University System Procurement Transformation
How a major state university system reduced procurement costs by 28% while improving vendor diversity
The California State University System, serving over 485,000 students across 23 campuses, transformed their procurement operations using Briskon's reverse auction platform. Within 18 months, they achieved a 28% reduction in procurement costs, improved vendor diversity by 45%, and streamlined their procurement cycle from 120 days to 45 days average.
Briskon Platform in Action
See how the California State University System leveraged Briskon's comprehensive auction platform to transform their procurement operations across all 23 campuses.
- 100% customizable to university branding
- Mobile-optimized for on-the-go procurement
- Integrated forward and reverse auction capabilities
Organization Profile
Organization Details
- System: California State University
- Campuses: 23 locations
- Students: 485,000+
- Employees: 56,000+
- Annual Budget: $5.2 billion
Procurement Scope
- Annual Procurement: $1.8 billion
- Vendors: 12,000+ active
- Categories: IT, Facilities, Food Service, Research
- Transactions: 45,000+ annually
The Challenge
The university system faced significant procurement challenges that were impacting their ability to serve students effectively while maintaining fiscal responsibility:
Operational Challenges
- Manual procurement processes taking 120+ days
- Limited vendor participation due to complex bidding
- Inconsistent pricing across 23 campuses
- Paper-based documentation and approvals
Financial Impact
- Higher costs due to limited competition
- Budget overruns in multiple departments
- Lack of spend visibility and control
- Compliance issues with state regulations
The Solution
The university system implemented Briskon's comprehensive procurement platform with a phased approach across all 23 campuses, focusing on transparency, efficiency, and vendor diversity.
Phase 1: Platform Implementation (Months 1-3)
- • Deployed Briskon platform across all 23 campuses
- • Integrated with existing ERP and financial systems
- • Trained 150+ procurement staff members
- • Established standardized procurement categories
Phase 2: Vendor Onboarding (Months 4-6)
- • Onboarded 2,500+ vendors to the platform
- • Implemented vendor diversity tracking
- • Created vendor performance scorecards
- • Established automated vendor communications
Phase 3: Process Optimization (Months 7-12)
- • Implemented reverse auctions for major categories
- • Automated approval workflows
- • Deployed real-time spend analytics
- • Established contract management processes
Results & Impact
IT & Technology
- • 32% cost reduction on software licensing
- • 45% faster hardware procurement
- • Improved vendor competition (8 vs 3 bidders avg)
Facilities & Maintenance
- • 25% savings on construction projects
- • 50% reduction in emergency purchases
- • Standardized maintenance contracts
Food Services
- • 22% cost reduction on food procurement
- • Increased local vendor participation
- • Improved sustainability metrics
Research Equipment
- • 18% savings on lab equipment
- • Faster research project initiation
- • Better vendor service levels
"Briskon has revolutionized our procurement operations. We've not only achieved significant cost savings but also improved our vendor diversity and compliance with state regulations. The platform's transparency and efficiency have been game-changing for our university system."
Implementation Timeline
Months 1-3: Foundation
Platform deployment, system integration, and staff training
Months 4-6: Vendor Onboarding
Vendor registration, diversity programs, and performance tracking
Months 7-12: Optimization
Process automation, analytics deployment, and continuous improvement
Months 13-18: Scale & Expand
Advanced features, strategic sourcing, and performance optimization
Ready to Transform Your Procurement?
See how Briskon can help your educational institution achieve similar results with modern procurement solutions.