Release Notes
oboloo release notes
Keeping you updated on the latest features, improvements, and fixes
October 2024
We are excited to announce the latest updates for October 2024, which focus on enhancing the flexibility and functionality of oboloo, along with some important improvements and fixes. Read on to discover the changes we’ve made this month.
New Features
1. Sourcing Notifications:
- New notifications for both users and suppliers involved in sourcing activities. These are in addition to current notifications under the sourcing module.
2. Removal of Mandatory End Dates on Contracts:
- Contracts no longer require a mandatory end date. When a contract is created without an end date, users will receive a confirmation notice. This update supports open-ended or evergreen contracts, giving users more flexibility in contract management.
3. Enhanced Export Files:
- We have expanded the fields available when exporting data in Supplier, Contract, and Savings Management. This allows for more detailed reporting and analysis across these modules.
4. 50+ UI Changes Across the Platform:
- Over 50 user interface improvements have been made across the platform, improving usability and enhancing the visual experience. These changes make the system more intuitive and accessible.
5. Increased File Upload Size:
- The maximum file upload size across the platform has been increased from 8MB to 16MB. This will enable users to upload larger documents and media more efficiently.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service including:
Bug Fixes
Improved Responsiveness for Archived Records in Night Mode:
- We have fixed an issue where archived records were not displaying responsively in night mode. This fix ensures smoother navigation and viewing of archived records in all modes.
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
For our November 2024 release, the focus will be on major enhancements to the eSourcing module. Some of the exciting features in development include:
Advanced Weighted Scoring System: Users will be able to score supplier responses with weighted scoring across supplier questionnaires, supplier sections, and pricing. This system will automatically calculate the best scoring supplier based on the weighted scores across all areas, offering a more advanced evaluation process than the current system.
Interactive Graphs for Sourcing: We will introduce interactive graphs that visualize scoring and pricing comparisons, allowing users to easily assess supplier performance and pricing.
Reformatted Supplier Questionnaires: Improvements to the way supplier responses are displayed in questionnaires, making it easier for users to view and evaluate responses.
Scoring Deadlines for Sourcing Activities: We will add the ability to set deadlines for scorers to complete their scoring of supplier responses, ensuring timely evaluations.
User Access Permissions for Sourcing: Enhanced control over who can access and manage specific sourcing activities, with new user access permission settings for the Sourcing module.
Additional Supplier Input Fields for Pricing: Suppliers will be able to input product comments, discounts, and tax information per line item when responding to pricing requests.
Zapier Integration and API Development: We will continue developing integrations with Zapier and building our own API, giving users more flexibility to connect oboloo with other third-party applications and systems.
September 2024
We are thrilled to announce our second major release for the year, which includes the introduction of a brand new module—Sourcing. This update brings a wealth of new features and enhancements that will significantly expand your procurement capabilities within oboloo. Read on to discover how these exciting updates can empower your sourcing activities.
New Features
1. Brand New Sourcing Module: We are excited to introduce the Sourcing module, a powerful new addition to oboloo that allows users to create comprehensive sourcing activities such as RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs directly within the system. With this module, users can:
Build Dynamic Sourcing Activities: Customize your sourcing activities based on any criteria you wish. You can pick and choose which sections to include in your activity, such as:
- Pricing: Request detailed pricing information from suppliers.
- Questionnaires: Include one or more questionnaires with weighted scoring to gather specific information or evaluate supplier capabilities.
- Internal Pre-Built Sections: These sections provide suppliers with key information about your organization, such as “About Us” or “RFP Response Rules.” They are designed to guide suppliers on how to respond effectively.
- Supplier Sections: These are sections where suppliers can provide written responses to your prompts. For example, suppliers might describe how they plan to meet your requirements or outline their service level agreements (SLAs). These responses can then be evaluated and scored by your team.
- Supporting Documentation: Easily attach or request supporting documents from suppliers, ensuring all necessary information is collected in one place.
Scoring Management: Assign scorers within your organization to evaluate supplier responses. Scorers can be designated to score specific areas or the entire supplier response, ensuring a thorough and fair evaluation process.
Scoring Analytics: Gain high-level insights across all scorers and suppliers by analyzing scores given to suppliers’ responses to questionnaires and supplier sections. This feature allows you to see how different scorers rated suppliers and provides an overview of how suppliers performed across different areas of the sourcing activity.
Financial Analysis: Users can now compare suppliers side by side on their pricing responses. This analysis is available at both a high level—comparing overall supplier pricing—and at the product level, allowing for detailed comparisons of pricing by individual product or service.
Sourcing Library and Sections: Save time and maintain consistency by using the Sourcing Library to create reusable sections for your sourcing activities. These sections can be internal, providing suppliers with information about your organization (e.g., “About Us” or “RFP Response Rules”), or external, where suppliers respond with their own information (e.g., their SLAs or understanding of your requirements). Internal sections typically guide suppliers on how to respond, while external sections allow suppliers to provide written responses that can be scored by your team.
Supplier Questionnaires: Design standard or one-off questionnaires that can be inserted into multiple sourcing activities. Suppliers can respond to these questionnaires directly within the system, and their responses can be scored by assigned scorers. This feature allows for structured and efficient supplier evaluations.
Reusable Sections and Questionnaires: The Sourcing Library also supports the creation of reusable sections and questionnaires that can be easily inserted into future sourcing activities. This functionality helps maintain consistency across sourcing events and saves time by eliminating the need to recreate common sections and questions.
