The hospital group recently needed to renew its telephony contract and hoped to make some savings. After initial discussions with Trade Interchange consultants, it ran an eRFX questionnaire to gather initial data and costs. Based on analysis of this data, the group invited eight suppliers to submit pre-entered bids. This was followed by an online auction based on part contracts for UK calls, international calls, non-geographical calls, plus lines and service. The result of the auction was a reduction of 17% on the overall cost of the previous contract.

“Our eRFX services are customer-led with software developed completely in-house. This supports the bidding and negotiation process by capturing data in a framework which allows buyers to evaluate and compare current or future suppliers.

“This is dramatically reducing costs and bringing efficiency savings, thanks to significant reductions in the tender cycle time. The online evaluation, objective supplier comparisons, automatic scoring and total calculations, also mean they can select suppliers who best meet specific requirements, thanks to weighted questions, depending on the importance of set criteria.

“In the majority of cases there is also progression from eRFX through to an eAuction, leading to much faster and more efficient procurement turnaround. eRFX is therefore proving indispensible to buyers and those involved in eTendering, eProcurement and the negotiation of goods and services,” commented Tim Hoiles, Operations Director, Trade Interchange.