Main benefits of centralised government procurement: an AHP application with Brazilian experts

Public procurement has gained strategic importance within organisations, leading to a growth in centralisation models in contracting. However, the effects of these models are still discussed and evaluated to a limited extent by administrations. The objective of this study is to hierarchies the benefits of centralising public procurement, contributing to the design and implementation of this model in different contexts. Based on a literature review, the main benefits of centralised procurement were grouped into three thematic axes: 1) economy; 2) innovation; 3) sustainability. Afterwards, a group of 22 experts ranked the benefits using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The findings demonstrated a strong alignment between theoretical predictions and the insights provided by the consulted experts. Overall, the centralisation of procurement was identified as a key driver of enhanced governance, fostering an environment conducive to innovation. This, in turn, contributed to improved economic efficiency and sustainability outcomes.