Sourcing Activity Customization: The new Sourcing module enables users to tailor their activities to be as simple or complex as needed. You can design activities that range from straightforward information requests to detailed pricing inquiries that include multiple questionnaires with weighted scoring. This customization ensures that your sourcing process aligns perfectly with your organizational goals and requirements.
Sourcing Type Field: A new configurable field, Sourcing Type, has been introduced to allow users to categorize their sourcing activities. This is similar to the supplier, contract, and savings type fields, offering enhanced organization and reporting.
Easy Activity Creation via Wizard: Creating a sourcing activity has never been easier. Our step-by-step wizard guides users through the entire process, ensuring that all necessary details are captured efficiently and accurately.
Supplier Response Management: Suppliers can now respond to sourcing activities directly within oboloo. These responses are confined to defined opening and closing dates, ensuring timely submissions. Users will receive notifications once suppliers have responded, keeping them informed throughout the process.
View as a Supplier Function: Before sending out activities to suppliers, users can now view how the activities will appear from the supplier’s perspective with a simple click. This ensures that the presentation is clear and professional.
Timezone Functionality: We have introduced a timezone function that allows users to set the opening and closing dates of activities based on their local timezone. This ensures accuracy and clarity in deadlines, especially for global teams.
Award a Supplier: Once sourcing activities are completed, users can now award a supplier directly within oboloo. By clicking the ‘Award Supplier’ button, a popup will appear allowing the user to choose a supplier from a dropdown list. After awarding, the system will update the activity status to “Awarded,”. The awarded supplier’s name will also appear in the main eSourcing table.
Reopen Activity: Users can now reopen sourcing activities to selected suppliers. This function allows for new opening and closing dates to be set, and selected suppliers will be notified via email. Suppliers can access the activity again, edit their responses, and resubmit them. Users will receive notifications when suppliers resubmit their responses.
Historic Submissions Management: When activities are reopened, suppliers may resubmit responses. Each submission is treated as a separate entry within the system, and users can easily distinguish between different responses from the same supplier by viewing timestamps next to each response. This feature is applied across all tabs where supplier responses are viewed, including Supplier Sections, Financials, Questionnaires, and Supporting Documents.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service including:
1. Supplier Scorecard Archiving: We have removed the restriction that only the creators of supplier scorecards can archive their own scorecards. Now, any user can archive any supplier scorecard, a change that has been highly requested by our user base.
2. Supplier Portal Translation: A new translation function has been added to the supplier portal, allowing suppliers to translate oboloo into their native language, enhancing accessibility and ease of use.
3. Contract Expiry Dates: We have implemented a function where the contract expiry date is no longer required. This change allows for better management of contracts that do not have a fixed end date, such as evergreen contracts.
4. Document Expiry Date Removal: We have removed the need to have an expiry date against supplier and contract documents. Additionally, you can now set expiry dates for documents in the past, accommodating situations where historical documentation needs to be maintained accurately.
5. Contract Reference # Column: We have added a ‘Contract Reference #’ column to the main contract management table, providing better reference and organization for your contracts.
6. Responsive File Uploads: The file upload field on the supplier portal has been made more responsive, improving the ease and reliability of uploading documents.
7. Change Document Type: Users can now change the document type of a supplier document, offering greater flexibility and control over document management.
8. Download Scorecards as PDF: Users can now download scorecards that have been applied against suppliers as a PDF, making it easier to share and archive evaluations.
9. Supplier Questionnaires Responsiveness: We have made the question field in supplier questionnaires more responsive, allowing users to more easily view and manage questions within pre-built questionnaires.
10. New Sourcing Tab under Supplier Profile: A new sourcing tab has been added under the supplier profile. This tab shows a list of all sourcing activities that a supplier has been invited to previously, providing a comprehensive overview of the supplier’s engagement history.
11. Additional Filters in Savings Management: We have added additional filters to the savings management dashboard, enhancing your ability to narrow down and analyze savings data.
12. Duplicate Suppliers Allowed: We now allow the creation of duplicate suppliers within oboloo. While the system will still check for duplications and warn users, it will permit the creation of duplicates if the user confirms their decision. This change was made in response to user feedback and allows for more flexible supplier management.
13. Supplier Compliance Sorting: The table on the supplier compliance submodule is now sorted A-Z by default, making it easier to navigate and find information.
14. Supplier Portal User Guides: User guides have been added to the supplier side of oboloo, providing additional support and guidance to suppliers using the platform.
Bug Fixes
1. Pagination Fix: We have resolved an issue with pagination across all tables. Previously, if there were too many records under a module, pagination became unresponsive. This issue has now been fixed, ensuring smooth navigation through large datasets.
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
1. Parent and Child Relationships: We will be adding a function to associate records as parent or child for suppliers, contracts, and savings records. This feature will help in better organizing and managing related records within oboloo.
2. Contract Notice Periods: A new function will be introduced to allow users to mark that they have successfully given notice to a supplier for a contract. This will improve the tracking and management of contract termination processes.
3. Multiple Sections of Categories: We will be enabling the ability to assign multiple categories to records, such as having multiple contract types against a single contract. This feature will provide more flexibility and granularity in categorizing and managing records.
4. Sourcing Analysis: We will be enhancing the visual analysis capabilities of sourcing activities, particularly around financial/pricing analysis from suppliers’ responses and scoring analysis from internal scorers. This will provide deeper insights into sourcing outcomes.
