Bradford Grammar School is saving two days a week and a
third of its IT budget with a web-basedprocurementsystem. The system allows
the school to gets its IT from anonline catalogueshowing products from
1,200 suppliers.
The school's IT department is now using the catalogue to buy
hardware and software and is saving nearly two working weeks a
month because of the increase in the efficiency of its purchasing
processes.
Before using the online system, the school's IT team would spend
up to half of every working day searching for suppliers on the
internet, before ringing each supplier and requesting a quote. The
quotes would then be analysed according to cost and availability.
The process meant that, while IT equipment came from a trusted
source, it was not always at the best price.
The department is now using
theitindex.co.uk/gov to update its 600 PCs and 12
servers. IT network manager Simon Marriott said the time saved
allows the team to maintain the system to a higher level. The money
the department is saving means it can buy higher specification
equipment for the same budget.
He said, "On average the system is saving us in excess of two
days a week in time we used to spend on researching, sourcing and
comparing prices from multiple suppliers. It has reduced our
procurement process from nearly half a working day down to less
than half an hour."
He said the monetary savings mean the department can improve
technology education at the school because it can buy better
equipment.
"The system has enabled us to do a better job for Bradford
Grammar School. We can now get the best priced product for the
fastest possible time in the UK, enabling us to stretch our IT
budget and deliver a better service for teachers to educate
pupils."