Public sector procurement is an ongoing and major challenge for nation states everywhere, accounting for one third of government expenditure, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Coronavirus exposed governments that favour narrow procurement processes over timely outcomes or don’t follow due process at all.
It’s no coincidence that a leader in government procurement, South Korea, has one of the lowest death rates from COVID-19; open, shared and contextual data means it can procure and distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) and tests effectively and fairly.