2003 Press Releases

Objective wins major contract with the UK's National Health Service

Objective Corporation (ASX:OCL) today announced that it had been awarded a contract valued in excess of $1 million to supply a knowledge and process management solution, to the UK National Health Service (NHS) Purchasing and Supply Agency.

An executive agency of the UK Department of Health, the role of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is to act as a centre of expertise, knowledge and excellence in purchasing and supply matters for the health service.

Mr Richard Chantler, financial director, NHS, said, "The agency works with around 400 NHS trusts and health authorities and manages 3,000 national purchasing contracts, influencing around half of the £7 billion spent in the NHS on purchasing goods and services in the health service."

The agency selected Objective following an extensive tendering process for two interdependent systems, a contract management application and an electronic document and records management system.

Objective will deliver both systems providing the NHS with a complete solution for managing the entire lifecycle of contracts and associated documents.

The solution will replace a host of existing isolated, disparate IT applications scattered throughout the organisation enabling the agency to meet its goals under its strategy to modernise and improve supply management across the NHS ensuring money is spent to best effect.

The initial application will cover the agency's contract management applications thereby automating the existing business processes.

"This application will provide an ideal mechanism for the agency and its personnel to monitor existing and future contractual usage patterns and expiry dates as well as enable us to supply procurement savings as an integral part of our reporting and auditing procedures," concluded Mr Chantler.

Mr Tony Walls, joint CEO, Objective Corporation, said, "Securing this contract with the UK National Health Service illustrates the key role Objective can play in underpinning an organisation's standardisation of processes, business improvements and e-government initiatives.

"The awarding of a contract with another UK government agency following the announcement of the contract with the UK Public Record Office in March this year is indicative of the strengthening position of Objective in the European market, particularly within the public sector," said Mr Walls.