5. Integration with Zapier: We will be integrating oboloo with Zapier, allowing organizations to connect oboloo to over 7,000 other third-party applications. This will greatly expand the flexibility and connectivity of your procurement processes.
6. API Development: We are building an API that will allow organizations to integrate oboloo directly with their ERP systems and other applications. This will streamline data flow and improve operational efficiency.
7. Requesting Multiple Documents from Suppliers: We will introduce a feature that allows users to request multiple documents at once from a supplier, whether for contracts or supplier records. This will streamline the document collection process and improve workflow efficiency.
August 2024
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for August 2024, with a focus on significant improvements that enhance performance, security, and overall user experience. Read on to learn more about the changes we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
No New Features Released:
This month, no new features have been released as we are working hard to bring a major release in September 2024, which will include the introduction of the new Sourcing module along with a high number of other new features and improvements. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we focus our efforts on this significant upcoming release, while also making important enhancements to our server infrastructure.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service including:
1. Server Migration: We have successfully migrated all clients to a new, larger, and faster server infrastructure. This migration includes:
- Enhanced Performance: The new servers provide faster processing speeds and improved system reliability, ensuring smoother operations across all modules.
- Advanced Security: The migration includes the latest in data encryption technology, providing top-tier protection for your data.
- Up-to-Date Software: Our server environment now runs on the most current software versions, enhancing both security and performance.
2. Improved User Interface: We have made several improvements to the user interface, including:
- Streamlined Navigation: Enhanced menus and layouts make it easier to find and access the features you need.
- Cleaner Design: Updated visuals and layouts for a more modern and intuitive user experience.
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
Below are the main future development workstreams for oboloo. These enhancements have been driven by client feedback, for which we are always grateful. Please continue to share your ideas with us.
1. Parent and Child Relationships: We will be adding a function to associate records as parent or child for suppliers, contracts, and savings records. This feature will help in better organizing and managing related records within oboloo.
2. Contract Notice Periods: A new function will be introduced to allow users to mark that they have successfully given notice to a supplier for a contract. This will improve the tracking and management of contract termination processes.
3. Multiple Sections of Categories: We will be enabling the ability to assign multiple categories to records, such as having multiple contract types against a single contract. This feature will provide more flexibility and granularity in categorizing and managing records.
4. Sourcing Analysis: We will be enhancing the visual analysis capabilities of sourcing activities, particularly around financial/pricing analysis from suppliers’ responses and scoring analysis from internal scorers. This will provide deeper insights into sourcing outcomes.
5. Integration with Zapier: We will be integrating oboloo with Zapier, allowing organizations to connect oboloo to over 7,000 other third-party applications. This will greatly expand the flexibility and connectivity of your procurement processes.
6. API Development: We are building an API that will allow organizations to integrate oboloo directly with their ERP systems and other applications. This will streamline data flow and improve operational efficiency.
7. Requesting Multiple Documents from Suppliers: We will introduce a feature that allows users to request multiple documents at once from a supplier, whether for contracts or supplier records. This will streamline the document collection process and improve workflow efficiency.
We are committed to continuously improving oboloo and providing you with the best tools for your procurement needs. Thank you for being a valued user, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting updates in the future.
July 2024
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for July 2024, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
1. Multi-Select Drop-Down Filters: We have upgraded our table filters to multi-select drop-downs. This enhancement allows you to apply multiple criteria when searching for suppliers, contracts, and savings records. Benefits of this feature include:
- Enhanced search precision by allowing you to combine multiple filters.
- Improved data analysis with the ability to view records that meet various criteria simultaneously.
- Time-saving by reducing the need for multiple searches.
2. New Approval Workflows: Introducing new approval workflows for suppliers, contracts, and savings records. This feature allows all records to be approved by someone in your organization, with the following benefits:
- Rejection reasons and approvals are logged under a new ‘Approve Log’ tab for each record.
- Greater control and accountability within your procurement processes.
- Transparent approval history for audit and compliance purposes.
3. Document Expiry Date Removal: We have removed the requirement to have an expiry date against supplier and contract documents, whether uploaded internally or by a supplier. This change accommodates documents that do not typically expire, such as NDAs, and provides:
- Greater flexibility in document management.
- Reduced administrative overhead by eliminating unnecessary expiry date tracking.
- Simplified document upload and storage processes.
4. New Setup Walkthrough: There is a new setup walkthrough for companies signing up to oboloo. This guided process helps new users get started quickly by:
- Providing step-by-step instructions for initial setup.
- Highlighting key features and configurations.
- Ensuring a smooth onboarding experience.
5. Clone Supplier Scorecards: You can now clone supplier scorecards under the supplier management module. This includes scorecards created by other users, offering:
- A quicker starting point when wanting to adjust existing scorecards.
- Consistency in scorecard criteria across the organization.
- Time savings by leveraging pre-existing scorecards.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service including:
1. Default Language Options: Although we have implemented translation within the system, we are enhancing this with a new function that allows users to pick their preferred language within their profile page. This will enforce the system to stay in the chosen language for that user, providing a more personalized and consistent user experience.
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
1. New Sourcing Module: We are creating an eSourcing module where users can create RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs and send them to suppliers. Suppliers will be able to respond to sourcing activities directly within the system. This module will include the ability to create custom supplier questionnaires with weighted scoring and a section library, so users will not have to recreate content each time they create a sourcing activity.
2. Add ‘Supplier Type’ Field to Table: We will be adding a ‘Supplier Type’ field to the main supplier management table for better categorization and management of suppliers.
