The collaboration between MAVIR and Fluenta spans more than five years. Anna Fritz-Körmendi, MAVIR's procurement manager, shares insights from their long-standing partnership with Fluenta Europe.
MAVIR is a name that often appears in energy-related news, particularly concerning electricity. However, many might struggle to explain precisely what the company does.
MAVIR is the backbone of Hungary's electricity system. It's responsible for maintaining the delicate balance between power generation, trade, and consumption in real-time, ensuring a secure energy supply nationwide. The company creates long-term forecasts and daily schedules for production and usage trends. MAVIR also operates, develops, and maintains the transmission network, while overseeing and regulating the Hungarian electricity market.
A critical aspect of MAVIR's mission is collaborating with distribution companies to develop medium and long-term strategies for grid expansion. These plans are essential for maintaining supply security and anticipating future needs in Hungary's power infrastructure.
When did MAVIR's partnership with Fluenta begin?
We have been working with Fluenta since 2019, before my time at MAVIR. We began with the Workflow module, followed by Sourcing, Auction, and then Compliance. I led the Compliance implementation myself, receiving invaluable support from Fluenta. We currently use four of their modules, and our partnership has been exceptional.
At MAVIR, we've built our procurement processes on transparency and accountability. We ensure that every step - from authorizing to approving procurement needs - is conducted in a closed-loop system that's traceable and easily reportable. This approach enhances our efficiency and simplifies reporting to our parent company, MVM, compared to traditional methods like email-based quote requests.
How does Fluenta's system enhance MAVIR's procurement processes?
Fluenta's system is crucial for a wide range of our procurement activities - from infrastructure and IT to office management and communication. It's particularly valuable in our network maintenance and development projects, which often involve substantial public tenders for equipment like transformers or shunt reactors. While we conduct the actual public procurement procedures through the official Hungarian Electronic Public Procurement System (EKR), Fluenta plays a key role in the preparatory stages of these significant projects.
Can you share a particularly successful project using Fluenta's Auction module?
The Auction module is versatile; however, it's most valuable in smaller competitive market purchases and, notably, in our sales processes. Sales have become a standout success for us recently. We periodically replace equipment like transformers and generators due to regulations. Instead of discarding these, we now auction them off to companies that can still use them or as scrap. This approach has turned into a significant financial benefit for MAVIR.
You have mentioned being an active part of the Fluenta Compliance implementation. How has this module enhanced MAVIR's operations?
The Compliance module transformed our supplier management. Before, we lacked a comprehensive supplier database. Now, we have a robust system that allows us to instantly access a vendor's history with MAVIR when we receive a proposal. This has significantly improved our decision-making in supplier selection and management.
Our database includes both pre- and post-qualification assessments. In pre-qualification, our auditors evaluate a company's financial health, check for bankruptcy proceedings, and assess their alignment with our security and safety standards. Post-project, we review performance, evaluating timely delivery and any issues encountered. We then categorize suppliers, with high performers earmarked as reliable partners for future engagements. This approach streamlines our processes and minimizes risks in future collaborations.
If you had to give a quick pitch on the benefits of partnering with Fluenta, what would it be?
What sets Fluenta apart is their commitment to true partnership. They don't just sell a system; they understand our needs and recommend tailored solutions. Their support is ongoing, addressing any challenges that arise. The Fluenta team is exceptionally responsive, offering helpful insights to our inquiries. Our professional relationship has evolved into something akin to friendship. This level of trust and understanding is invaluable in our industry. With Fluenta, you gain not only a useful system, but a dedicated ally in your procurement journey.
