Development of an Online Negotiation Platform for Enhanced Sourcing Decisions

Business services

Identified Challenges in Efficient Sourcing and Negotiation Processes

The client faces difficulties in providing a streamlined, intelligent online negotiation platform that enables users to make better sourcing decisions. Current processes lack automation, usability, and real-time analytics to facilitate effective negotiations at scale, impacting cost savings and operational efficiency.

About the Client

A mid-sized SaaS company specializing in procurement and sourcing solutions, aiming to provide intelligent, user-friendly online negotiation tools at competitive pricing.

Goals for Developing an Advanced Online Negotiation Platform

Create a SaaS-based online negotiation platform that simplifies sourcing decisions for users.
Implement features that enable comprehensive negotiation management, real-time communication, and strategic analytics.
Ensure platform scalability, security, and ease of use to maximize adoption and effectiveness.
Achieve measurable improvements in negotiation speed, decision quality, and user satisfaction.

Core Functional Capabilities for the Negotiation SaaS Platform

User authentication and role-based access control
Negotiation case management with history tracking
Real-time chat and communication tools
Automated bidding and counter-offering mechanisms
Integration with external procurement data sources and analytics dashboards
Responsive web interface optimized for desktop and mobile devices
Performance monitoring and notification system

Technology Stack and Architectural Preferences for Development

Ruby on Rails for backend development

Responsive front-end frameworks (e.g., React or Angular)

Cloud deployment with scalable infrastructure

Secure authentication protocols (OAuth, SSL)

External Systems and Data Integrations Needed

Procurement data sources for analytics
External communication APIs for real-time chat
Payment gateways (if applicable for premium features)

Critical Non-Functional System Attributes and Metrics

Scalability to support concurrent negotiations for up to 10,000 users
System uptime of 99.9%
Responsive design compatible with desktop and mobile devices
Data security compliant with relevant standards (e.g., GDPR, ISO 27001)
Performance response times under 2 seconds for key interactions

Expected Business Benefits and Project Impact

The development of this online negotiation platform aims to significantly enhance sourcing decision effectiveness, reduce negotiation cycle times, and increase user satisfaction. It is projected to improve negotiation efficiency by over 30%, support scalable growth, and provide richer data insights, ultimately resulting in improved cost savings and streamlined procurement operations.