Harnessing technology & procurement to power innovation

A recent panel discussion, featuring: - Rikesh Shah, Head of IPEC - Carol Williams, Director of Transformation & Digital/SIRO at Walsall Council and Vice President at Socitm - Katy Armstrong, Deputy Director for Digital Services at Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities - Helen Olsen Bedford, Publisher at UKAuthority explored the transformative potential of the upcoming Procurement Act 2023 for public sector procurement.

Here are the key takeaways from the discussion:

Complexity and Rigidity: Current procurement processes are often too complex and rigid, hindering innovation.

SME Involvement: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle to compete with larger companies because of onerous documentation and overly specific tender requirements.

Competitive Flexible Procedure: This new approach offers more creativity and flexibility in designing procurement procedures, enabling better collaboration with suppliers.

Innovative Partnership Procedure: Starting with a problem statement, this approach involves seed funding and testbeds to develop and refine solutions before awarding contracts.

Procure for value beyond cost: Contracts should be awarded based on long-term outcomes and overall value, rather than merely cost. This approach requires complex modelling and innovative evaluation methods.

Early Engagement: Involving diverse stakeholders early in the procurement planning process can lead to more intelligent and effective procurement strategies.

Budget Clarity: Clear budgeting for innovation, including transparency about what qualifies as innovation spending, is crucial. Upskilling Teams: Investing in training and upskilling procurement teams to manage new approaches is essential for continuous improvement.

Showcasing Success: Highlighting successful case studies and innovative practices encourages broader adoption and collective learning.

Sharing lessons learned: Highlighting what hasn’t worked is just as valuable as sharing successes. This exchange of information is crucial for fostering innovation in procurement and will help shift away from a blame culture Carol Williams expressed the optimistic perspective: “Don’t underestimate local government. If we can collectively release those shackles, local government will fly.