The Procurement Service Center is excited to announce a significant redesign of CU Marketplace in the Fall of 2024.
The Procurement Service Center is working with campus partners on the design and testing of:
- Redesigned landing page
- New requisition request form
- New payment voucher form
- Enhanced commodity codes
- Updated Standing Purchase Order (Blanket PO) functionality
Why are these updates occurring?
Implemented in 2011, CU Marketplace has largely remained unchanged. CU has not taken advantage of the new functionality within the system and has not adopted best practices which can improve the user experience. Currently, customers are expected to be procurement experts to navigate the multiple form types. Navigation is cumbersome, often requiring multiple clicks to reach the necessary screen for entering requests. Additionally, the current process does not require the necessary information during requisition intake which frequently leads to rework and delays.
What do we hope to accomplish?
Our goal is to reduce confusion and frustration for our customers by creating an intuitive buying experience. We aim to develop a requisition and payment process that minimizes rework by incorporating specific steps to ensure a complete record is submitted to the PSC for processing. Additionally, we seek to create flexibility in the requisition process allowing CU to adapt to changes in its business environment including Federal, State, and other regulatory requirements. Furthermore, we will enhance the workflow based on the goods or services being purchased.
Planned Outcomes:
Redesigned Landing Page
- Creates a more intuitive buying experience by reducing the number of “clicks” to get to commonly used forms and processes
- Creates a more visually appealing landing page
- Eliminates duplicate information between Marketplace and the PSC website (guided buying)
- How-to guide information will be relocated to the PSC Knowledge Base for more streamlined content delivery
What is changing and for Who?
Marketplace Users:
- Will see a new landing page that offers easy access to our most used forms. This will provide a one-click experience.
Requisition Request Form
- Creates an intuitive single-entry point (no more guessing on form type)
- Requests are filled out in an intuitive smart form like interface
- Greatly reduces customer confusion and re-work
- Reduces email traffic
- Increases ability to track compliance and supports ad-hoc data needs
- Enhance workflow capabilities based on purchase logic
- Modernizes an area long overdue for improvement
What is changing and for who?
Shoppers/Requestors:
- Will use a single, intuitive purchase request form where all required documentation is clearly explained and requested before the purchase order can be submitted, streamlining the purchasing process.
- Will choose from an expanded commodity code list and will be prompted to answer additional questions and provide necessary documentation on the form, ensuring all relevant information is captured accurately.
Approvers:
- Will have increased visibility into the form questions and answers, enabling them to review and approve requests with complete and clear information.
Payment Voucher Forms
- Eliminates a custom Marketplace software configuration, and replaces with software-delivered functionality, allowing for seamless future system enhancements
- Places policy guidance directly into the Payment Voucher form
- Reduces delays in processing submissions due to duplicate invoice numbers, missing documentation attachments, etc.
- Modernizes the process and creates efficiencies for Payables processors by eliminating the need for data re-entry (copy/paste) on form submissions
What is changing and for Who?
Shoppers/Requestors:
- Will use a new Payment Voucher form with guided questions that request all required documentation, clarifying the process, and reducing delays.
Enhanced Commodity Codes
- Reduces the amount of information required by the requestor by limiting the required questions and attachments to the type of commodity being purchased
- Provides enhanced spend data for the PSC to negotiate more master terms and enterprise agreements
- Allows for workload balancing and a more consistent purchasing experience for the requestor
Blanket POs (BPO) - Replaces SPO
- Eliminates a custom CU Marketplace feature, and uses software-delivered functionality, allowing for seamless future system enhancements
- More appropriately matches the way the supplier will invoice the university, requiring less follow-up action by the department
- Improves the change order processes
This initiative by the Procurement Service Center is supported by a working group comprised of the following CU staff members:
| Campus | Name |
|---|---|
| CU Anschutz | Samantha Vang Nichole Cortez Erin Tatman Andrew Rotz |
| CU Boulder | Jaime Nebergall Rey Coca Jason LaClair |
| CU Denver | Anthony Wilson Terri Mellinger Ali Medina |
| UCCS | Mona Larsen Sherry McDonnell |
“I am excited for the completion and rollout of the new requisition process in Marketplace. The changes will make creating a requisition much easier and more intuitive for everyone. Working with this team has been a learning experience, and I appreciate everyone’s efforts to simplify the process. – Sherry McDonnell
Upcoming Training and Available Resources
Stay tuned for details on upcoming webinars and on-campus training!
- Bookmark this page and check back regularly for training content such as how-to articles and videos!
- Look for emails from the PSC
- Subscribe to the PSC Blog and be notified when this page is updated