SOVRA Summit recap – Modernizing public procurement

The Spend Matters team attended the SOVRA Summit on February 19, and let us tell you that getting downtown in sub-zero weather in Chicago is a ‘summit’ in itself. Despite the cold weather, the room was filled with passionate public procurement practitioners and suppliers who were eager to chat and learn. We already knew that SOVRA delivers best-in-class customer service (it is a ‘Customer Favorite’ in Spend Matters SolutionMap), but meeting its satisfied customers firsthand underscored just how well it is living up to that reputation.

SOVRA has recently undergone a rebranding. Following mdf commerce’s acquisition by KKR, it has taken the namesake SOVRA, blending sovereignty and strategic analysis — a fitting reflection of its mission to take a focused initiative on leading public procurement and GovTech.

Doing more with less

A recurring theme throughout the summit was the pressing need for organizations to ‘do more with less.’ With limited funding, labor shortages and rapid technological advancements, public sector organizations must find innovative ways to maintain or even improve service quality with fewer resources. For example, futurist Andy Busch delivered a thought-provoking keynote and discussed how more energy will be needed to keep current technological needs afloat (hint: AI) to mitigate workforce shortages and increase efficiency.

This ‘doing more with less’ mindset extends to technology, as seen in SOVRA’s focus on practical public sector needs over unnecessary features. Its ability to match suppliers with buyers in the public sector and address complex governmental structures and processes has played a key role in its ongoing success. Recent successes include:

• In 2024, 321 new government procurement teams were onboarded.
• The State of New York is adopting SOVRA’s fee optimization program via the Reconciler tool.

And in collaboration with NIGP’s RMGPA chapter and Colorado’s OEDIT department, SOVRA will host ‘The Small Business Showcase’ at the NIGP Forum in Denver to highlight small businesses looking to expand their presence in public procurement. If you’re interested in attending, details are here.

Radical transparency

Another recurring theme was ‘radical transparency.’ All organizations need this, but public sector practitioners really NEED it — panelists discussed how transparency, accountability and efficient use of taxpayer funds are paramount. However, one of the significant challenges in public sector procurement is understanding where Procurement ends and Finance begins — and vice versa. The lines between these two critical functions are often blurred, which could lead to potential misalignments in budget planning, compliance and operational goals.

During one breakout session, Gideon Davis (Administrator, Nevada State Purchasing Division of the Department of Administration), Anna Shpigel (Deputy Assistant Secretary, Massachusetts), and Rose Svitak (Manager, MMCAP’s Knowledge and Financial Management Team) talked about the importance of aligning procurement and finance. They noted that this alignment is key to success, especially when adopting new technologies. However, what this alignment looks like can vary across organizations. Procurement and Finance teams must engage in meaningful, ongoing conversations to ensure that investments:

• Comply with financial regulations.
• Deliver value for money.
• Support long-term strategic objectives.

Summit highlights: Product announcements and industry insights

The first half of the day was packed with major product announcements and discussions about industry trends, while the afternoon provided hands-on breakout sessions.

Mike Cook, SOVRA’s Chief Product Officer, emphasized the importance of clean data and how SOVRA is supporting users with a qualified data lake. He also discussed the value of maintaining open communication with local governments to ensure transparency throughout the procurement process. Some notable product announcements included:

• SOVRA Integration Hub: A centralized connectivity platform that allows data to flow between applications for bid evaluations and contract management and other tech needs. This ensures security and compliance across the platform.
• Intelligent Solicitation Builder: A guided automated tool that uses historical purchase data and business rules for solicitation creation.
• Expanded dashboard library and self-service reporting: Enhanced data access and reporting capabilities, empowering end users without requiring technical expertise.
• Enhanced reconciler capabilities: Flexible sales reporting templates simplifying vendor onboarding and account management.
• Public marketplace and pavilion integration: A continued expansion of marketplace capabilities, providing a centralized global hub for procurement engagement.

The SOVRA Summit 2025 provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of public procurement. As organizations face increasing pressure to optimize resources, solutions like SOVRA’s intelligent procurement tools will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between technology, governance and suppliers. We look forward to continued collaboration and deeper exploration of the future of GovTech and public procurement.