3. Allow Duplicate Suppliers with Same Email Address: We will allow duplicate suppliers with the same email address, with a popup notice asking users to confirm they wish to continue.
4. Make Left-Hand Menu More Responsive: Improvements will be made to ensure the left-hand menu is more responsive and user-friendly.
5. Sort Supplier Compliance Page A-Z: The supplier compliance page will be sorted alphabetically (A-Z) for easier navigation.
6. Add ‘Savings Type’ to Savings Creation Wizard: The current ‘Savings Type’ field will be added to the savings creation wizard to better categorize savings records at point of creation.
7. Add ‘Contract Reference #’ Field to Contract Management Table: We will add a ‘Contract Reference #’ column to the main contract management table for better reference and organization.
8. Add User Guide Button to Supplier Portal: We will be adding a user guide button to the supplier portal.
9. 3rd-Party Integrations: We are creating integrations to Zapier and Pabbly to allow users to integrate oboloo with over 7000 third-party applications.
10. Remove Mandatory End Dates on Contracts: The need for mandatory expiry dates on contracts will be removed to allow for rolling or evergreen contracts.
11. Request Multiple Supplier & Contract Documentation: Users will be able to request more than one document at a time from a supplier against contracts or suppliers.
12. Chat Function: We are creating a chat function between users and suppliers for sourcing activities to facilitate better communication.
13. Parent & Child Record Relationships: We will introduce parent/child relationships against records within modules to improve data organization and management.
14. API Capabilities and Documentation: We are enhancing our API capabilities to facilitate seamless integration with third-party applications. Detailed API documentation will be provided, allowing developers to easily integrate oboloo with other systems, ensuring data synchronization and workflow automation across different platforms. This enhancement aims to:
- Provide comprehensive API documentation for easy integration.
- Support a wide range of functionalities to interact with oboloo data.
- Enable customization and automation of procurement processes.
We are committed to continuously improving oboloo and providing you with the best tools for your procurement needs. Thank you for being a valued user, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting updates in the future.
June 2024
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for June 2024, featuring a host of new features, improvements, and a glimpse into our future development plans. This month marks a significant milestone with the release of the new oboloo system, which offers enhanced functionality, an improved user interface, and a more intuitive user experience. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements.
New Features
Major Update: The New oboloo System
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the new oboloo system. This update represents a significant leap forward in terms of functionality and user experience. The new system includes:
- Enhanced Functionality: Improved tools and features that make procurement processes more efficient.
- Intuitive User Interface: A redesigned UI that is more user-friendly and easier to navigate.
- Advanced Performance: Faster load times and smoother interactions, powered by the latest technologies.
- Better Customization: More options for tailoring the system to meet your specific needs.
The new oboloo system is designed to empower you with better tools, enhanced performance, and a seamless user experience. We are confident that these improvements will greatly benefit your procurement activities.
Other new features:
1. Cloning Supplier Scorecards: We have introduced the ability to clone existing supplier scorecards. This feature allows you to easily duplicate scorecards, saving you time and effort. For a detailed guide on cloning supplier scorecards, please visit here.
2. Multi-Select Filter Dropdowns: Our filter drop-downs above the main module tables have been upgraded to multi-select drop-downs. This enhancement enables you to apply multiple criteria when searching for suppliers, contracts, and savings records, making your search process more efficient and comprehensive.
3. UI Enhancements: We have implemented various user interface improvements to enhance the overall user experience. These enhancements make the system more intuitive and user-friendly, ensuring a smoother interaction with the platform.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
Supplier Notes and Descriptions Box: We have fixed the issue with supplier profiles not displaying the supplier ‘Description/Notes’ field. This bug fix ensures that all relevant information about suppliers is visible and accessible.
Transition to AWS S3 for Faster Document Retrieval: All documents uploaded within oboloo are now stored and retrieved from a new AWS S3 bucket. This transition results in faster retrieval times and enhanced encryption, ensuring both efficiency and security for your documents.
Hosting & Security
Upgraded servers and loading times – We have upgraded our servers on the new oboloo platform
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
1. New Sourcing Module: We have started work on a new sourcing module which will replace the old module. This new module is expected to be available in September 2024, offering improved functionality and a more streamlined sourcing process.
2. Approvals in All Modules: We are introducing approvals across all modules, allowing organizations to approve suppliers, contracts, and savings records created by other users. This feature ensures greater control and accountability within your procurement processes.
3. Default Language Options: Although we have implemented translation within the system, we are enhancing this with a new function that allows users to pick their preferred language within their profile page. This will enforce the system to stay in the chosen language for that user, providing a more personalized and consistent user experience.
We are committed to continuously improving oboloo and providing you with the best tools for your procurement needs. Thank you for being a valued user, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting updates in the future.
May 2024
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for May 2024, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
1. Simplified Supplier Onboarding: We have introduced a new supplier onboarding process that makes it easier and faster for suppliers to join our platform. This streamlined process ensures that suppliers provide all necessary information efficiently.
2. Advanced Reporting Tools: Our new reporting tools offer deeper insights into your procurement activities. With customizable options, you can now generate detailed reports that help you make more informed decisions.
3. Real-Time Collaboration: We have added new collaboration features that allow multiple users to work together more effectively. These enhancements facilitate better teamwork and faster completion times for your projects.
