The Implementation of E-Tendering: The Clients’ Perspective

Abstract

In construction industry, the most critical phases throughout the project life cycle is tendering phase. The traditional tendering method is often costly which involved paper intensive, expensive and tedious process that eventually cause possibility of errors in the documentation. This leads to the emergence of using the e-tendering system in the construction industry. E-tendering is a system that shift manual paper to fully electronic system to enable means of communication. In line with the Sixth Strategic Thrust of the Construction Industry Master Plan (CIMP) 2006 – 2015’s, Ministry of Works launched the electronic tender management system, called e-tendering. The Public Work Department (PWD) highlighted that the system is launched to develop communication between parties in a project, to increase government and tenderers productivity and to provide a save, trusted and efficient works. The focal point of this paper are the factors and strategies of e-tendering implementation based on the client’s perspectives in Malaysian Construction Industry. A quantitative method was applied and the data were analysed using the average index analysis. The reduction in time of printing, compiling, sorting tender price and received the tender document on time are among the factors influence the client’s decision to apply e-tendering system. The respondents agreed that the top management had played the most significant roles by providing the opportunity for the employee to attend the training related to implementation of e-tendering system. The financial support by the government and guideline notes are also important to ensure the system can be fully applied in the construction industry.