E-Procurement is the process of procuring goods and services online using the internet. Sanjay Puri, CEO of C1 India, in an email interview with Zee Business online explains how e-Procurement is helping scale up businesses.

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1. What is e-procurement and why is this relevant for digital India?
e-Procurement is an automation software for the procurement process which empowers users to easily make purchases. In simpler terms, e-Procurement is the process of procuring goods and services online using the internet.

The traditional procurement process has always been interrupted by the inefficiency of the system, lack of transparency, less accessibility and unwarranted expenditures. To resolve the problem of high consumption of energy and time, this method of procurement was introduced. e-Procurement has always outclassed itself in terms of transparency, efficiency and optimal utilisation of resources. Here the transparency leads the way and other objectives follow. It ensures that all the team members including the qualified suppliers have equal access to all system elements, including procurement methods, legislation, evaluation criteria, technical specifications, supplier rights, etc. It enables users to add more strategic value to their company.

2. What are the components of e-procurement and the market size for it?
The e-Procurement suites may differ on the basis of needs of the user. This process is basically the first step involved in e-tendering. In this, the creation of requisition is undertaken, followed by its evaluation and approval. In the nearby future, the Procurement software is projected to pave its way across different end-user industries. In return, it is forecasted to aid the proliferation of the global market over the next couple of years.

3. How is C1 India contributing in the e-procurement scenario?
C1 India founders had the vision and foresight that public procurement, one of the most sensitive areas in Government functioning is a huge and untapped potential. In late nineties, there was little being done in form of digital governance. The NEGP (National e-Governance Plan) was established only later – in 2006 which laid out areas where there was a need of computerization. Even the income tax e-filing came only in September 2004. A few other large initiatives include the launch of online train ticketing system – that too in 2002. At a time when there were few concerted programmes for e-Governance in India, C1 India developed and launched a comprehensive e- Procurement platform for Government departments and become the first organizations in India to offer e-Procurement solutions on a SaaS model and rollout a state wide e-Procurement implementation.

4. Does the company have any future funding or expansion plans?
Short term plans will be focused on Middle East Market, SE Asia and Africa. Long term plans will be focused on mature markets like Europe and America.

5. Road-map for India's e-procurement industry in the next 5 years.
Companies will face more opportunity and disruption than ever before in the next 5 years. Digital transformation is already helping companies redefine their business models, operating processes, and work – and this trend will accelerate as powerful technologies mature.