DUBLIN, IRELAND – Procurement Express and UNICEF are proudly celebrating more than 10 years of successful partnership, rooted in a shared commitment to financial transparency and operational effectiveness. Since UNICEF became one of Procurement Express’s early clients in 2014, the implementation of their online purchase order system has transformed financial management for UNICEF Ireland, ensuring both agility and rigorous control.
The initial collaboration was critical, spurred by external pressures in 2014 and 2015. At that time, news in the press highlighted difficulties – in some cases, even existential difficulties – faced by other non-profits that lacked the requisite internal controls. The Procurement Express tool served to copper-fasten UNICEF’s reputation in Dublin as an organization maintaining the highest standards of control while remaining effective in delivering on its missions.
Solving Global and Local Procurement Challenges
Initially, UNICEF Controller Colette Hart approached Richard, one of the co-founders at Procurement Express, seeking a robust system. The primary goal was to allow their team to approve purchases even if they were on-site in hotspots where they were conducting critical work around the world.
Prior to adopting the system, purchase requests would often pile up on people’s desks. Furthermore, UNICEF Ireland utilized a manual, paper-based Excel system for purchase orders. This document had to be printed, brought from one department to another, and very often got lost.
As Colette Hart, Financial Controller with UNICEF Ireland, explained, the manual process was frustrating for everyone. It was frustrating for her because it meant that people weren’t getting paid when they should have been getting paid, and that was causing issues within the organization. Moreover, the previous lack of oversight meant that UNICEF wouldn’t be aware they had gone over budget on a project until the accounts were prepared for the end of the month.
A Decade of Transparency and Time Savings
The introduction of the simple online purchase order system, immediately alleviated these logistical and financial risks.
Key benefits realized over the last decade include:
- Remote Approvals: Managers can now approve purchase requests “in a heartbeat wherever they are”, successfully getting rid of the problem of requests piling up.
- Increased Transparency: Ms. Hart notes that UNICEF Ireland has “a lot more transparency now”.
- Timeliness: Financial controllers like Colette Hart are able to pay requests on time.
Companies using this solution are now managing their purchase orders in half the time and with a fraction of the frustration. Reflecting on the longevity and success of the partnership, Ms. Hart stated, “I would recommend ProcurementExpress,” confirming the system’s value.
Procurement Express and UNICEF look forward to continuing this successful collaboration, ensuring that efficiency and the highest standards of financial control remain central to UNICEF’s mission delivery.
The context for the initial adoption of the system included significant pressure on non-profits to demonstrate high internal controls.
