I am a supplier

Use of the system and services are free to suppliers. There are no charges for connection to the system and no charges for uploading and maintaining content. Suppliers must be nominated either by a school or a Local Authority using the OPEN Marketplace. In addition to this, Local Authority preferred suppliers who have schools using the Marketplace will also qualify for inclusion. If you are nominated, your organisation will receive a letter or email detailing how to register.

We know that many suppliers will be keen to join as they will have access to purchasers from schools all over England, to offer contracts for goods and services not just to existing clients, but potential new ones also. And the technology is user-friendly, so the system is easy to use both for suppliers and purchasers alike.

OPEN will enable improved, streamlined payment and reduced back-office administration for schools, which will be a real benefit for users. Suppliers can make savings as a result of online trading, by reducing administration and removing the cost of printing and posting invoices and statements. Some suppliers may also wish to invest in integrating their back office systems with OPEN to further reduce administration within their own organisation.

For suppliers there is only one site to upload catalogues to and these can be made visible to all customers. So no need to contact each and every school or purchaser individually, OPEN will allow you to do that in one place. Supplier adoption and ‘eEnablement’ are included as part of the overall service, and there is a fully functional supplier self service portal that lets any supplier transact completely electronically.

Of course word of mouth is great advertisement for a supplier. OPEN allows current users to comment on the services and goods the supplier offers, to advise and inform other potential buyers.

Interested in joining? Contact OPEN@procserve.com for more details.