5 pilot regions

In order to carry out the field market validation, 5 test sites have been chosen for their complementary features

The following graph illustrates the objectives to be addressed for each pilot.

Central Bohemia

Central Bohemia is a newcomer in the public purchasing dematerialization area. The main purpose of this pilot is to test the difficulty to adapt and deploy the service “from scratch”, even though the scope of the deployed functionalities is limited. This pilot prepares the deployment of the solution in other eastern members states.

Catalonia

Catalonia is a mature region regarding public purchasing dematerialization, even though it does not currently have an e-tendering solution. Catalonia has already implemented solutions covering other parts of the purchasing chain (enterprise qualification solution, a forthcoming e-ordering solution). This is an opportunity to validate the complementary features of the e-bourgogne solution with the Catalan solution.

Uddevalla

Uddevalla is also a mature region regarding public purchasing dematerialization and has used an e-ordering solution supplied by Marakanda for several years. Uddevalla has just bought an e-tendering solution and will start using it at the beginning of 2007. This pilot will be the opportunity to add cross border functionalities to the Uddevalla e-tendering solution and experiment deployment strategy toward SMEs. The feedback from Uddevalla's experience regarding e-ordering will also be used to find out to what extent such a service could be deployed in France in the future.

Brittany

In Brittany, workgroups involving public buyers from various public organizations and local Chambers of Commerce have already been set up and a public contract has been signed to implement an e-tendering solution around April 2007. This pilot will therefore mainly be the opportunity to validate a deployment strategy toward SMEs: creation of tutorials, setting-up of a call center, push communication strategy, etc.

Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is a small geographical territory with few public organizations and private companies. It therefore provides the opportunity to deploy, in a well-known legal context (France), all the functionalities expected in the large majority of public organizations and local companies, well organized through dynamic local consular agencies willing to get involved with the project.