USER eProcurement Project

eProcurement Phase II is live! Visit the eProcurement website for information on how to enroll.

With this project, we endeavor to provide for our clients a better way of doing business.  Harnessing the power of the Internet, and implementing the latest technologies, we will create an online, full color catalog containing thousands of office and laboratory products.  With a mere click of the mouse, our customers will have the power to place orders anytime.  Additionally, a full set of online account management tools provides up-to-date information on customers' accounts (e.g. supplies ordered; expenditures; etc.).  We refer to this new system as eProcurement--an ongoing effort to create interconnected business models that provide for our customers the best service possible.

Mission

The eProcurement Project is a community of individuals who believe there is a better way to provide services to the campus. They come together from all walkways of the University, giving of their time and of their goodwill. The project is directed by USER project guiding principles and by the belief that information should be made readily available to the university community. There is a common commitment to learning the needs of the customers (users) and to creating products to meet those needs. This combined with an understanding of the elements of change and interest in participating in a creative team environment keeps the project moving toward its mission to transform how the University provides support services.

About eProcurement

The University of Washington has a diverse population with many needs. University Stores' goal is to make acquisition as easy as possible to meet the needs of this diverse population. Today people use the Internet to place orders for books, cd's, and many other goods. The eProcurement project will enable UW departments to take advantage of the Internet for their professional needs.

The USER eProcurement Project is the first phase in improving procurement at the University of Washington. Procurement refers to the acquisition of supplies (e.g. paper, test tubes, chemicals) by University departments. Procurement includes all phases of acquisition - finding needed supplies, placing an order, shipping an order, receiving an order, and settling invoices for an order. Because this project will move procurement to the Web, we refer to this as eProcurement

The eProcurement project is a solution for the shortcomings of the current University Stores on-line ordering system. This solution includes client ordering over the web, an illustrated web-based catalog with advanced searching, workflow routing, delivery needs, and invoice settlement. The proposed system is based on an analysis of University Stores strategic initiatives aligned with prioritized client needs and best business practices from private industry, the public sector and those of other industries. The solution also follows the C&C strategy for computing in a secure environment.

eProcurement offers key strategic functionality that best meets the University of Washington procurement needs. This includes:

• A web-based illustrated catalog with search capabilities.
• Enhanced functionality - budget splitting, workflow routing for departmental review and approval, order history, order status, and standard reports.
• An intuitive, user-friendly ordering process.

As part of the USER project, the eProcurement project's makeup includes client, business and technical staff from across the university.