New Information Paradigms History
NIP has seen how some of the leading councils experience the painful problems related to procurement. Too often, Local Authorities entertain the implementation of expensive and elaborate ERP solutions. Exasperatingly, these can take years to fully implement and often consist of both ‘white elephant’ modules and, more critically, unrealised promises for core modules vital to achieving greater efficiency. This has been the cause of far too much pain experienced by Local Authorities over recent years.
NIP puts great emphasis on providing an intuitive, user focused, affordable alternative.
The PlL-cms evolved from extensive consultation with Local Authorities (particularly Lambeth Borough Council) and the consequential recognition that no software existed to expedite the process from the identification of a requirement, initiation of a project, through to the award of a contract and subsequent review and analysis of supplier performance.
PL-cms therefore provides Local Authorities with:
- The ability to meet e-government and e-procurement targets, thus avoiding criticism from the Audit Commission and the CAA.
- Exceptional management information with improved ability to track and analyse spend.
- Assistance in helping to drive through procurement strategy and, if required, facilitate business change.
- Vastly improved control, with comprehensive audit trails and improved security and transparency.
- Considerable cost savings, which are recognised due to reduced duplication of effort, reduced duplication of records and therefore paper.
- The ability to redirect resources to front line services, as a result of the above process savings.
In short, not only does the PL-cms provide structured workflow, it is fully auditable and offers previously unavailable insight into all aspects of the procurement process.