Q. What is EfficientUtilities?
R. EfficientUtilities is a private information exchange website. In
short, it provides
an additional communication tool for buyers and providers to
strengthen and enhance their relationships. Some have described the
site as a virtual exhibit hall that facilitates communication
between buyers and sellers. It further acts as a collaborative
management tool that streamlines the administrative functions of
procurement and facilitates the exchange of information.
Q. How does the site work?
R. The site is a neutral tool allowing buyers and sellers to maximize
process
efficiencies while doing business via established practices and
relationships. The site allows buyers and sellers to automatically
route utility and other buyer requests through traditional sales
channels, including utilities’ preferred distributors and
manufacturers’ representatives. An on-line demonstration of the
site is available at your convenience at EfficientUtilities.com.
Through utilizing the site, utilities can improve workflow and
reduce administrative costs associated with procurement as well as
integrate the software with financial and inventory management
systems to streamline the entire purchasing process.
Within the site, a registered distributor or supplier can
differentiate products and services as they choose. The primary
advantage is that you enter the information once, (except for
updates), and do not have to send it out repeatedly to requesting
utilities. Utilities can access the information on site.
Q. Who sees the information communicated via EfficientUtilities?
R. The site does not collect or distribute private utility or
company information, such as what utilities have bought from whom or
how much they paid for it, what providers have sold, who they’ve
sold it to, or the price of goods or services they sold.
Neither AWWA, nor EfficientUtilities, will monitor or participate
in any transactions. EfficientUtilities will provide the online
communication channel for transactions. However, the content and
decisions concerning transactions are confidential between the
utility and providers.
Does the site support or allow reverse, auction, aggregation, or
bulletin board-type activities?
No.
Q. Why is AWWA involved in the site?
R. AWWA invested in the development of the site with approval
from AWWA’s volunteer leadership as part of its mission to be an
effective instrument of change by advancing technology relative to
the public drinking water profession’s role in stewardship of
water resources.
Other utility e-procurement providers have asked for AWWA
sponsorship but did not provide AWWA the opportunity to control the
design and content of the site. AWWA’s leadership agreed to make
this investment because it afforded AWWA, through its volunteer
leadership and advisory boards, an opportunity to create a site that
would best reflect the needs of both our utility and provider
members.
AWWA firmly believes that water and wastewater utilities will be
using electronic procurement methods on a regular basis to
streamline their purchasing processes, thereby reducing costs. This
is based on feedback from utility managers that are under increasing
pressures from governing boards to become more efficient and to cut
costs wherever possible.
Q. What was the process and who was involved in the development
of the site?
R. AWWA worked with EfficientUtilities to design and create the
site at the direction of AWWA’s volunteer leadership and with
input from the Provider and Utility Advisory Boards. The Advisory
Boards reviewed the site and provided input to the design and
content throughout the development process. And, while some
disagreed philosophically with the site, both Advisory Groups agreed
that the site could be launched once additional technical changes
had been made according to requests they made at an August 10
meeting. These Boards, along with the Board of Directors and Section
leadership, previewed the site the week prior to its official launch
September 17. In addition to these meetings, AWWA communicated
information about the site at volunteer meetings and publicized the
site in its publications throughout the year.
Q. What role did the Sections play in the development of the site?
R. Section representatives are part of the AWWA Board of
Directors and many had representation on the Provider and Utility
Advisory Boards. The AWWA Board of Directors authorized the
Executive Committee to develop a business to business website on
behalf of AWWA and its members. The Executive Committee proceeded to
negotiate a contract with ENI to develop EfficientUtilities.
EfficientUtilities developed the site under the direction of the
Executive Committee and with the advice and council of a Provider
Advisory Board and Utility Advisory Boards. Section leadership had a
general awareness of the site and was given a preview of the site a
week prior to its official launch.
Q. How will AWWA monitor any changes to the site?
R. Any suggested changes to the site must be submitted and
approved in writing by the AWWA Association Services Incorporated (AWWAASI)
Board of Directors. AWWAASI was created to implement the terms of
the EfficientUtilities contract. The AWWAASI Board includes the AWWA
Executive Director, the two immediate past presidents of AWWA, an
AWWA provider member at large, and a non-AWWA member at large. An
EfficientUtilities’ Board of Directors, comprised of non-paying
volunteer positions, is being established to oversee the site. This
Board will include two appointees by AWWAASI; two appointed by ENI,
and one additional appointee that both parties select.
Q. What was AWWA’s actual investment in the site?
R. With the approval of the AWWA volunteer Executive Committee,
AWWAASI
entered into an agreement with EfficientUtilities, to provide
$500,000 in funding and $100,000 of in-kind support, to create
EfficientUtilities.com. AWWAASI spent an additional $15,000 in legal
fees to negotiate the contract.
Q. How much money will AWWA make from the site?
Q. What does AWWA recommend to members who are either considering
involvement with the site or withdrawal of their support because of
AWWA’s involvement with the site?
R. AWWA would ask that members first visit the site, view the
overview presentation and decide for themselves the site’s
capabilities. AWWA members will ultimately determine the success of
the site. That success will be determined by the value that it adds
to the water profession’s current way of doing business.
Q. Where can I learn more about EfficientUtilities.com?
R. You can contact Efficient Utilities through the website,
www.efficientutilities.com, or by calling 1-888-764-4441.
