Procure Connect to manage NZD $51.5 billion in public spending

Consolidated Tenders has delivered a new procurement system, Procure Connect, for use across the New Zealand government. The platform is designed to manage the entirety of public sector procurement, with the aim of improving efficiency and oversight for annual government expenditure, which currently totals NZD $51.5 billion.

Procurement overhaul

The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment initiated the new platform as part of efforts to create a more streamlined and transparent approach to government purchasing. The system is intended to unify government procurement processes, bringing together planning, purchasing, and contracting functions within a single site.

Panel purchases, which account for NZD $3.6 billion of the total annual spend, are a key focus for the new platform. Procure Connect is expected to deliver annual savings of around 3%, or approximately NZD $100 million, through improved visibility and accountability in panel expenditure.

Support for businesses

The platform launch forms part of a broader push to provide small and regional businesses with more opportunities to work with government agencies. According to the Ministry, simplifying procurement and removing barriers for local suppliers is a primary objective for the new system.

"Working with the Ready Tech and Consolidated Tenders team has provided NZGP the ability to create a tool that will genuinely transform the outcomes of government procurement in New Zealand. A key priority for us is enabling businesses to work with government while simplifying and demystifying procurement processes. Procure Connect is the key enabler to that. The work for us has only just begun, now that we have the tool, we are ready to deliver faster and smarter services," said Michael Alp, General Manager of New Zealand Government Procurement, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Cross-border delivery

Procure Connect was delivered in partnership with ReadyTech, an Australia-based technology company. This continues a trend of regional collaboration, as Consolidated Tenders now manages government procurement platforms for Australia's Victoria, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory, in addition to New Zealand.

Combined, these platforms are expected to manage an estimated AUD $100 billion in government spending annually. Consolidated Tenders also oversees a portal aggregating procurement opportunities for around 500,000 registered suppliers in both Australia and New Zealand.

Platform impact

Consolidated Tenders' executive team cites increased efficiency and accessibility as core benefits of the new system. The company's background in both procurement delivery and supplier engagement has shaped the development of the platform to meet changing requirements.

"Enterprise level procurement is a complex process," said Stephen Blacketer, Managing Director, Consolidated Tenders. "We've seen the evolving needs of jurisdictions when it comes to systems, and we've also been on the other end of the spectrum as suppliers. Procure Connect brings efficiency, transparency, and security to every stage of the cycle, but most importantly, it's driven by inclusion, ensuring every business has access to the opportunities that fuel economic growth."