The procurement and purchasing sector is traditionally a necessary part of public sector organizations. Today, however, public sector procurement is evolving rapidly as more companies adopt digital technologies and make greater use of data analytics. This evolution is creating new opportunities for both public sector organizations and the businesses that supply them.
Let’s dive into different procurement options.
Procurement Specialists Have a Tough Job
Procurement specialists have a tough job. They are expected to deal with politicians, the media, and the public all at once often while managing complex procurement programs. The starting place for all public sector procurement specialists is the UK government’s current public procurement policy.
Procurement specialists are charged with negotiating contracts on behalf of their organization – this could be at an individual company or a government department. They will also simultaneously take into account wider policy priorities such as social justice or environmental sustainability.
Once you understand the rules around public sector procurement your next step is to find yourself a contract. Our contracts finder could assist you here.
Improving Performance
The procurement process has a number of areas where improvements could be made, including:
- Availability of data
- The use of technology
- The management of suppliers and contracts
- Collaboration with stakeholders
A procurement process is a valuable tool for helping an organization achieve its objectives. However, it can be improved upon in a number of ways. By making small changes to your procurement management system, you can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of your purchasing department.
Establishing the Right Relationships
As you can see, the procurement process is not a simple one. It requires commitment from all parties involved, and sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start.
In order for the public sector to succeed it must build meaningful relationships with its suppliers. To do this it must first establish trust and transparency. This means that contracts must be fair and honest – this is in order for both parties to feel comfortable entering into them.
It also means that when problems arise during or after a contract has been awarded there needs to be a strong enough relationship that both parties are willing to work together towards finding solutions.
Focusing on Strategic Value
As you focus on the key things that matter to your organization, you can use the following questions to help identify strategic value:
- What are we good at?
- What is important?
- What do we do best?
- How can we make a difference for our customers and ourselves?
Data Analytics and Public Sector Procurement
The power of data analytics is starting to be realized by today’s leading enterprises. So why aren’t more organizations taking advantage of it?
The key is getting your messaging right. It’s so that people understand how their work impacts the organization as a whole. It also helps them understand how they play a critical role in creating strategic value for your company or agency.
The next step would be focusing on strategic value by establishing the right relationships with suppliers who are aligned with your values and vision for change (this means looking beyond price).
Working together to find innovative ways to deliver better outcomes through collaboration between buyers and sellers will ultimately improve performance across all touchpoints within your organization, helping to increase profits while preserving long-term sustainability goals.
Climate Change and Public Sector Procurement
Public sector procurement is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The main drivers of carbon emissions from procurement are the transportation and construction sectors, with indirect effects from electricity consumption.
The public sector can play an important role in tackling climate change through its procurement decisions. It should set ambitious targets for reducing the carbon footprint of its operations and services. This includes reducing energy consumption and procuring renewable energy.
It should also commit to reducing its own carbon emissions by supporting its suppliers to reduce their use of fossil fuels and shift towards alternative sources of energy.
Need Help with Public Sector Procurement?
The public sector procurement and purchasing industry is in a period of change. There’s no question that procurement specialists have a tough job.
They have to manage expectations. But they also must grow their organizations as they go through a transformation. And they have to do all this while working with changing regulations, new technology, and other challenges.
But these are just some of the reasons why it’s so important for us to provide support for our clients. We believe that together we can achieve great things and that includes transforming your procurement process and the industry for the better.
For more on how we can assist you with public sector procurement be sure to contact us today through our support page.