UD's online purchasing system
receives national recognition

UD Mart, the University's online purchasing system that enables employees to place small orders directly, is winning national attention, including a Management Achievement Award for commendable practices from the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Higher Education Awards Program Council.

According to University Treasurer Stephen Grimble, this is a highly competitive award with entries from colleges and universities all over the country, and UD was one of only four schools selected for this recognition.

Tory Windley, Purchasing, said that it is exciting to have a purchasing program receive such recognition. "UD Mart is an innovative program begun over two years ago, and I am not aware of another like it at other schools. It has been successful, efficient, eliminates paperwork, saves hours of labor and money and is popular with users," she said.

Grimble and Windley received the award at the NACUBO annual meeting in New York on July 30.

Windley also was invited to demonstrate UD Mart at a July e-commerce conference held by the National Association of Educational Buyers in Boston.

On campus, UD Mart received a UD 2001 Innovation Award for combining creativity and technology to develop the online catalog.

The UD Mart website may be accessed at [www.udel.edu/ udmart].

Implemented in 1999, UD Mart offers employees online shopping through the web for pre-approved items for their departments up to $5,000. Using a shopping cart for purchases, buyers may browse through catalogs for items such as office supplies or equipment and laboratory items. They also may use a personal shopper for items that are frequently ordered. Orders go directly to external and internal vendors. When an order is submitted, the employee receives an order confirmation number via e-mail.

The only requirement is that employees have a University issued, procurement bank credit card.

"We are pleased with the reception UD Mart has received on and off campus," Windley said. "An increasing number of employees are using UD Mart, and we plan to enhance the system in the future, involving more vendors and better functionality."

–Sue Moncure