Business to business e-procurement

The project will develop a universal software interface (portal) between the financial information systems of HEIs and their suppliers to facilitate electronic procurement. Such software has already been developed and demonstrated to 'proof of concept' stage. The next stage is to develop a portal, to suit the requirements of a HEI, which will comply with industry-standard XML software.

Frequent purchases (for example stationery and laboratory consumables) can take a good deal of a purchasing officer's time. E-commerce would free a proportion of this time spent on routine, lower cost purchases, which can then be devoted to more complex purchasing and procurement matters.

This development will enable HEIs to place purchase orders electronically - with approved suppliers at specific contract prices within budget limits. Upon confirmation of delivery of the goods, the institution will be invoiced electronically and subsequently pay electronically in a secure manner.

Total funding : £140,000