As we celebrate a decade of TenderBoard in 2025, we’re also setting our sights on the next 10 years. Over the past decade, we’ve built a strong foundation, but our journey is far from over. Looking ahead, we’re focused on three key areas:
- A Better TenderBoard: Enhancing our existing systems
, - New Features: Expanding the roadmap
- Embracing AI tools
A Better TenderBoard
Before diving into new features, it’s important to note that we’re equally focused on improving our existing systems. Like many software companies, one of our ongoing challenges is support. After analysing our support load, we found that many tickets come from issues users could resolve themselves, it’s either because they weren’t aware of the self-help options or we didn’t provide the correct tools for users to self-help.
To address this, we’re developing more self-service capabilities. Some actions, like managing users or forms, can already be done independently. We’re now working on expanding this, especially for cases involving transaction errors or workflow reversals.
To make this easier, we’re building a ‘Support Centre’, a tool within the platform where users can select the type of support needed, identify the affected deal, and execute the necessary amendments directly.
Since our system currently doesn’t make it easy to backtrack on deals, this tool will unlock that ability while keeping everything safe and secure. We’ve built in protective measures and approval workflows where needed, so you won’t have direct database access, just the power to fix issues quickly.
New Modules and Features
A. Enhanced Claims Module
Our Claims module started as a simple solution to a specific problem. Customers were using Direct Invoice to handle reimbursements, but they hit a limitation because, it only processes one invoice from one supplier at a time. Our customers needed to handle multiple invoices simultaneously. Even when we first built the Claims module, we thought it would just cover simple reimbursements for purchases made for projects, but couldn’t be handled through the HR claims app as they needed to assign budget or GL codes to the claims. As our customers put it to use, we discovered they needed much more.
Today, we’re expanding the Claims module to include transport and mileage claims, as well as per diem calculations. This evolution reflects our approach to product development: we build in partnership with our customers, letting their real-world needs guide how our platform grows. What started as a workaround for processing multiple invoices have become a comprehensive claims management tool that adapts to various reimbursement scenarios teams face every day.
B. Simplified Evaluation Module
Currently TenderBoard has a scoring and PQM (Price-Quality Method) module. While it is powerful, it is also complicated and can be hard for a layman to use. On the other hand, we have deployed customised scoring sheets, which compile the suppliers’ prices and scoring factors into an exported Excel sheet for scoring. While this eases the burden for procurement teams performing the scoring, it still takes the process offline.
We are working on a simplified version of the Evaluation module as a solution to bridge this gap. We’ve made this version much more accessible by streamlining what you need to do for setup, which should cover about 80% of typical use cases. The new module will have a simplified access panel to define the PQM parameters. In line with keeping things simple, all you need to do is:
- Assign the weightages for Price and Quality
- Specify the questions in the Quality section and the weightage for each question
- Select the evaluators
Embracing AI Tools
AI has become the buzzword of today, and many of you are likely already using AI tools in your work. At TenderBoard, we’ve begun our own journey into AI, and we are taking steps as we want to build the right foundation to ensure data security and upholds governance standards.
Our goal is to explore how AI can meaningfully enhance procurement without compromising security. Here are three key areas we’re currently exploring:
A. Recommendation Engine & Data Explorer
This is the simplest use case, where we use an AI model to explore the data, as well as to make recommendations.
This is the simplest use case where we use an AI model to explore data and make recommendations. E.g., we’re developing a straightforward data explorer interface where you could get quick insights about your data without needing to build a report.
Another example is to use this to recommend suppliers to be invited based on your preferred supplier list.
B. Guided Procurement
Utilising AI to provide general procurement support to requesters and approvers, procurement staff would not get bogged down having to deal with basic support to their internal stakeholders.
For example, requesters may not be clear on procurement guidelines/policies and typically have to either ask the procurement team what to do or rely on them to catch any errors. With AI, the system would guide requesters towards the organisation’s procurement objectives (e.g., preferred vendors, preferred methods of procurement, deviations from the norm).
C. Evaluation Bot
Today’s supplier evaluation process is lengthy and time-consuming, requiring procurement teams to compile data, review financials, conduct reference checks, and compare proposals. This tool would help to automate parts of this analysis and handle the grunt work.
Conclusion
As we move forward, our focus remains clear. We’re committed to evolving alongside your needs and delivering a platform that truly works for you. We’re excited about what’s ahead and look forward to building these improvements in partnership with our customers.
If you’d like to learn more about our current features and how TenderBoard can help streamline your procurement processes, feel free to reach us at sales@tenderboard.biz.
