ZipProcure
City Innovate has partnered with the Arizona State University Cloud Innovation Center (CIC) to create a procurement repository which helps improve the process of locating and accessing procurement documents, and to create an online community for procurement officials.
Problem
Procurement can be a lengthy and tedious process, and it is often challenging for even the most experienced of POs (procurement officials) to access reliable information to include in their own solicitations. The lack of a central database or repository for historical solicitation data often makes the process a guessing game for many POs, since the documents are not vetted, rated, or endorsed by any agency.
Approach
ZipProcure will help create a repository for procurement solicitation information and documentation. By doing this, POs will be able to easily seek out and find reliable solicitation data by using a robust search feature that scans a database of vetted, rated, and commented on solicitation files. ZipProcure will contain a library of procurement documentations by procurement officials, for procurement officials. Additionally, ZipProcure will foster community elements by utilizing forums and chats where POs can ask each other questions and build a sense of community over the internet.
Next Steps
The ASU CIC is currently working with City Innovate to develop the ZipProcure prototype. You can view a demo of the prototype below:
About the ASU CIC
The ASU Smart Cities Cloud Innovation Center (CIC) is a strategic relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and is supported by AWS on ASU’s Innovation campus - SkySong. The mission of the CIC is to drive Innovation Challenges that materially benefit the greater Phoenix metro area and beyond. The CIC will do this by solving pressing community and regional challenges, using shareable and repeatable technology solutions from ideation through prototype, as a service for the greater human good.
The CIC also provides real-world problem-solving experiences to students by immersing them in the application of proven innovation methods in combination with the latest technologies to solve important challenges in the public sector.
The challenges being addressed cover a wide variety of topics including homelessness, water conservation, vandalism, pedestrian safety, digital service delivery and many others. The CIC leverages the deep subject matter expertise of government, education and non-profit organizations to clearly understand the customers affected by public sector challenges and develops solutions that meet the customer needs.
For more information on the ASU CIC, to read about projects or to submit a challenge, please visit https://smartchallenges.asu.edu.