This e-procurement effort, spearheaded by the Department of State Development, Business and Innovation, underscores moves to go “digital,” while using cloud offerings to manage ICT operational costs.
An “e-Services” register now offers access to an industry catalogue of goods and services. A dedicated portal is enabling agencies and solutions providers to “meet” and do business in an on-line marketplace.
Earlier, State Minister for Technology, Mr Gordon Rich-Phillips, officially launched the government’s e-Services Register. This consolidated register replaces an “e-Services Panel.”
Under the Victorian government’s ICT Strategy ICT Strategy, the administration seeks to simplify companies’ ability to bid for contracts. Moreover, agencies are being encouraged to make “informed purchasing decisions” that involve a broad range of suppliers.
Cloud-based marketplace
The Victorian government is leveraging a Global Ariba Network to host and manage its e-procurement initiative. Cloud-based applications, available on this network, include Ariba Sourcing and Ariba Supplier Information Management.
This network is managed by Ariba, the cloud-based business commerce arm of SAP.
Mr Jim McParlane, Vice President for Australia, New Zealand and Japan, Ariba, told FutureGov the Victorian government is one of the first to use Ariba’s cloud services.
Changing the mind-set
Governments are increasingly using hosted cloud services to manage the cost of running ICT services. But there needs to be a “change in mind-set” about how these services are accessed, shared and managed, according to Mr McParlane.
“Key states are already using cloud services; they’re also tapping into private sector expertise to share knowledge and skills.”
Presently, typical procurement contracts factor in cloud-licensing arrangements. This opens up access to software-as-a-service (SaaS) and strategic sourcing in a global marketplace.
Each year, nearly 295,000 companies use Ariba Sourcing to locate more than US$340 billion in goods and services across 500 categories. This is helping save more than US $30 billion, while reducing process and cycle times by nearly 50 to 70 percent.
Access to cloud services can be done economically and quickly, noted Mr McParlane. “The time to implement this platform is quick, as we’re using an established global network. The cloud requires no special hardware; it also eliminates having to use to IT platforms and physical infrastructure.”
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Shahida Sweeney
Quelle/Source: futureGov, 27.08.2013
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