| Technology
How can technology help individuals buy services more efficiently? After all, we’re dealing with human beings here, not commodities. Surely it takes specialist procurement knowledge to source the best services at the best price? A lot of the service procurement process, from informing potential suppliers of a requirement to invoicing them after the requirement has been completed, is repetitive and time-consuming – and can be accomplished far more effectively using a specialised technology system. By automating the process, it is possible look beyond ‘the usual suppliers’ to seize opportunities that would otherwise have been missed. This gives individual service buyers an increased choice of possible suppliers, each with their own merits – price, availability, proven track record etc. Once a decision has been made, technology can be used to handle the day-to-day administration and report any inefficiencies or possible improvements to service provision. |
 Once a decision has been made, technology can be used to handle the day-to-day administration and report any inefficiencies or possible improvements to service provision." |
