Purchasing and Contracting Services and Business Affairs launched an enhanced version of Duck Depot to improve the purchasing experience for the University of Oregon community. From browsers to approvers, improvements provide for more seamless transactions from the first click.
As the go-to UO e-procurement site, Duck Depot continues to offer products from dozens of vendors with pre-negotiated prices available for quick shipment. It will also now have the capability for purchase orders to flow through the system. The expanded Duck Depot is no longer exclusively for catalog shopping. While only authorized buyers within schools, colleges and units can make purchases, everyone has access to browse using their Duck ID login. Buyers obtain delegated contracting authority by completing a specific training approved by their supervisor.
“We have worked with Unimarket, a leading e-procurement vendor, to deliver a more comprehensive platform that better meets the university’s purchasing needs,” said Greg Shabram, chief procurement officer. “In doing so, we are also making functionality improvements to electronic invoicing, reporting and purchase order options, all of which will result in process efficiencies.”
The move to the enhanced platform is the first step in transitioning to the more robust system. The immediate improvements impact the buying experience by connecting the purchasing system directly to Banner, the university’s enterprise resource management system. This bypasses the time-consuming purchase order and invoicing processes, getting goods into the hands of those who need them faster.
Employees with buyer authority will experience process changes critical to the implementation of the new platform. These are outlined in detail in Knowledge Base articles. A self-paced training is available through MyTrack with support provided by Purchasing and Contracting Services and Business Affairs. Changes include the discontinuation of paper and Banner purchase orders, Banner invoices and the Duck Depot purchasing card.
With the launch of the enhanced platform Nov. 17, the previous system, now referred to as Duck Depot Classic, will be phased out by the end of the year and will no longer be available after Dec. 31. All new purchases should be made through the new system. Employees should work within the established purchasing practices and protocols within their unit to transition and begin using the new Duck Depot. Consult your designated purchasing coordinator for direction and assistance.
Duck Depot was established in 2017 delivering cost savings, more favorable return policies and enhanced reporting. Through cross-functional collaboration over the last year, Purchasing and Contracting Services, Business Affairs and Information Services worked with Unimarket to develop enhancements to the e-procurement system.
“We wanted Duck Depot to do more. Serve our campus communities better while also being better stewards of university resources,” Shabram said.
Over the last several months, Purchasing and Contracting Services and Business Affairs have worked with individuals and units on implementation, customization and testing of the new expanded functionality. Following a successful pilot with broad representation, the system is ready for campuswide use.
There will be continuous improvement to maximize the use of Duck Depot. Input from users at every stage of the purchasing process is important. Feedback and suggestions can be provided directly to Purchasing and Contracting Services at duckdepot@uoregon.edu. While confident that the new Duck Depot is ready for launch, there may be unforeseeable issues requiring attention, Shabram said, and patience is appreciated.