4. Improved Notification System: Stay updated with our enhanced notification system. You can now receive more timely and relevant alerts about important activities and changes within the platform.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. User Interface Enhancements: We have made several improvements to the user interface, including a cleaner layout and more intuitive navigation. These changes make the platform easier and more pleasant to use.
2. Performance Optimizations: Our latest backend optimizations have improved the overall performance of the platform. You will notice faster load times and smoother interactions across all modules.
3. Enhanced Security Measures: We have implemented new security features to better protect your data. These enhancements ensure that your information remains safe and secure.
4. Document Management Enhancements: We have improved our document management system to make it easier to upload, organize, and retrieve documents. These improvements help you manage your documents more efficiently.
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
1. Enhanced Analytics Module: We are developing an enhanced analytics module to provide more detailed insights and customizable reporting options. This will allow users to analyze their procurement data more effectively and make data-driven decisions.
2. Approval Workflows: We are introducing approval workflows across all modules, allowing organizations to set up customized approval processes for suppliers, contracts, and savings records. This feature will ensure greater control and accountability within your procurement activities.
3. Customizable User Roles: In response to user feedback, we are working on providing more granular control over user permissions. This will allow administrators to create and assign customizable user roles, ensuring that team members have access to the specific features they need.
4. Enhanced Integration Capabilities: We are expanding our integration capabilities to support more third-party applications. This will enable users to seamlessly connect oboloo with other tools they use, improving workflow efficiency and data synchronization. This will be done inthe form of an open API.
5. Supplier Performance Metrics: We are developing new features to track and evaluate supplier performance. This will include metrics and dashboards that help you monitor supplier reliability, quality, and compliance over time.
April 2024
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for April 2024, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
1. Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Tools: We have introduced new SRM tools to help you manage and enhance relationships with your suppliers. These tools provide a comprehensive view of supplier interactions, performance metrics, and communication history.
2. Customizable Dashboards: Our new customizable dashboards allow users to tailor their workspace according to their specific needs. You can now add, remove, and arrange widgets to create a dashboard that best suits your workflow.
3. Enhanced Search Functionality: We have upgraded our search functionality to provide more accurate and faster search results. This enhancement makes it easier to find suppliers, contracts, and documents within the platform.
4. Automated Reminders: Introducing automated reminders for key tasks and deadlines. This feature ensures that you never miss important dates, such as contract renewals or supplier evaluations, by sending timely notifications.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. Optimized Performance: We have implemented several performance optimizations to improve the speed and responsiveness of the platform. Users will experience faster load times and smoother interactions across all modules.
2. Improved User Experience: Our latest update includes numerous user experience improvements, such as clearer navigation, enhanced accessibility features, and more intuitive workflows.
3. Advanced Security Enhancements: We have added new security measures to protect your data, including enhanced encryption protocols and improved user authentication processes.
4. Better Document Management: We have refined our document management system to make it easier to upload, organize, and retrieve documents. These improvements help streamline document-related workflows and ensure that you can quickly access the files you need.
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
1. Supplier Portal: We are developing a dedicated supplier portal to facilitate better communication and collaboration with your suppliers. This portal will allow suppliers to access and update their information, respond to requests, and view performance metrics.
2. Enhanced Audit Trails: We are working on providing more detailed audit trails across all modules. This feature will allow users to track changes and activities, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
3. Mobile-Friendly Interface: We are enhancing the mobile compatibility of our platform, ensuring that users can access and manage their procurement activities seamlessly from any device.
March 2024
New Features
1. Supplier Risk Management: We have introduced a new supplier risk management module. This feature allows you to assess and monitor the risk levels of your suppliers based on various criteria, helping you make more informed decisions and mitigate potential risks.
4. User Activity Logs: Introducing detailed user activity logs that track and record user actions within the system. This feature enhances accountability and helps administrators monitor usage patterns and detect any unauthorized activities.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. Faster Search Results: We have optimized our search algorithms to provide faster and more relevant search results. This improvement makes it easier to find specific information quickly, enhancing overall productivity.
2. Enhanced User Permissions: We have refined our user permissions settings to offer more granular control over user access. Administrators can now assign specific permissions to users, ensuring that they only have access to the features and data they need.
3. Improved Dashboard Layouts: Our dashboards have been redesigned to provide a more streamlined and visually appealing layout. These improvements make it easier to access key information at a glance and customize your workspace.
Hosting & Security
Upgraded servers and loading times – We have upgraded our servers across all environments which has increased loading times as well as added security
Development Roadmap
Please check out our roadmap page via the footer of this page.
February 2024
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for February 2024, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
1. Dynamic Supplier Performance Dashboards: We have introduced new dynamic dashboards that provide real-time insights into supplier performance. These dashboards offer customizable views and metrics to help you better assess and manage your suppliers.
3. Automated Data Validation: We have implemented automated data validation features that ensure the accuracy and completeness of your data during entry. This reduces errors and improves data quality across the platform.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. Enhanced Search Capabilities: We have optimized our search functionality to deliver faster and more relevant results. These improvements make it easier to locate specific records, documents, and suppliers within the system.
2. Improved User Role Management: Our updated user role management system allows for more granular control over user permissions, enabling administrators to assign precise access rights based on individual roles and responsibilities.
3. Refined Document Upload Process: We have streamlined the document upload process, making it faster and more intuitive. Users can now upload multiple documents simultaneously with enhanced drag-and-drop functionality.
Development Roadmap
Please check out our roadmap page via the footer of this page.
