Before Contracts Advance, how were you sourcing public sector contracts/ frameworks?
We were using the Contracts Finder portal; we had some keywords we would use and we had to sift through the notices ourselves to find ones that were relevant.
What were your frustrations prior to working this way?
There was of course the worry that we are missing something, and we were dependant on our search terms being correct. There was also the worry of when individuals were on leave and making sure that correct instructions were left to ensure our finger remained on the pulse. In all honesty even with those frustrations it worked ok for us, and I personally didn’t see why I would need anything else until we tried Contracts Advance. Then things changed drastically!
What were the key factors that led you to Contracts Advance?
I received an email from the sales team at Contracts Advance. I remember I went back to them and said I was happy to have a discussion but I was still of the mindset that “we are fine as we are”. We then scheduled a call and demo and now we’re here.
How easy did you find the onboarding process and set up?
Really easy! I’ve never used a tender service like Contracts Advance before but the team that set up the onboarding call were very efficient and effective. The logistics regarding the onboarding were handled in a timely manner and the team member who led it made sure to answer each query we had and show us how to get from point A to point B. The software itself is quite intuitive which helps.
What benefits does the Contracts Advance software provide you?
Time saving for sure, I spend less time searching for tenders now which frees up my day. I get the daily email alert and I can just go through that email and qualify which ones we are interested. It’s much quicker than previously. Also, with the daily email, I don’t have to remember to do it, it’s all automatic so one less thing to worry about. The more I use the software the more confident I am that I’m seeing all the tenders I want to be seeing and nothing is being missed.
What have you found the most valuable aspects of the service?
The regularity and comprehensiveness of the software.
What other Contracts Advance services have you explored?
We currently have a bid review purchased and I have been trying to find the right time to use this.
How happy are you to recommend Contracts Advance to a colleague/ peer?
Very happy.