In today’s fast-moving world, businesses are constantly bombarded with advancements in AI, bots, cognitive services, blockchain, cloud computing, and more. These rapid innovations raise critical questions: What technology should I focus on? How do I apply it to my business? Who can help me integrate new solutions with my existing systems? How do I ensure that a vendor has the expertise to deliver on their promises? 

To illustrate the speed of technological disruption, consider this: 

• The telephone took 75 years to reach 50 million users. 
• Television took 13 years. 
• Angry Birds hit the same milestone in just 35 days. 
• The game Fortnite—a favorite among younger audiences—has now surpassed 125 million users worldwide. 

Rethinking Procurement in the Digital Age 

Traditional procurement methods are outdated. Historically, organizations would: 

1. Define detailed requirements. 
2. Seek internal approvals. 
3. Engage vendors through lengthy procurement cycles. 
4. Evaluate vendors via proposals, demonstrations, and negotiations. 
5. Finally, select a vendor and implement the solution. 

In government and education sectors, strict procurement regulations often extend this process to 12 months or more—a timeline in which both the technology and business needs may evolve. 

The Shift to Agile Procurement 

Technology today enables instant deployment. Large-scale business solutions can now be activated in minutes, making traditional procurement cycles redundant. Ray Fleming, Higher Education Director at Microsoft Australia, puts it simply: 

“It’s now quicker to do it than to discuss how to do it or write it down.” 

Organizations must shift to an Agile, proof-of-concept approach. Instead of evaluating solutions against outdated requirements, businesses should: 

• Define the desired business outcome. 
• Invite vendors to demonstrate how their technology meets those objectives. 
• Assess whether the solution is user-friendly, scalable, and cost-effective. 
• Select a vendor based on actual business impact, not theoretical alignment. 

A Smarter Way to Buy Technology 

ADCO’s Chief Information Officer, Doug Zuzic, shares this insight: 

“Our team had been using an ad-hoc system for 15–20 years. We wanted to show them a working proof-of-concept of a new approach. By doing so, we gained immediate buy-in from the front-end users.” 

Rather than spending excessive time and resources on procurement, organizations should pay 2–3 vendors to develop a working proof-of-concept. This approach allows businesses to: 

• See the solution in action. 
• Evaluate vendor expertise. 
• Test user experience and scalability. 
• Ensure alignment with business goals before committing to full implementation. 

Embracing the Future of Procurement 

Next time you’re purchasing technology, rethink your approach. Move beyond rigid, outdated procurement cycles and adopt a business outcome-driven, proof-of-concept methodology. It’s faster, cost-effective, and ensures you select the best solution for your organization’s needs