It is impossible to say how big the error purchases are, but according to procurement manager Helena Sköld Lövgren, there is a big problem with purchasing. This applies both within Örebro municipality and nationally.

- I see that it is a national problem that you do not buy on an agreed range. If you want to buy detergent, you might happen to buy another that is not procured, she says.

Create e-invoices

According to Helena Sköld Lövgren, the reasons for the incorrect purchase are a lack of knowledge or the wrong article number. In the past, the municipalities have used paper invoices for procurement, but as of April this year, there are laws on e-invoices for the public sector.

- That is why we do not have full control over the purchases, with paper invoices you cannot follow up. But now we are getting started and the ambition is to have a system that captures everything.

What are the products that you bought incorrectly?

- It's hard to know, it's wide in all areas. It is municipality-wide material. It can be detergent, paper and pens. But then it can be different too.

Want to save 35 million

Since you do not have full control over the procurement, with the previous paper invoices, you do not know how big the error purchases are. Why you chose just SEK 35 million is because you see an opportunity to save that money.

"In the long term, we may be able to earn even more, but right now we have chosen this sum," says Per-Åke Sörman (C), the Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Board.

- The procurement unit has shown that we can save this money if we change our purchasing pattern, says Helena Sköld Lövgren.