The technology is now in place for your account customers to buy online using your website. Devon schools are already doing business on the Internet using this technology. Any supplier to Devon schools, large or small, can be added to the portal. Click here for a case study.

If you don’t have a website then that can be cheaply and quickly resolved by our business partners @UK PLC. If you have website then @UK will be happy to link it to our portal. Being part of the @Devon Schools Portal will also open the door to a greater marketplace of potential customers inside and outside of the county.

This is the practical start of a major change that will revolutionise business. The same technology allows you to transact electronically with companies up and down the supply chain. Leading accounting software has the facilities (using nationally recognised XML standards) which help avoid the costs of re-keying as well as postage and avoid postal delays. The technology can provide significant benefits for businesses of all sizes.

Devon believes these developments will significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole business process for both schools and suppliers, enabling both to also make efficiency savings. Electronic is now our preferred method of doing business and forms part of our Best Value evaluation. The portal is not confined to selling “things”; services such as transport, tree surgery or window cleaning can be promoted and the portal includes request for price/quote facilities.

Schools may continue to trade with any bona-fide supplier whether they are listed on the @Devon Schools Portal or not. There is no suggestion that any suppliers listed on the Portal are recommended or preferred suppliers in any way.

Devon chose @UK PLC as they, are not tied into any particular group of suppliers, and the enablement cost seemed to not prohibit any supplier participating. In Devon help may be available for small businesses www.broadband4devon.org.uk 

Suppliers will also be listed on the @UK PLC database and @Schools websites and this will provide access to more customers around the globe. Suppliers joining may also request to be listed on Portals created for other Local Authorities at no extra cost.