Police IT Organisation Takes First Steps into e-Procurement with Accenture’s Help
LONDON; March 21, 2002 – The U.K. Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) has placed its first order through a new pilot eProcurement system delivered in just 10 weeks by Accenture.
The pilot, with 28 suppliers already in the system, will provide the eProcurement service to 50 PITO users. Available to staff through a desktop web browser, the pilot system will introduce new efficiencies by managing the entire procurement process from requisition to invoice via the web. The eProcurement pilot also will position PITO to collect more data about the organisation’s buying behaviour, which PITO could use in the future to negotiate better prices from suppliers.
The pilot system is based on Epylon, a U.S.-based provider of hosted eProcurement software and services for government and education institutions, and Ariba, a global leader in the development of eProcurement software. Accenture is the prime contractor responsible for the technical implementation, integration and operations, enabling the pilot’s rapid deployment. The ease of system use resulted in minimal training needs and early positive feedback from users.
Steve Dempsey, the Accenture partner leading the work said: “This is our second eProcurement project for the OGC, following our successful pilot at the National Assembly for Wales. This pilot differs from the first though in that we are also interfacing with PITO’s finance system to further automate the full procurement cycle. I am very pleased with the progress we have made so far.”
Mark Keene, PITO’s Commercial director, said: “This is a cutting-edge pilot to investigate the potential benefits of eProcurement not only for ourselves but on behalf of the whole government sector. We are extremely pleased to be on board.”
This pilot is one of seven being undertaken as part of the Office of Government Commerce’s (OGC) ePilots Project. The OGC has commissioned an independent consultancy to produce a report on the basis of the ePilots project, outlining best practices in eProcurement for the public sector based on the activities and lessons learned. The project, including the final guidance report, will be completed by the end of July 2002.
About Accenture
Accenture is the world’s leading management consulting and technology services organization. Through its network of businesses approach — in which the company enhances its consulting and outsourcing expertise through alliances, affiliated companies and other capabilities — Accenture delivers innovations that help clients across all industries quickly realize their visions. With more than 75,000 people in 47 countries, the company generated net revenues of $11.44 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
About PITO
PITO is a public body set up to develop IT support whilst at the same time involving police forces and police authorities more closely in the decision making process. PITO is overseen by a board that draws its members from the three legs of the organisation’s structure – namely ACPO, the police authorities as well as the Home Office and Scottish Office. There is also one independent member.
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Mark Radvanyi
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