Improve the public procurement system by harnessing the use of digital technologies to support appropriate e-procurement innovation throughout the procurement cycle.

• Employ recent digital technology developments that allow integrated e-procurement solutions covering the public procurement cycle.
• Pursue state-of-the-art procurement tools (such as e-auctions or e-catalogues for example) that are modular, flexible, scalable and secure in order to assure business continuity, privacy and integrity, provide fair treatment and protect sensitive data, while supplying the core capacities and functions that allow business innovation.

• High administrative costs of individual procurements as well as inefficient and slow procurement procedures (including duplications, lack of harmonisation of tender documentation, etc.)
• Lack of information and transparency on procurement opportunities, hindering (cross-border) competition

E-procurement systems can address those challenges by automating specific tasks and reducing red tape costs. They can also provide information which could guide future procurement decisions. Challenges also arise in relation to the implementation of e-procurement implementation for procurement entities as well as potential bidders, in particular SMEs (low knowledge skills, low innovative organisational culture, etc.). Insufficient integration of e-procurement systems with other e-government systems, including financial and management information systems (FMIS), is also a potential challenge with regard to e-procurement.

• Compendium of Good Practices for Integrity in Public Procurement
• Government at a Glance 2015 – E-procurement
• Preventing Corruption in Public Procurement