Source to Pay Software Solution and Software Implementation Partner

Southern Water ("SW") seek a Solution Provider to licence a cloud-based, Source to Pay software solution ("Solution") that will give SW users a more intuitive experience in purchasing goods and services.

The Source to Pay process (“S2P”) comprises of Source to Contract (“S2C”) and Purchase to Pay (“P2P”) processes. The Solution will provide end-to-end functionality.

P2P

The Solution will manage SW's end-to-end procurement processes from capturing a Requirement, through Purchase Requisition, Approval, Purchase Order Creation, Supplier PO Receipting, SW Service/Product Receipting, Supplier Invoicing to "OK to pay" from a 3-way match.

Critical to improved user experience will be that the Solution will enable users to:

1. Execute required actions “on the move” via secure mobile technologies as well as computer based.

2. Leverage punchouts with external approved and secure supplier sites.

3. Access and order from approved supplier catalogues.

The Solution must have a proven method of:

1. Managing professional services.

2. Goods and works contracts that may leverage Framework Agreements and timesheets.

These areas represent a key portion of the SW spend profile. The nature of managing this spend in this Solution is still being defined but will be clarified later in the Procurement Process.

S2C

For spend that is not readily available when requisitioned, the Solution would also have integrated Sourcing, Contracting and Supplier / Contract Performance Management functionality, that is triggered by workflow management to a central Procurement function.

All S2P activities must workflow automatically and allow for online collaboration between SW colleagues and Suppliers, who will be able to access the Solution via a secure external Supplier Portal.

The number of integrations to legacy SW systems is still being defined, but we would expect the Solution to be able to readily integrate to common Finance or HR platforms as a minimum and have SSO capability.

It must also have the capability to be integrated with Asset Management, Inventory and Stores solutions, as a possible further future activity. (Although this is not in the initial implementation scope, it is essential there is evidential functional capability to do so.)

To deliver the integration of the Solution, SW is seeking a Solution Implementation Partner ("SIP") who is accredited to the Software Provider ("SWP").

The Solution Provider is asked to identify up to three (3) Solution Implementation Partners (“SIP”). The process for nominating SIPs is described in the Tender Pack.

The SIP must be able to:

1. Prove and leverage experience of SWP implementation in the UK utility industry, with a preference for Water industry.

2. Prove accreditation with the SWP, with experience in implementation of the specific Solution.

The below video link will allow you to hear from SWS Director of Procurement & Commercial, Stephen Coleman, outline key messages with regard to this tender opportunity including details on the transformational journey for SWS Source to Pay Technology landscape and beyond!

https://vimeo.com/1084631521/dc086e0a06?share=copy