eSourcing Scotland - Delivering best value through eSourcing
An Overview
As part of the eProcurement Scotland service, buying organisations have access to an electronic sourcing system known as eSourcing Scotland. The eSourcing Scotland system provides procurement professionals with a set of web-based collaborative procurement tools with which they can communicate securely with both their suppliers and their stakeholders, throughout the procurement lifecycle.
The eSourcing Scotland system is based on mature, off-the-shelf software from Verticalnet, a leading provider of supply chain management solutions worldwide. Being remotely hosted means the system can be accessed over the internet without overhead or any technical implementation.
Making use of eSourcing Scotland
eSourcing Scotland is available to buying organisations participating in the eProcurement Scotland programme. Any buying organisation in the Scottish public sector - including central & local government, the NHSS and higher & further education bodies - are eligible to join the programme.
When used as the means of modernising a buying organisation's procurement processes, the introduction of an electronic sourcing system can be a source of efficiency savings and a driver of best practice.
What does the system offer?
The eSourcing Scotland system comprises four modules:
- Program Manager
- Negotiation Manager
- Contract Manager
- Performance Manager
These can be used individually or combined in order to support the organisation's sourcing and contract management needs.
System Outline/Specification
A brief outline of the function of each module is detailed below. The modules have been listed in order of use, from the pre-tender process through to completion and the ongoing contract and contractor performance monitoring:
Module 1: Program Manager - Allows a buying organisation to provide process workflows with which to guide its buyers in applying preferred sourcing processes across the procurement lifecycle.
Module 2: Negotiation Manager - Allows a buying organisation to conduct its tendering (and subsequent evaluations) electronically, whether for open or closed procedures, pre-qualification stages (PQQ), Invitations to Tender (ITT) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs). It also allows organisations to carry out reverse auctions employing transformational bidding. As the core of the programme's eTender system since 2004, Negotiation Manager has already become established within the Scottish public sector procurement. More detailed documents are available on Electronic tendering and Electronic Auctions.
Module 3: Contract Manager - Allows a buying organisation to perform contract management tasks at a variety of levels, from maintaining a straightforward contract registry up to full execution of contracts electronically.
Module 4: Performance Manager - Allows a buying organisation to monitor supplier performance against key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It enables organisations to track and manage performance, compliance and identify risk, trends and problem areas.
Benefits
Electronic tendering and the use of reverse auctions have already proven their worth both generally and within the eProcurement Scotland's range of offerings.
Now adopting the "advanced modules" of the eSourcing Scotland system allows us to maintain our position in the forefront of electronic procurement.
Service Support
The system is backed up with excellent support which includes:
- full, online system documentation from Verticanet
- supplier helpdesk support provided by Elcom
- start-up support and ongoing assistance from the ePS programme
- best-practice advice and guidance from the ePS programme
- training provided by QA Training.
Download a pdf version of this document here.