Welcome to this week’s edition of the Keystone Column containing business stories and public procurement opportunities that drive the commercial strategy of ambitious companies interested in managing winning tenders.
Business stories – managing winning tenders
US President Barack Obama recently entered the Brexit debate on the side of those advocating that the UK remains in the EU. Noting the likely loss of UK influence in Europe, he also outlined that it could take 10 years for the UK to negotiate replacement key trade deals with the US. For companies used to managing winning tenders, this creates huge uncertainty for companies with international contracts governed by common procurement rules under trade deals. Perhaps the US is also worried about its own loss of interest in Europe if the UK leaves the EU? The following story leads one to believe that this may indeed be the case:
The European Commission is investigating Google for breaches of EU Antitrust rules, alleging the company has abused its dominant position and distorted the market for internet search services, mobile operating systems, and app stores for the Android mobile operating system. Former Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton has looked at the responses to the EU move on both sides of the Atlantic and provides an interesting insight into the differences between EU and US regulatory regimes for tech companies such as Google.
Creighton sees a fear of technological advances which it simply cannot control as the main driver behind the Commission’s moves against Google: “the European institutions fear the unpredictability of the tech sector and feel the need to put in place tight regulation in anticipation of innovation”. While the US Technology sector has few friends around the EU Commission table, it does have a key ally in the UK whose philosophy on technological innovation is closer to that of the US. She states that it is clear that if Britain leaves the EU on June 23rd, “this will be a wholly negative outcome for US technology companies, who will have lost an important ally at the negotiation table when legislative proposals in the area of data storage, or taxation are being deliberated upon”. We concur and noting the importance of US technology companies to the Irish economy, we see this as another example of the negative consequences for Ireland if Brexit becomes a reality.
Interesting trends – managing winning tenders
We enjoyed this video from the Big Ideas Summit 2016: Big Idea #6 – Strategic Brand Value. Tom Derry, CEO of the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), shares his big idea that procurement needs to transition from its traditional focus on cost, to support the greater dimensions of value for organisations. Companies interested in managing winning tenders need to be aware of these changes of focus and emphasis. The brand of procurement is enhanced by offering value in risk management and mitigation, as well as adding value and managing cost so these are very important considerations for managing winning tenders into contracting authorities.
From watching videos to watching TV! In America, NBC’s long-running comedy sketch show ‘Saturday Night Live’ recently announced that it will cut ads by 30% next year. It plans on removing two commercial breaks and will replace them by offering advertisers six content pods a year – offering an opportunity for advertisers to create original branded content. This is part of a movement towards “native advertising”, i.e. ads that are embedded in programming content or mimic the appearance of website or app content. It’s a trend that is having an impact in Ireland too: focusing solely on digital advertising, PwC’s annual Interactive Advertising Bureau report has valued spending on native ads in 2015 at €45 million (13% of the Irish digital advertising market). Expect this trend to grow as advertisers try to make the viewing experience more “consumer friendly”: reducing commercial interruptions and weaving in brand messaging that more closely resembles the content viewers had sought to watch – eliminating click-throughs of web ads or trips to the kitchen to make a cuppa during the commercial break!
Innovation – things we have seen and like
When it comes to administration and the management of data, innovation is not a term often applied to Irish healthcare. Other countries such as Estonia have long championed a nationwide system that integrates data from Estonia’s different healthcare providers to a create a common record for each patient. Now Ortus, an Irish managed IT and cloud services provider, has engaged with the healthcare sector to produce a cloud-based solution that reduces paperwork, cuts costs and improves patient care: and yet is designed with patient confidentiality and data integrity at its core. A good example of how innovation can be used in managing winning tenders into the system by creating demand for new services.
Note: we are in the sourcing & procurement business. We highlight things we like or that are novel or innovative. Innovators should be encouraged.
New public procurement tenders this week
Visit the Keystone website to view our take on the 400+ active public procurement opportunities with more than five days until their deadline. There is a vast range of services, supplies, and construction related to public procurement opportunities in the following sectors for companies interested in management winning tenders:
- Construction and related trades,
- Professional & Advisory Services,
- PR, Media, Advertising and related,
- ICT supplies and services,
- Training,
- Property & facilities management,
- Vehicle & automotive,
- Catering and related services,
- Cleaning and related services,
- Waste Management,
- Maintenance and related services,
- Horticultural supplies & services,
- Research & environmental monitoring,
- Printing, office supplies and related services,
- Trades,
- Medical and scientific research, supplies and services,
- A vast range of other services and supplies.
Businesses interested in any of these public procurement opportunities that are unsure of how they can follow-up on tender management supports with Keystone at any stage. We would be happy to discuss your needs and where they may fit with your business growth plans. Tender management, especially when effective, are sources of business growth and innovation for companies across the country.
Keystone E-Tenders Report Open YTD as at 0505 (by date of publication)
Keystone E-Tenders Report Open YTD as at 0505 (by sector)
Please note, e-tenders often have public procurement opportunities incorrectly categorised so people relying on e-tender alerts could easily miss out on opportunities if they are dependent on it. E-tenders is only as reliable as the people inputting tenders and mistakes are made very frequently. The Keystone Column includes all live tenders posted on e-tenders since January 4th, 2016 that have five or more days until their deadline as at 05/05/2016.
