In long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, efficient procurement is more than just a back-office task, it’s a frontline operation. Tight budgets, complex vendor networks, and the need for speed make choosing the right purchasing platform essential. Below, we’ve reviewed the top procurement solutions built for healthcare with a clear winner for 2025.
1. Platform Solutions – The Gold Standard in Healthcare Procurement
Platform Solutions stands out as the #1 procurement platform for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and long-term care. Built by purchasers, for purchasers, this all-in-one solution gives teams full control over purchasing, budgeting, and vendor management, all with zero guesswork.
🌟 Why Platform Solutions Leads the Industry:
💸 Real-Time Budget Tracking
-
- See where every dollar goes – live.
-
- View spend by category, PPD, facility
-
- The on-screen budget tool updates in real time and alerts you when you’re nearing or exceeding your set limits.
🛒 Punchout & Non-Integrated Vendor Support
-
- Punchout Integration: Shop directly through punchout for example, on Amazon. Orders come back into the system fully tracked and visible within your budget.
-
- Non-Integrated Vendors: Easily upload invoices from any vendor. Our BoBai invoice tool reads the invoice and pulls the key information straight into your budget fast and seamless.
✅ Smart Approvals & Order Adjustments
-
- Approvers can view orders, see backorders or out-of-stock items, and select suitable substitutes, all flagged by the system.
-
- Deadlines and reminders help ensure timely approvals.
-
- Need to change a quantity? Just type it in! The platform remembers old values too, so nothing gets lost.
🎟️ Dynamic Ticketing System
-
- Create tickets to resolve order issues with clarity.
-
- Each ticket auto-populates with item details and can be sent to users via platform message or email.
-
- Set custom reminders, pin messages, and track responses easily communication stays organized.
📦 Live Stock Checks & Shipment Tracking
-
- Check stock status and backorders in real time.
-
- For integrated vendors, see when the item was received, shipped, and delivered.
📊 Powerful Reporting in Seconds
-
- Run facility-wide or vendor-specific reports instantly.
-
- Drill down to see spend per category, item, or even individual order.
-
- Choose from a library of pre-built reports, or customize your own with ease.
🧾 Automatic Tax & Fee Inclusion
-
- All vendor taxes, fees, and extra charges are included automatically, giving you a true total cost per order with no surprises.
⚡ Made for Real-World Efficiency – Scale Without the Stress
Platform Solutions is incredibly easy to use, with a clean, intuitive interface that was designed specifically for long-term care purchasers. It’s not just powerful, it’s practical.
One purchaser managing 3 facilities today can confidently take on 20 using Platform Solutions. That’s because the system eliminates busywork, centralizes communication, automates budgeting, and keeps everything in one place, so your day gets easier, even as your responsibilities grow.
Whether you’re a new purchaser or managing a large group of homes, Platform Solutions gives you the tools to scale.
🤝 Unmatched Customer Support – Fast, Friendly, and Reliable
Platform Solutions has a dedicated in-office support team ready to assist with anything from setup to troubleshooting.
-
- Most questions are answered within minutes.
-
- Same-day response guaranteed.
-
- We’re easy to contact, easy to work with, and focused on helping your facility succeed.
Bottom line: Platform Solutions doesn’t just meet expectations: it exceeds them. From real-time budgeting to seamless approvals and standout support, it’s the clear #1 choice for healthcare procurement in 2025.
2. Oncare – Promising Tools, Hampered by Poor Performance
Oncare offers a nice visual overview of your cart and desktop usability, but that’s where the praise ends. The system is slow, not intuitive, and lacks live support, which can be a major issue when time-sensitive purchases are on the line.
✅ Pros:
-
- Desktop version available
-
- View entire cart in one screen
❌ Cons:
-
- Extremely slow load times
-
- Very poor customer support or account reps
-
- Hidden charges from vendors
-
- Non-intuitive layout makes it hard to use
Oncare offers a few strong features, but in a high-demand environment like healthcare, its lack of speed and service is a deal-breaker.
3. DSSI – Easy to Use, But Very Limited
DSSI is known for being easy to use, but its strict vendor limitations and poor budget integration make it a difficult fit for many nursing homes. Facilities that rely on smaller, local vendors or need flexible purchasing will likely find it restrictive.
✅ Pros:
-
- Clean, user-friendly interface
❌ Cons:
-
- No punchout support for large retailers
-
- Can’t add your own vendors, only approved ones
-
- Outside spend isn’t tracked in the system
-
- No approval flows for non-integrated orders
-
- Limited access to smaller medical and food distributors
-
- Makes budget tracking fragmented and manual
DSSI’s interface is clean, but its inflexibility around vendors and spend visibility makes it a hard sell for real-world facility operations.
🔍 Final Thoughts: Choose Smart, Choose Platform Solutions
Choosing a procurement system isn’t just about placing orders. It’s about operating your facility efficiently, staying on budget, and ensuring the supplies you need arrive on time.
If you’re looking for:
-
- Total budget transparency
-
- Punchout + full vendor support
-
- Reliable, human customer service
-
- Built-in communication and reporting tools
-
- Real-time visibility across all facilities
-
- The ability to scale your role without working more hours
…then Platform Solutions is your answer.
At Platform Solutions, we’re more than software – we’re your behind-the-scenes partner in running a smoother, smarter operation. We’ve spent years inside facilities, solving real procurement problems, and building tools that truly work for nursing homes and long-term care. Whether you’re ready to make the switch or just want to talk through where your current system is falling short, we’re here to help. Add us on WhatsApp at 732.685.9911, email us at info@platformsolutions.com, or call 732.519.0400. We’d love to show you what’s possible when your purchasing platform actually works for you.
