
  2. Sending your credit note by email in PDF format to  BCGProcPaySupport@bcg.com. However, that is not BCG’s preferred channel for receiving credit notes and might have longer lead time for the credit.

Reactivating as a BCG Supplier

If you have previously done work with BCG and cannot access your account, BCG will need to re-invite you before you start any new work with BCG. Reach out to your BCG contact to initiate the process. If you have issues reaching a BCG contact, you may contact the BCG Procurement & Payables Team for further assistance:

Contact BCG’s Procurement & Payables Team

Offboarding as a BCG Supplier

If you no longer wish to work with BCG, your BCG contact can submit a supplier deactivation request. You will be notified when the deactivation from BCG is complete. You will remain a part of the Coupa Supplier Portal.

Contact BCG’s Procurement & Payables Team

Learn More About BCG Supplier Relationships

Benefits of timely completion of information and ensuring your Coupa Supplier Profile is up to date, such as:

  • Have self-service access to update key commercial information and to provide updates on products, services, diversity, ESG status, etc.
  • Make your company visible to the BCG Enterprise Procurement and Payables team (plus 2,500 others through the Coupa Supplier Network).
  • Less paperwork and self-service tracking of the status of purchases.

Supplier Sustainability

BCG’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond the boundaries of our firm to include the suppliers we use. We embed leading ESG principles in our processes, and governance—not only to drive more value for BCG but to unlock the potential of sustainable practices more broadly.

We define sustainable procurement as the management of environmental, social, and economic impacts of an end-to-end supply chain. BCG’s goals are to prioritize environmental protection, make significant progress toward net zero climate impact, support social responsibility and diversity, safeguard human rights, and contribute to a more prosperous economy through innovation and financial inclusion in our supply chain.

To achieve this, we safeguard BCG by implementing risk identification and mitigation processes. We conduct due diligence and monitor suppliers to proactively identify and manage adverse impacts on BCG, the planet, and society, and we ensure supplier compliance with regulatory requirements. Where stakeholders, whether internal or external to BCG, believe business activities are non-compliant, we provide the BCG Speak Up line to report such violations. We follow a strict nonretaliation policy and do not tolerate reprisal against any individual who raises a concern in good faith. This holistic approach helps BCG comply with regulatory requirements and allows us to meet the sustainability commitments we’ve made as a company.

While ensuring we abide by laws concerning human rights, we also integrate BCG’s commitment to net zero in our overall strategy, adhere to the principles of the UN Global Compact, and commit to respecting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

For further details, please visit our sustainability commitments page:

BCG is committed to developing our supplier diversity. The resources of diverse suppliers enable competitive advantage and improve the quality of solutions and services provided to our internal stakeholders as well as our external clients. BCG belongs to corporate and diversity councils and has made commitments to support them by attending their conferences and engaging closely with them to pursue expanded opportunities for diverse suppliers.

Our supplier diversity objectives:

  • Build fair and inclusive supply chains for all suppliers via diverse supplier programs and supplier engagement.
  • Provide training and development opportunities for all enrolled BCG suppliers, to help ensure the quality of products and services.
  • Encourage current and future business partners that are not yet certified MWVBEs to pursue certification.
  • Maintain active corporate member participation in the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

All suppliers are requested to report Tier 2 supplier diversity spend (direct and/or indirect) on a quarterly basis. The Tier 2 reporting process for Boston Consulting Group will be submitted through the Supplier Gateway portal.

Supplier Diversity FAQ's

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Which corporate and diversity council memberships does BCG hold?
Contact BCG's Supplier Diversity Team

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