Whitehall procurement agency’s annual accounts reveal that business case for tech transformation initiative was signed off nine months ago, with work on initial assessments and recruitment of staff now begun

The Crown Commercial Service has begun the process of creating a new “digital operating model” to be implemented throughout the organisation.

In its recently published its annual report for 2024/25, the procurement agency reveals that a major plan for upgrading its tech services – covering both internal operations and its public-sector client base – was signed off during the year.

“The development of a new digital operating model is underway, aiming to enhance our digital products and services for customers while improving CCS’s overall efficiency and effectiveness,” the report says. “Following approval of the business case in October 2024, phased implementation has begun, including active recruitment efforts to support this transition.”

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A progress update on the project reveals that, around the end of 2024, the organisation concluded an initial process of assessing “CCS’s current operating model” and then “mapping business architecture and assessing maturity of systems, data, and processes” across the agency.

The report adds: “This analysis will be subject to further work in 2025/26.”

The yearly review also reveals that a project to digitise supplier management was due to be completed close to the end of 2024/25 – but, as priorities shifted following the implementation of new public procurement laws, work will now continue through the current year.

“In supplier assurance, while we completed pilots, the digitisation of supplier management is ongoing, leaving this objective partially achieved for 2024/25,” the report says. “Continued efforts are necessary to fully implement digitisation and enhance supplier risk assurance. With procurement reform enforced by new legislation, we concentrated on compliance risk mitigation and leveraging regime flexibility. The Act’s commencement in February facilitated a transition involving four agreements under the new legislation during 2024/25, ensuring our customers effectively adapt to mandated changes.”