A utilização de ferramentas eletrônicas nas compras públicas brasileiras na percepção de seus usuários

Abstract

The relevance of an adequate managemen t of public procurement has increased over the last decades due to constant pressures on governments to reduce spending as well as to show more transparency and efficiency in public transactions. The use of electronic purchasing tools has the ability to r estructure the way in which organizations acquire goods and services, increasing process efficiency and at the same time reducing acquisition costs. The objective of this research is to investigate the use of electronic purchasing tools in public procurem ent in the perception of users, that is, the governmental agents in charge of conducting procurement processes. More specifically, this study focuses on the perceptions that public agents in Brazil have of the characteristics, main benefits, risks, problem s, and success factors when adopting electronic tools to conduct business - to - government (B2G) procurement processes, with particular emphasis on electronic reverse auctions. A case study methodology was considered as the best option to answer the researc h question. The study was conducted in four government entities that use electronic purchasing tools in their procurement processes. All interviewees are users of the Brazilian Comprasnet system. They highlighted the agility and impersonality in procurem ent processes as its distinctive characteristics as well as the reduction in contact between managers and suppliers. The most representative benefits reported by users were savings, fraud avoidance, enhanced competition among suppliers, more transparency in the process and the universalization of public procurement. Few risks could be perceived, among them an excessive f ocus on price possibly resulting in the supply of low cost, low quality items. Highlighted problems were the difficulty in obtaining market research, tolerance with unscrupulous suppliers and the lack of adequate skills of both managers and suppliers. Ma in success factors in the adoption of electronic procurement tools identified by users were a well developed, fully specified term of reference; an adequate planning of purchases; adequate skills and experience of managers, together with a proactive appro ach; a qualified support team; and a well developed market research. Future perspectives identified in the use of electronic tools in public procurement were a more widespread adoption of reverse auctions as well as a systemic collaboration among public o rganizations, enablin 10818 g the sharing of experiences among managers. Results of this research suggest that the use of electronic tools in public procurement in Brazil is perceived by users as instrumental in avoiding the waste of public resources and fighting corruption in procurement processes, which therefore are better able to meet the principle of value for money.