January 2024
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for January 2024, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
1. Advanced Supplier Risk Assessment: We have introduced advanced risk assessment tools that allow you to evaluate and monitor supplier risk more effectively. This feature includes risk scoring and automated alerts for high-risk suppliers.
2. Enhanced Contract Lifecycle Management: Our new contract lifecycle management features provide better oversight and control over the entire contract process. This includes automated reminders for key dates and milestones.
3. Bulk User Management: Introducing bulk user management capabilities, allowing administrators to add, update, or remove multiple users at once. This feature simplifies user management for large teams.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. Faster System Performance: We have made significant performance optimizations to improve the speed and responsiveness of the platform. Users will experience faster load times and smoother interactions.
2. Improved Notification System: Our enhanced notification system ensures that you receive timely and relevant alerts about important activities and changes within the platform.
Development Roadmap
Please check out our roadmap page via the footer of this page.
December 2023
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for December 2023, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
Enhanced Audit Trails: We have added more detailed audit trails across all modules, providing greater transparency and accountability. Users can now track changes and activities with greater precision.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. Improved Data Visualization: We have enhanced our data visualization capabilities, providing more interactive and visually appealing charts and graphs. These improvements help you better analyze and interpret your data.
2. Streamlined User Interface: Our updated user interface features a cleaner layout and improved navigation, making it easier to access key features and information.
Development Roadmap
Please check out our roadmap page via the footer of this page.
November 2023
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for November 2023, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
1. Enhanced Compliance Management: We have introduced new compliance management tools that help you ensure adherence to regulatory requirements. This feature includes compliance checklists and automated reminders.
2. Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Our new analytics and reporting tools provide deeper insights into your procurement activities. These tools include customizable dashboards and advanced filtering options.
3. Real-Time Collaboration: We have added real-time collaboration features that allow multiple users to work together more effectively. These enhancements facilitate better teamwork and faster completion times for your projects.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. Optimized System Performance: We have implemented several performance optimizations to improve the speed and responsiveness of the platform. Users will experience faster load times and smoother interactions.
2. Enhanced User Permissions: We have refined our user permissions settings to offer more granular control over user access. Administrators can now assign specific permissions to users, ensuring that they only have access to the features and data they need.
3. Improved Document Management: We have refined our document management system to make it easier to upload, organize, and retrieve documents. These improvements help you manage your documents more efficiently.
Development Roadmap
Please check out our roadmap page via the footer of this page.
October 2023
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for October 2023, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
1. Supplier Scorecard Improvements: We have introduced new metrics and criteria for supplier scorecards, allowing for more comprehensive evaluations. These improvements help you better assess supplier performance and make informed decisions.
2. Advanced Filtering Options: We have added advanced filtering options to the platform, allowing you to narrow down your searches with greater precision. This feature is available across all modules, making it easier to find specific records and data.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. Faster Data Processing: We have optimized our data processing algorithms to improve the speed and efficiency of the platform. Users will experience quicker load times and smoother interactions.
2. Enhanced Security Features: We have implemented new security measures, including multi-factor authentication and enhanced encryption protocols. These enhancements ensure that your data is more secure than ever.
3. Improved User Interface: Our updated user interface includes a cleaner design and more intuitive navigation. These improvements make it easier to access key features and information.
Development Roadmap
Please check out our roadmap page via the footer of this page.
September 2023
We are excited to bring you the latest updates for September 2023, featuring a range of new features, improvements, and insights into our future development plans. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes and enhancements we’ve implemented this month.
New Features
1. Enhanced Reporting Features: Our new reporting features provide more detailed and customizable reports. This includes new templates and advanced filtering options to help you get the insights you need.
2. Real-Time Data Sync: We have implemented real-time data synchronization across all modules, ensuring that you always have the most up-to-date information at your fingertips.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
1. Streamlined Navigation: We have improved the navigation within the platform, making it easier to find and access different modules and features. These enhancements provide a smoother user experience.
2. Performance Enhancements: Our latest update includes several performance enhancements, resulting in faster load times and more responsive interactions.
3. Better Integration with External Systems: We have improved our integration capabilities, allowing for more seamless connections with external systems and applications. This ensures that your workflows are more efficient and cohesive.
Development Roadmap
Please check out our roadmap page via the footer of this page.
August 2023
New Features
We’re thrilled to introduce an exciting update to the eSourcing module in oboloo! Our latest release brings powerful enhancements that make sourcing activities even more efficient and dynamic than ever before. We’ve reworked the eSourcing module to provide you with unprecedented flexibility and collaboration capabilities. Here’s what’s new:
Internal Collaborators and Scoring
Now, your internal stakeholders can actively participate in the sourcing process. Collaborators can join sourcing activities, providing their expertise and insights to make more informed decisions. What’s even more groundbreaking is the ability for these collaborators to score supplier responses. This opens up new avenues for collaboration, ensuring that every voice is heard and every perspective is valued.
Drag and Drop Questionnaires
We’ve revolutionized the way you create questionnaires for sourcing activities. With our drag and drop function, crafting questionnaires is a breeze. You can design customized questionnaires tailored to your specific needs by simply dragging and dropping the desired components. This feature eliminates the need for complex formatting and coding, making the entire process intuitive and efficient.
Seamless Integration
The revamped sourcing questionnaires pages now seamlessly integrate with your sourcing activities. The questionnaires you create can be effortlessly included in sourcing activities for suppliers to answer. The dynamic and flexible nature of this integration means that your sourcing processes can now perfectly align with your unique requirements.
