Construction projects bring specific sets of procurement demands, presenting a number of challenges to those involved in sourcing and purchasing. Project complexity, economic investment, number of individuals involved and the impact of weather and ground conditions are just a few of the considerations that set construction procurement apart from that of other industries.
And when it comes to project complexity, a recent undertaking of immense scale was London’s 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. London 2012 presented construction planners with great demands: value for money was insisted on, as was an end product boasting long-term usability, both against an immovable completion date and under glaring media spotlight.
The adoption of e-procurement tools in the planning of London 2012 proved highly successful, significantly impacting the ‘green’ gains of the builds, as well positively affecting expenditure. A report from the Institution of Civil Engineers states that:
‘Adoption of electronic sourcing tools has:
– streamlined the evaluation process leading to productivity savings of more than £5 million;
– delivered cash savings on postage and packaging of £350,000; and
– saved 8.2 million sheets of paper with an estimated CO2 saving of 72 total emissions (Te).’
Read more about online sourcing in the construction industry by downloading our latest free white paper, ‘e-Sourcing in the Construction Sector’.
