The big problem with the big business of government procurement

Today’s low-code automation platforms can streamline procurement and contract processes without moving the data.

Government procurement is the business of how government agencies spend citizens’ tax dollars to buy the things those agencies need to fulfil their missions. And it is big business.

AusTender, publisher of centralised information on Australian Government procurement, reported 824,178 contracts started between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2022, with a total value of $565 billion. The top three government spend categories include commercial, military and private vehicles and their accessories and components ($123 billion), management and business professionals and administrative services ($107 billion) and engineering, research and technology-based services ($57 billion).

“Since 2019, the number of opportunities going through the marketplaces has more than doubled to almost 8000 opportunities in 2022,” said Wayne Poels, General Manager for Digital Investment Advice and Sourcing for the Digital Transformation Agency.

Government agencies are obligated to spend citizens’ dollars efficiently, effectively and transparently. The drivers are the same as in commercial tendering: lower prices, higher quality goods and services, and increased innovation. Agencies have a further obligation to encourage a fair and competitive bidding process to diminish the risk of favouritism and other fraudulent behaviour while also giving equal opportunity to smaller suppliers that are minority-owned, veteran-owned, etc. Despite this, more than 75% of annual federal contracts are currently awarded to big business.

The problem for government is that procurement is a complex form of case management with myriad rules and requirements, long-lived processes that cross departmental and organisational boundaries, and constantly changing data states. Legacy government IT systems are not up to the task of reducing this complexity and providing holistic transparency.

Challenges facing government agencies

Growth in the number and scope of government contracts is straining government procurement systems. The implementation of effective procurement case management solutions can enhance functionality to meet compliance, legal and accountability requirements. Further, outdated siloed technology and inadequate management processes prolong the procurement process, create inefficiencies and expose agencies to preventable risks and delays to improved mission outcomes.

Government agencies know they must modernise their acquisition process but identifying the most efficient and cost-effective outcome can be confusing.

Modernisation of procurement systems must successfully integrate the two elements of the procurement process: finance and contract writing systems. Finance teams track and allocate money while contract writing teams manage the creation, execution and administration of contracts, and the integration of their datasets is critical.

Finance and contract writing teams must share budgetary information, cost estimation, real-time obligation and commitment tracking. Additionally, they both need access to invoicing and payment information, financial reporting and compliance data.

Some agencies decide to modernise their financial system to incorporate contract writing functionality. However, this approach doesn’t incorporate the needs of the contract writing community and lacks important functionality, such as the ability to duplicate contract line item numbers (CLINs).

“While both financial and contracting systems need to be modernised and data standards need to be established to enhance communication between them, they need to be separate products to meet the needs of separate functions,” said Jake Edelman, Specialist Leader at Deloitte Consulting.

The benefits of a platform approach

Today’s low-code platforms that provide end-to-end automation with interwoven data fabric technology provide a modernisation layer that sits on top of existing infrastructure. Automation streamlines processes while the data fabric simplifies integration to provide a 360-degree view without moving the data.

It harnesses AI, machine learning and process mining to improve speed, data sharing and process orchestration. A platform approach eliminates the need to adapt legacy technology, infrastructure and knowledge.

In this way, such a platform approach improves every aspect of the procurement lifecycle:

• Requirements management: Intelligent requirements gathering simplifies compliance with regulations and mission mandates.
• Award management: Proactive management of funding, spend and contract dates keeps procurement teams on track and on schedule.
• Source selection: A simplified and standardised supplier evaluation process reduces the risk of a protested decision down the line.
• Clause automation: Including generative AI in the process makes it faster and easier to ensure the right contract clauses are selected.
• Vendor management: Breaking down the silos between contracting and suppliers creates a more transparent and efficient marketplace.
   

According to Gail Guseman, Specialist Leader, Deloitte Consulting, a low-code solution also provides agility, a key requirement of a modern procurement system.

“Taking an agile approach to data is vitally important, as it allows you to easily add new requirements and incorporate user feedback,” she said.

A procurement system should integrate financial, ERP, records management, case management, enterprise reporting and property management systems. Instead of migrating and restructuring all these datasets, the platform can seamlessly join disparate systems and share data as required.

Modern low-code platforms can provide robotic process automation (RPA), a critical component of a contract writing solution that allows connection between systems without APIs, so data can be automatically copied and pasted rather than requiring manual data entry.

“I think that embracing some of these next-generation technologies will make acquisitions better for everyone,” Guseman said.

Successfully managing change

One of the risks of modernising a well-entrenched system is that end users can reject its replacement, resulting in organisations losing valuable employees with historical knowledge. Introducing intuitive case management solutions requires thoughtful adaption and training. However, there are numerous benefits: streamlined processes, improved user experience and a significant reduction in manual, time-consuming tasks. Such solutions act as the backbone of modern procurement systems, seamlessly navigating through complex contracts and compliance.

When working with government agencies, the educational component of change management is almost more important than the technology. Bringing end users in and letting them know what to expect from the process should be an integral part of the project. This includes a thorough understanding of improved case management capabilities — how it helps navigate through complex procurement tasks, ensures nothing is overlooked and makes their daily work easier. Communication elements must help stakeholders to understand what is changing, why and how it will affect their role.

The most powerful change management feature of low-code platform development is how it brings the end-user community closer to the development process. A low-code platform facilitates engagement and feedback from all stakeholders throughout the creation and implementation process, resulting in a user-friendly interface that improves staff retention and employee satisfaction.

As well as achieving the faster development of a system that meets the precise needs of end users, a low-code platform takes users along on the journey, providing them with a sense of ownership of the system.

“Stakeholders shouldn’t be surprised by change,” Guseman said. “Communications and change management elements are critical to successful project rollout.”

*Kal Marshall is Appian Regional Vice President, Public Sector APJ. Over a 25-year career spanning Workday, Accenture, SAP and Appian, Kal has helped government agencies, commercial organisations and government business enterprises achieve successful outcomes from their technology investments. He understands that public sector investments in technology are under increasing scrutiny so works to maximise technology investments amidst constant change in the industry.

Top image credit: iStock.com/Harlz