The digital transformation of public procurement could make procurement more agile, streamline processes for public buyers and suppliers, support policymaking and increase transparency. The shift towards digital platforms and tools could improve access to public procurement, fostering greater participation from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promoting competition. While many governments have made significant progress in the digitalisation of public procurement over the past twenty years, a more fundamental digital transformation promises further benefits. However, many of these benefits are dependent on its integration across the procurement cycle and among public procurement stakeholders. A digital transformation strategy could help governments define a clear vision and ambition and establish a credible roadmap to use digital tools and platforms to remake public procurement in service of their public procurement objectives.
This report is intended to help the Government of Ireland realise the benefits of digital transformation through the development of a strategy and road map. Chapter 1 outlines the main aspects of the digital transformation of public procurement and provides a short summary of the current state of digital public procurement in Ireland. Chapter 2 lays out proposed objectives for a digital transformation strategy, considerations on scope and timeline and linkages to other Irish and European strategies and initiatives. Chapter 3 identifies key considerations for strategy governance, including proposed roles and responsibilities and decision-making structures. Chapter 4 provides a high-level roadmap for digital transformation, including key implementation principles and potential quick wins.
The report was developed under the project “Strategy for the digital transformation of public procurement in Ireland”, funded through the European Union’s Technical Support Instrument and co-implemented by the OECD. It builds on an OECD stocktaking report on digital public procurement in Ireland published earlier this year and has been informed by extensive consultations, including interviews, in-person and virtual workshops, and surveys of economic operators and contracting authorities. The draft report was presented and discussed with a wide range of Irish stakeholders at a conference held in Dublin in October 2024.
This report was approved for publication by the Public Governance Committee on January 31, 2025. It was prepared for publication by the OECD Secretariat.