For the government IT customer, rapid technological advancements present an opportunity to transform antiquated systems. However, these advancements can also be a challenge to understand. From the utilization of cloud service providers (CSPs) to modernizing legacy systems, new developments emerge daily to improve government-sector efficiency.
There are over 5,294 government contractors currently employed in the United States. Today, it’s the VARs’ job to understand the technology well enough to provide the government customer with the information they need to leverage it, the way a doctor would explain complicated medical information to their patient. The government bidding process undoubtedly contains many moving parts, but if VARs can utilize systems to streamline the process, efficiency can be improved exponentially. The goal of the government VAR should be this: do more with less, and eliminate the probability of human errors or disorganization of procedures. Implementing a government contract management software that can manage your bids, inventory, and compliance will make your life a lot easier.
In the climate we have today of rapid, sometimes complicated, economic changes, efficiency is key. Consider these three processing elements when working on your business’ efficiency.
1. Minimize the number of steps in a contract’s process
As a VAR navigating the contract bidding process, you have many boxes to check off. Each step along the way can be time-consuming. What you need is a single platform to manage all of your operations, eliminating time wasted from manually inputting data.
Stay efficient through economic changes
The federal government signs over 11 million contracts each year. The business has remained prosperous throughout recent economic changes brought on by the pandemic. Continued investments in IT hardware and software, cloud migration, telecommunications, client services, and network security have stayed strong from 2020-2022, with no hint that these investments will decrease in the years to come. However, government sector entities are facing IT challenges such as cloud adoption, legacy application modernization, and new application development followed by continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) in a DevSecOps environment. Today, it’s the VARs’ responsibility to help these government entities embrace the next-generation technology and do more with less. Technology advancements and pandemic-related economic changes in the industry are forcing government VARs to find solutions to stay efficient and up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies as they procure government contracts for bid.
A single-entry system can help you streamline the contract process
We’ve already established that there are many steps when it comes to the government contract bidding process. From quoting and procurement, to inventory management and compliance, there can be a lot to keep track of. A single-entry system can enhance productivity and keep you organized. If your role is to help government agencies enhance their productivity, you yourself must be doing the same.
Of the 11 million contracts the government signs each year, about 95% of those are awarded to small- and medium-sized business vendors. Government contracts for small businesses have become common in today’s economic climate, making it more important than ever for these businesses to streamline their contract procurement processes. One recommendation would be working with a cloud service provider that offers an automated and bi-directional integration and can ensure that your data is secure. By using a government contract management software, specifically designed for VARs, you can keep your data secure and save valuable time.
2. Leverage technology to optimize workflow
Mitigating security issues should be a top priority for government VARs. We are in an increasingly digital world, with most of the government contracting process completed online, leaving important data susceptible to hacking, viruses, and errors. This is why it’s vital to use a platform that has a security level setting to ensure your information is protected from these threats.
With the growth of digital processes has come a push towards automation. Advances in technology, AI, and robotics continued throughout the pandemic. These developments, along with the rise of remote work, have caused businesses to seek automation in their practices. A government contract management software can automate much of the process for you and protect your data from cybersecurity threats.
3. Find talented employees that can work through a system with ease
When managing government contracts for bid, whether for small or large businesses, it’s vital to hire employees with experience and savvy in the industry. Even with the push toward automation, technology will never be able to fully replace humans in the contract procurement process.
The good news is that there are many options for VARs to take some of the load off of employees. By utilizing a software that helps you customize an online storefront, offers a CRM module to help you organize your customer contacts, leads, and opportunities, and provides advanced reporting, your employees can spend less time on tedious tasks.
Stay ahead of the curve with the recent economic changes and technology developments. You’ll be able to stay efficient, minimize the number of steps in a contract’s process, and leverage technology- ensuring that your business maintains longevity. By having a combination of powerful software and talented employees, government VARs can enhance productivity and propel to success. Adopt a government contract management software, and achieve your maximum efficiency.