With the launch of the Procurement Act 2023, one area of focus for public sector procurement teams will be the need to maintain an accurate and up-to-date procurement pipeline — with an 18-month forward look at all procurement events over £2 million.
Procurement teams, traditionally reliant on spreadsheets, now face a greater need for centralised and transparent management of all procurement data. Not only is this crucial for compliance, but it also empowers procurement teams to make informed, timely decisions, streamline processes, and improve resource allocation. At Oxygen, we have a solution that can help…
The problem with speadsheets
Many procurement teams still rely on a master spreadsheet to track their procurement pipeline and contract register but alongside the difficulty in reporting, data integrity and security can be compromised, and user access can be difficult to manage. With the additional requirements now in place, there’s an opportunity to move away from these outdated methods and find more appropriate tools to manage your procurement pipeline.
Until recently, the challenge was in finding a solution that catered for the needs of public sector buyers – it simply didn’t exist. To fulfil this need, Oxygen developed Pipeline Manager in collaboration with our local authority clients. Pipeline Manager offers a tailored solution designed specifically for local authorities to take control of their procurement forward plans, streamline processes, and meet the new requirements. Unlike spreadsheets, the tool enables you to see exactly where each procurement event stands, from requirement gathering through to contracting.
Key Features of Pipeline Manager
- Centralised and Consistent Data
Pipeline Manager centralises your procurement data into one easy-to-manage system. This ensures consistent, reliable data at all times, which is vital for accurate forecasting and compliance with the Procurement Act 2023. - Easy-to-Use Reporting and Exporting
Pipeline Manager comes with a suite of PowerBI reports, allowing you to access data at the touch of a button. Additionally, you can easily export your pipeline data to CSV files, ensuring that your procurement pipeline is ready for publication whenever needed, in line with the new Act’s requirements. - Customisable and Filterable Pipeline
You can filter your procurement pipeline by stage, staff member, or date. This allows for better resource allocation, task prioritisation, and alignment with procurement timelines. Furthermore, the tool offers customisable fields, meaning local authorities can capture and report on council-specific data points. - Contract Register Integration
Pipeline Manager also helps local authorities manage their contract registers alongside their procurement pipeline. You can easily import contract data from other systems and link procurement events with preceding contracts. This feature ensures continuity and allows you to track generational savings, which can be useful for long-term budget planning. - Full Visibility and Control
With Pipeline Manager, you can track tenders and contracts across thousands of projects, prioritise tasks, manage workloads, and ensure that your team is always working on the most critical tasks.
What does this mean for your team?
- Streamlined Operations
Manual data entry, inconsistent reporting, and disconnected systems often lead to inefficiencies in procurement. With everything centralised and easily accessible, teams can save valuable time and reduce the chance for human error. - Improved Resource Management
The ability to filter your pipeline and track resources by stage or staff member means that your procurement team can operate more efficiently. With full visibility over each stage of procurement, teams can allocate resources to where they are most needed, ensuring that no project falls behind schedule. - Increased Transparency and Compliance
The Procurement Act 2023 requires that procurement data is not only accurate but also transparent and easily accessible. Pipeline Manager helps ensure your procurement pipeline is ready for publication and compliance by providing up-to-date data that can be shared with stakeholders and the public. - Scalable for Any Team Size or Spend
Pipeline Manager scales to meet your needs. It’s suitable for teams of all sizes, making it the perfect solution for any local authority looking to modernise their procurement process.
Ready to take a closer look at Pipeline Manager?
Pipeline Manager is designed specifically for local authorities, ensuring that procurement teams have the tools they need to comply, report, and manage their pipelines effectively. You no longer need to rely on time-consuming spreadsheets.
Book a demo today to see how we can help transform your procurement management.
