Contraqer: An Intuitive SaaS Procurement Management Platform

Contraqer:
An Intuitive SaaS
Procurement
Management
Platform

Get in touch

Client

Contraqer

Industries

Technology

Services

Software development

Technologies

Microsoft

Introduction

Contraqer is a well-renown web-based procurement management system. It is recognized for automating the entire procurement process all the way through RFQ generation to support contract and returns management. Seeing so many companies and government resellers still using Excel Spreadsheets and Outlook to manage their procurement, Contaqer decided to make the process easier, faster, and more efficient for many clients.

With that intention, the client hired Avenga to build a highly specialized platform tailored to the specific needs of procurement managers.

The idea behind Contraqer was to give buyers all the tools they need to manage their purchases and make the very process of buying as automated as possible – from initial request to order fulfillment.

We’ve been a reliable technical partner to Contraqer for about a decade.

We’ve been engineering, updating, extending, and maintaining their platform as well as building all sorts of customizations for their users whenever the need arises

Many firms are wedded to their processes and tool kits. In contrast, Avenga is extremely flexible in terms of adhering to my preferred toolkit and development process. They’re willing to bend over backwards to do what the client wants.

Dwight Gibbs
CEO & Founder, Contraqer

Challenge

One of the toughest parts was making the platform both advanced from the technical standpoint (with all the security mechanisms implemented at the architectural level so that the platform can store large amounts of sensitive data) and easy enough to master even for non-technical users.

Another challenge was designing and implementing a robust RFQ import, scan, and score functionality. We had to build a separate, fast, reliable, scalable, and cost-effective solution that could handle huge loads.

Solution

Interface

Designed from scratch the platform’s intuitive interface; ensured the navigation was straightforward enough even for non-tech-savvy users.

Consolidation

Consolidated all the important procurement data (RFQs, quotes, purchase orders, invoices, packing lists, return documents, services, and maintenance contracts) in one place and, through implementing a cloud architecture, made it accessible to users at all times.

Reporting

Added an automated reporting feature that makes government contract compliance much faster and easier.

Architecture

Implemented, using several Microsoft tools, a multitenant architecture that helps ensure data completeness, integrity, and security while also providing flexibility for Avenga’s developers to update or add functionality swiftly.

Optimization

Optimized the use of various Azure services, including Azure Durable Functions, which, while a cost-effective approach, allows for easy vertical and horizontal scalability.

Integration

Established several integrations with renowned CRMs (QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics, SalesForce, NetSuite, etc.) and with many custom internal systems per requests of Contraqer clients. Also, it made it possible to tie the platform into FedEx, UPS, and DHL.

Results

As a result of the partnership, Avenga delivered the following results:

faster time-to-market for the client. Reduced development costs;
a sophisticated platform that allows users to streamline the procurement process from request to pay;
a hassle-free way for the users to move data back and forth between their internal system and the Contraqer platform;
end-to-end accuracy and reduced workloads for Contraqer clients achieved through the centralization of all their procurement data and automatic document cross-checking;
better financial performance of the Contraqer’s users due to their ability to extract valuable insights from the consolidated data within the platform and make better procurement decisions.