The new solution, already implemented by Kerry County Council, allows suppliers to submit their annual quotes online using dynamic e-forms through www.laquotes.ie.
"Requesting and processing quotations from suppliers is a major task for all councils, who each have their own unique forms for seeking such information as road making materials, concrete products, plant hire and haulage, etc," said Catherine Carmody, e-procurement project manager, Kerry County Council. "As a result of moving to a standardised online process we have delivered major benefits for internal workflows, process management and has led to a faster and more efficient system."
Suppliers also benefit from the solution, Carmody added; instead of submitting paper-based quotations to each local authority, the figures can be submitted electronically at the click of a button. "They can also view, edit and delete quotations as well as copy information from previous years submissions," she said.
To encourage participation in the project, a training programme was developed, including a series of workshops in each county. In addition, a local company developed a series of demonstrations and tutorials for the new system, which were made available online and also distributed on a CD to all suppliers along with a detailed information pack. A number of local supplier workshops were also undertaken in each county.
Autor: Ciara O'Brien
Quelle: ElectricNews, 08.11.2005
