A new purchasing system is saving Nanaimo school district time and money.
In February 2009, the district began giving purchasing cards, which are accepted the same way as a credit card, to employees who regularly make purchases on behalf of the district.
The Bank of Montreal gave the district a $52,352 rebate on about $5.2 million in purchases made last school year.
More than 300 P-cards are in use in the district, some of which are “team” cards that allow school employees to use them on field trips and other activities. Employees are required to fill out some paperwork to use the cards and an internal audit process ensures that the cards are used appropriately.
On top of the rebate, the program has significantly reduced the need to process invoices and issue cheques, allowing employees in the finance department to focus their energy elsewhere.