eAuction savings highlighted

Public sector eAuctions were found to save between 13 and 29 per cent

eAuctions could become a more common sight in the public sector IT channel after Buying Solutions talked up their ability to save the taxpayer money.

The public sector procurement body organised and sponsored 13 eAuctions across a range of products and services - including IT hardware - as part of an initiative to drive up eAuction capability in the public sector.

Buying Solutions claims the eAuctions saved the purchasers between 13 and 29 per cent.

eAuctions involve suppliers competing against each other to place increasingly lower bids representing the amount they would be prepared to accept in payment for the contract.

One eAuction run on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council led to savings as high as 29 per cent, compared to current levels of spend, Buying Solutions claimed.

Ian Beverley, director of procurement for North Yorkshire County Council, said: “eAuctions are a powerful tool for delivering significant savings when used in the appropriate circumstances. Auctioning a service such as telephony has delivered outstanding results for North Yorkshire.

“On each occasion, this process has been used as the Further Competition process under a Buying Solutions framework agreement, ensuring minimum procurement overheads for maximum savings return.”

Rob Knapman, Buying Solutions’ eCommerce director added: “This innovative approach to eAuctions allows customers to benefit from Buying Solutions’ unique position as both an expert in eProcurement and a provider of value-for-money framework agreements.”