Rice University Streamlines eProcurement

Houston-based Rice University has selected SciQuest's electronic procurement service to support its online purchasing program. The technology automates purchases made by all users across a university and addresses the unique needs of researchers who often make individual purchases of complex materials. SciQuest also provides a dedicated marketplace of scientific suppliers.

SciQuest's system is designed to help Rice streamline and electronically route orders from users for approval. Rice also plans to use the system to consolidate the university's purchasing power and negotiate more favorable contracts, and to provide more detailed information about university spending.

"In looking for a new procurement system, we wanted technology that was simple enough for everyone on campus to use and complex enough to address the unique challenges of the research environment," said Brian Soika, director of procurement at Rice University.

Rice's system will include SciQuest's Spend Director module--a supplier enablement, catalog management and shopping platform. The company's Order Manager and Requisition Manager modules will handle back-end operations through a single integration point with suppliers. The service will be integrated with the University's SunGard Higher Education Banner Finance solution.

SciQuest solutions have been implemented in a number of institutions of higher education, including Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, Clemson University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Oxford.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • From Fire TV to Signage Stick: University of Utah's Digital Signage Evolution

    Jake Sorensen, who oversees sponsorship and advertising and Student Media in Auxiliary Business Development at the University of Utah, has navigated the digital signage landscape for nearly 15 years. He was managing hundreds of devices on campus that were incompatible with digital signage requirements and needed a solution that was reliable and lowered labor costs. The Amazon Signage Stick, specifically engineered for digital signage applications, gave him the stability and design functionality the University of Utah needed, along with the assurance of long-term support.

  • digital network with glowing blue and red lines, featuring multiple red arrows shifting in different directions

    Report: Attackers Change Tactics as Ransomware Payoffs Decline

    Attackers are changing tactics as they collect less money from ransomware payoffs, according to a new report from Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm.

  • SXSW EDU

    Explore the Future of AI in Higher Ed at SXSW EDU 2025

    This March 3-6 in Austin, TX, the SXSW EDU Conference & Festival celebrates its 15th year of exploring education's most critical issues and providing a forum for creativity, innovation, and expression.

  • business leader standing confidently amid interconnected gears

    Leading Through Complexity: How Online Leaders Can Drive Digital Institutional Transformation

    Leaders charged with developing and expanding online programs at their institutions are finding themselves in increasingly complex roles, but there are a few core steps institutional leaders can take to ensure success.