Enhanced Supplier Engagement
Suppliers will find it easier than ever to engage with your sourcing activities. The clear and concise questionnaires empower them to provide accurate and relevant responses, leading to more productive interactions. This not only streamlines communication but also fosters stronger relationships with your suppliers.
Tailored Sourcing Activities
With these enhancements, the power is truly in your hands. Create sourcing activities in oboloo that align exactly with your current sourcing processes. The flexibility of our updated eSourcing module ensures that your workflows remain intact while benefiting from the efficiency and collaboration advantages.
At oboloo, we’re committed to providing you with tools that empower your sourcing activities and drive success. With the reworked eSourcing module, you have the means to transform your sourcing processes into dynamic, collaborative, and effective endeavors. Experience the future of eSourcing with oboloo!
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
Profile Pictures – We understand the importance of visual cues when managing data. With this update, we’ve added profile pictures to the main tables, making it easier for you to quickly identify collaborators and stakeholders. This visual enhancement not only adds a personal touch but also aids in better recognition and navigation, especially in scenarios involving multiple team members.
File Upload Limits – With this update, you can now upload files as large as 100 megabytes (MB) each. This is a substantial increase from the previous upload limit of 25MB. We understand that in today’s business landscape, handling larger files is a necessity, whether it’s sharing media-rich content, collaborating on data-intensive projects, or exchanging comprehensive documents.
Enhanced User Guides/Tooltips – With this update, we’ve replaced traditional tooltips with a more comprehensive and interactive user guidance system. Now, instead of relying solely on pop-up tooltips, you’ll have access to direct, in-depth user guides and tutorials within the system itself. This means you can seamlessly learn and discover features as you navigate, without interrupting your workflow.
The new integrated user guides provide step-by-step instructions, real-time demonstrations, and insights into utilizing oboloo’s functionalities to their fullest potential. Whether you’re a new user exploring the platform or a seasoned pro seeking advanced techniques, these embedded user guides ensure you have the support you need right at your fingertips.
Our goal is to make your journey with oboloo as smooth as possible. By replacing tooltips with enhanced user guides, we’re empowering you to become a more proficient user, unlocking the platform’s capabilities in a more intuitive and user-friendly manner.
Values & Supplier Comparison Modules – As part of our commitment to delivering an optimal user experience, we’re making strategic decisions to refine and enhance oboloo’s functionality. In this release, we’re retiring the values and supplier comparison modules.
This decision comes as we continue to invest in reimagining and improving our offerings. While the values and supplier comparison modules are being temporarily retired, rest assured that they will return in the future. We recognize the importance of these modules and want to ensure that they align seamlessly with your needs.
As we work on scoping and refining these modules to provide enhanced capabilities, you can look forward to new and improved functionalities that will surpass the current offerings. Our goal is to offer you an upgraded experience that empowers you to achieve even more within oboloo.
Hosting & Security
Upgraded servers and loading times – We have upgraded our servers across all environments which has increased loading times as well as added security
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
eSourcing
- Communication function – A new communication tab will be launched within each sourcing activity, allowing users to communicate directly to suppliers to ask questions or request documentation.
- Timeline function – users will be able to specify the different phases of their sourcing event with timelines e.g. deadline for supplier questions.
Contract Management
Documents Tab – We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be adding a new option under the configurations page: ‘Supplier Document Type’ and ‘Contract Document Type’. Superusers will have the ability to define and add new document types tailored to your organization’s unique needs. This enhancement ensures that document categorization is aligned with your specific workflows.
Streamlined Document Organization: Say goodbye to document clutter. In the near future, we’ll be restructuring the documents tab for suppliers and contracts. At the top of the tab, a convenient drop-down filter will allow users to seamlessly filter documents by type. This means you’ll be able to quickly locate the documents you need, instead of wading through an extensive list.
Enhanced Table Functionality: Navigating through documents will become even smoother with the addition of sorting capabilities to table headers. This feature will enable you to sort documents based on various criteria, giving you full control over how you view and access your valuable content.
Supplier Management
Dynamic Supplier Questionnaires– We’re thrilled to unveil a ground-breaking feature that revolutionizes how you evaluate and engage with your suppliers. In this release, we’re introducing an innovative way to create supplier questionnaires that align precisely with your organization’s criteria and needs.
Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Questionnaires: Get ready to experience a new level of flexibility in supplier evaluation. With our intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, crafting comprehensive questionnaires has never been simpler. You can now design custom questionnaires tailored to your specific requirements by easily dragging and dropping the desired components. This empowers you to create supplier questionnaires that accurately reflect your organization’s unique criteria.
Automated Scoring for Objective Evaluation: Say goodbye to manual scoring. With this enhancement, our platform automates the scoring process, ensuring consistent and objective evaluation of suppliers. You can assign different weights to various criteria such as sustainability, performance, and risk. As suppliers provide their responses, the automated scoring system calculates scores based on your organization’s predefined criteria.
Effortless Questionnaire Distribution: Sending out questionnaires to suppliers is now a breeze. Our platform streamlines the process by automatically distributing the questionnaires to the relevant suppliers. This ensures that your evaluation process remains timely and efficient, allowing you to gather responses and insights quickly.
Tailored to Your Organization’s Criteria: We understand that every organization has its unique criteria for supplier evaluation. With this enhancement, you can create questionnaires that align precisely with your existing evaluation processes. This feature empowers you to adapt the system to your needs, rather than adapting your processes to the system.
