London Fire Brigade has brought a new finance and procurement platform into operation in the public cloud, in a move the organisation says will simplify buying processes, tighten control over spending and give staff faster access to essential equipment.
The Brigade has worked with SAP and the consultancy excelerated on the project, which combines SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, Ariba Supply Life Cycle and Performance, Analytics Cloud and excelerated’s Intelligent Invoice Express in...
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voice-processing tool. According to SAP, the system has been designed around a “fit-to-standard” approach, with the aim of reducing bespoke alterations, increasing automation and making the platform easier to sustain as operational demands evolve.
For London Fire Brigade, the technology shift comes at a significant scale. The service employs more than 6,000 people and runs over 100 stations across the capital, while its procurement function manages more than £90 million a year in goods, services and works. The Brigade says that level of activity demands a modern system capable of improving oversight while still supporting frontline needs.
Catharine Gregory, the Brigade’s assistant director of finance, said the move followed years of planning to identify the right transformation partner. Speaking in the announcement, she said the organisation wanted a trusted provider with public sector experience that could help deliver better outcomes for Londoners through technology. She added that the new arrangement should save time for firefighters and allow finance teams to focus on adding more value to the organisation’s future.
David Rowell, assistant director of procurement and commercial and co-sponsor of the project, said the collaboration across all stages had been central to the programme’s success. He said the improved buying experience should help colleagues meet their requirements more effectively.
SAP’s UK public sector head, Craig Mill, said the cloud migration would modernise back-office functions and make the Brigade more agile. excelerated’s head of ERP, Craig Brawn, said the platform would bring speed, security and reliability to core finance processes, while also allowing the organisation to benefit from twice-yearly updates and new capabilities as they are released, including developments in artificial intelligence and data analytics.
The Brigade already uses SAP Ariba in its procurement operations, with suppliers directed to register on the SAP Business Network. Its procurement guidance also makes clear that invoices should generally be submitted through that network and that purchase orders are required before payment is made, reflecting the service’s emphasis on formal controls and compliance.
The latest rollout fits into a broader pattern of digital change across the Brigade. In April, it selected LearnPro Group and Softcat to deliver a separate cloud-based risk platform under its OneRisk programme, intended to replace multiple legacy systems and bring together prevention, protection, operational risk and hydrant data in one place. Taken together, the initiatives suggest London Fire Brigade is pushing to standardise more of its internal systems as it seeks greater efficiency, better data visibility and stronger support for frontline operations.
Source: Noah Wire Services
