CASE STUDY

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September 6, 2022

October 20, 2023

Shaping the future of eProcurement in Wales

Employing mixed-methods user research to pave the way for a forward-looking eProcurement and data strategy for the Welsh Government

Commercial, Spend & Impact

Challenge

Our journey unfolded in the context of a shifting environment, characterised by imminent policy changes impacting Welsh procurement. These changes included the Procurement Bill and Welsh SPPP Bill, with contract renewal deadlines approaching for e-procurement vendors. To address this challenge, we collaborated closely with end-users representing various teams within WG, spanning data, policy, commercial, and service departments. Together, we outlined the technical prerequisites for efficient procurement data sharing and e-procurement systems. These requirements were seamlessly woven into a comprehensive technical architecture designed to facilitate data sharing across Welsh e-procurement and EPR systems. This architecture covered provisions for OCDS-implementation standards, the introduction of automated ETL pipelines via APLs, and the creation of a centralised spend data hosting and visualisation solution powered by Tableau.

Approach

Our journey unfolded in the context of a shifting environment, characterised by imminent policy changes impacting Welsh procurement. These changes included the Procurement Bill and Welsh SPPP Bill, with contract renewal deadlines approaching for e-procurement vendors. To address this challenge, we collaborated closely with end-users representing various teams within WG, spanning data, policy, commercial, and service departments. Together, we outlined the technical prerequisites for efficient procurement data sharing and e-procurement systems. These requirements were seamlessly woven into a comprehensive technical architecture designed to facilitate data sharing across Welsh e-procurement and EPR systems. This architecture covered provisions for OCDS-implementation standards, the introduction of automated ETL pipelines via APLs, and the creation of a centralised spend data hosting and visualisation solution powered by Tableau.

Impact

Our user-centric research and strategic approach have helped contribute to the transformation of the procurement landscape in Wales. By deeply understanding the needs of various stakeholders and applying technical expertise, we have paved the way for WG to implement a forward-looking eProcurement and data strategy. One that is in sync with evolving policies and standards, driving efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced data sharing across systems.

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Photo by the author

Johnny Hugill

Co-Managing Director

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