E-commerce

E-sourcing

The BBC has adopted hosted e-sourcing systems, services and technology as the principle mechanism for conducting procurements using e-tendering, e-evaluation and e-auctions.

E-sourcing ensures open, auditable and streamlined interaction with suppliers from advertising the opportunity to contract award. It benefits both buyers and suppliers, enabling submission of tenders in a secure web-based environment and allows geographically dispersed teams of evaluators to assess the returns efficiently, eliminating the need for paper, print and distribution, leading to better informed decision making.

E-auctions are a key part of our tool-kit providing a very visible transparent mechanism for suppliers to make competing offers and enabling procurement to achieve best value for the licence payer.

E-enabled ordering of goods and services

Implementation of Quick Order+ (SAP EBP) a web-based purchasing system has enabled an increasing range of suppliers to provide online catalogue content to enable buyers across the organisation to select from preferred sources at contracted prices. Orders are sent electronically, in many cases directly into the sales order systems of our suppliers. The solution also now extends to off catalogue purchasing enabling procurement specialists to help the purchasing decisions and route to our preferred suppliers.

Web based booking is used for the booking of transport and travel services including mini-cabs, self-drive cars, couriers, rail, flights and hotels with take-up for many of these services exceeding 90%.

Electronic invoice processing and payments

The BBC in conjunction with Steria, its provider of financial transaction processing services, uses a variety of methods to improve the efficiency of invoice processing, and supplier payments.  Further details can be found in the getting paid section of this site.