We’re excited to bring you this dynamic enhancement that simplifies and enhances supplier evaluation. By combining drag-and-drop questionnaires, automated scoring, and streamlined distribution, we’re ensuring that you have the tools you need to make well-informed decisions and build stronger supplier relationships.
Location & Department– We will be including the fields ‘Location’ and ‘Department’ within the supplier management module. This will allow users to assign suppliers by their internal organisations locations/departments. This will be a multiple select drop down to allow suppliers to be used in more than one location.
Documents Tab – We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be adding a new option under the configurations page: ‘Supplier Document Type’ and ‘Contract Document Type’. Superusers will have the ability to define and add new document types tailored to your organization’s unique needs. This enhancement ensures that document categorization is aligned with your specific workflows.
Streamlined Document Organization: Say goodbye to document clutter. In the near future, we’ll be restructuring the documents tab for suppliers and contracts. At the top of the tab, a convenient drop-down filter will allow users to seamlessly filter documents by type. This means you’ll be able to quickly locate the documents you need, instead of wading through an extensive list.
Enhanced Table Functionality: Navigating through documents will become even smoother with the addition of sorting capabilities to table headers. This feature will enable you to sort documents based on various criteria, giving you full control over how you view and access your valuable content.
July 2023
New Features
We’re excited to announce the release of our new features for Savings Management, Supplier Management & eSourcing! With this update, you’ll be able to benefit from a comprehensive audit log, enhanced user access rights and improved supplier & savings management descriptions. Additionally, we’ve added an approval process and the ability to archive information for even more convenience. Start taking advantage of these features today and let us know what you think!
Savings Management Audit Log – allows you to easily track and monitor all your savings records. Now, you can see detailed change records under individual savings activities, showing any changes made, when and by who in your organisation. The audit log can be found at the bottom of the page for every savings record.
Enhanced Access Rights – We are excited to announce the launch of our enhanced user access rights for savings management and eSourcing! This new feature will provide you with greater control over who can view and manage records within oboloo.
- You can now assign specific permissions to users, allowing them to view and edit savings records and viewing rights to sourcing records.
With this new feature, you can rest assured that only authorized personnel can access and modify these important processes. We hope you enjoy the added security and improved efficiency that this feature provides.
Description/Notes field – We’ve added a new description/notes field for Supplier & Savings Management. This feature will help you keep track of important information about your suppliers and savings. You can now add notes to any supplier or savings record, making it easier to store and access important details. This field is open-ended, so you can include as much or as little detail as you’d like. Whether you need to include an internal code, special instructions, or even just reminders, the new description/notes field has you covered.
Enjoy this convenient new way to stay organized with Supplier & Savings Management!
Savings approval process – The approval process for Savings Management allows users to request approval for savings records by their Managers who can review and approve any changes to savings before they’re finalized.
- Once an approver is selected by the record creator, the approver will receive an email notification requesting approval for that saving.
- When they’re happy with it, click ‘Approve’ (or reject) and you’re all set. It’s that easy!
Now you can manage your savings with confidence and peace of mind, knowing that you have full control over every change.
Archive Function for Savings Management – This feature will allow you to store and view all your past savings in one easy-to-access place.
- To archive a saving, simply select the ‘Archive’ button at the bottom of a savings record.
- To view all archived savings, click the ‘Archived Savings’ button at the top of the savings management home page, you’ll be able to view all of all your archived savings here. You can also unarchive savings following the same step as above.
If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Improvements
Several improvements/enhancements have been made to the service
Contract Management
Additional Owners Against Contracts – More internal users can now be added against contracts allowing them to receive live notifications for that contract.
Supplier Management
Risk Scores – A bug which didn’t save the records of previous risk scores has been fixed.
Savings Management
Milestone Tab Refresh – Once a milestone has been edited the page will now automatically save changes, rather than refreshing back to the Savings Summary tab.
Report Builder Filters – A new user filter has been added. This will allow you to view savings by individual employee.
Hosting & Security
Upgraded servers and loading times – We have upgraded our servers across all environments which has increased loading times as well as added security
Development Roadmap
Below are oboloo’s main future development workstreams. Much of the below roadmap has originated from client feedback, which as always we are very grateful for. As always, please let us know your ideas.
eSourcing
Brand New eSourcing module – We are very excited to be bringing you a brand new eSourcing module which will replace the current one. Functions will include:
- Users will be able to create sourcing activities based on their own internal processes. Create completely unique RFP/RFI/RFQ questionnaires or sections in your sourcing activity. You will also be able to save the questionnaires/sections to use again for future activities.
- Multiple internal contributors and scorers – When creating a sourcing activity, you will able to invite internal colleagues to participate in the creation and also scoring of the activity.
- Save as draft function – You will be able to save the sourcing activity in a draft state prior to publishing to suppliers. This will allow other internal employees to contribute to the activity before it goes live.
- Communication function – A new communication tab will be launched within each sourcing activity, allowing users to communicate directly to suppliers to ask questions or request documentation.
Contract Management
Document Version Control – We will be added a new section to contract management which will allow your organisation and suppliers to share a repository per contract. This will include version control for contract negotiation purposes.
Supplier Management
Risk, Performance and Sustainability Scoring– We are enhancing our risk, performance and sustainability scoring modules.
Users will be able to create scoring methodologies based on their own internal processes. Create completely unique risk, performance and sustainability questionnaires to send to your suppliers with automated scoring. You will also be able to send questionnaires to suppliers in bulk and save the questionnaires/sections to use again for future activities.