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The results
Using the new digital tools has allowed CCE to streamline buying during the pandemic while also
enabling transparency.
Results so far have included:
• 251 suppliers joining the COVID-19 framework, 90 per cent of which are small or medium-sized
businesses
• COP 127 billion (USD 34m) worth of sales made through the aggregated buying tool
• average savings of 14 per cent for buyers using the tool versus the open market
• 142 000 emergency contracts published using open data standards
CCE launched these tools within three weeks of the pandemic hitting Colombia, a process that
would normally take 4–6 months of development. This was thanks to a scalable and adaptable
e-Procurement system before the crisis began.
Figure 17: COVID-19 cases growing across Latin America: image source Google News
The challenges
As the pandemic took hold in Latin America over the summer of 2020, public buying came under
increasing scrutiny and corruption scandals began to emerge. In May, arrest warrants were issued
for 10 Colombian mayors, following incidents of widespread overcharging for essential products.
50 Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities | May 2023
