By Nik Flytzanis, Senior Director, Head of Contractor Solutions at Plentific
A few months ago, a housing association leader shared something that has stayed with me:
“Procurement feels like a constant balancing act. We need speed, but not at the expense of quality. We need compliance, but without drowning in red tape. And we need to deliver for residents, even when budgets are tighter than ever.”
Her words capture the reality for social housing providers today. Procurement has always been central to delivering services, but now it must also carry the weight of transparency, accountability, and community outcomes. The pressures are mounting: rising repair demand, tighter budgets, stricter compliance, and residents who expect speed and clarity at every step.
Traditional procurement systems often leave providers stuck in slow, paperwork-heavy cycles, with limited visibility on costs or performance. This mismatch between operational demand and process capability creates frustration for teams and residents alike. Industry-wide benchmarks for digital procurement show the potential for change. Across sectors, organisations that digitise procurement workflows often report a 30% reduction in procurement costs and 40% greater efficiency. These outcomes are frequently cited in digital transformation studies ( Source: Housing Digital & McKinsey Study ) In public sector settings, the automation of procurement via e‑platforms can reduce administrative transaction costs by as much as 58–70%, especially in IT purchasing ( Source: Wikipedia)These figures reflect the transformational potential of digital procurement, though they are broad benchmarks, not specific to any single provider.
Technology as the “How”
Digital platforms are already streamlining workflows, providing real-time data, and enabling predictive insights. But the next layer of transformation comes from data and AI. As colleagues like Emre Kazan (Co-Founder and CPTO) and Emily Shaw (Senior Director Product Lead) have explored in recent thought pieces, AI is beginning to reframe procurement as a more intelligent, outcomes-driven function.
AI tools can analyse huge volumes of supplier data to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities that would otherwise remain hidden. They can forecast maintenance needs before they become emergencies, helping providers shift from reactive repairs to proactive asset management. They can also automate repetitive administrative tasks, from supplier vetting to invoice matching, freeing teams to focus on strategic decision-making. For housing providers, this means less time chasing paperwork and more time delivering value to residents.
The Procurement Act as the “Must”
If technology is the “how,” the Procurement Act 2023 is the “must.” It sets out the guardrails of fairness, transparency, and social value that housing providers cannot ignore. The Act demands greater openness in how contracts are awarded and monitored, while pushing procurement to deliver outcomes that benefit communities, not just balance sheets. AI-enabled digital platforms make this possible at scale, embedding compliance into every stage of the process while generating the data needed for reporting and accountability.
Plentific brings together the “must” of the Procurement Act with the “how” of digital transformation and AI. Within a fully compliant framework, our platform enables providers to source and manage contractors quickly, with clear oversight of performance and spend.. AI capabilities enhance this further by powering predictive insights, automating compliance checks, and supporting smarter procurement decisions.
The result is measurable: providers can deliver faster repairs, reduce overheads, and achieve stronger ROI, while residents experience better, more reliable services. Procurement becomes more than a transaction. It becomes a driver of trust, sustainability, and local value creation.
Building together now to create tomorrow’s value
Procurement in housing is evolving from process to strategy. With digital tools and AI, providers can meet the obligations of the Procurement Act while delivering more efficient, transparent, and resident-focused outcomes. The challenges are real, but the opportunities are greater.
👉 Talk to us today to see how Plentific is helping housing providers with procurement.
