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Water procurement: So what is the perfect business solution ?

Since water market opening, eligible customers have been able to choose who provides their water and waste water services.

For customers to benefit from the water market they must be aware of the possibility to Switch Water Supplier  and be able to access the water market by searching for and comparing offers from the water retail companies in the market, so that they can secure a better deal by switching water supplier easily to suppliers that best suite their needs.

Or provide lower priced water and waste water services.

The trigger for any business to consider switching water supplier could be poor service, billing issues or seeking to reduce water costs, but mostly it is a combination of all 3.

The customer engagement in the water market appears low, dictated by their ability to test the water market, find a supplier and switch to a better deal.

In almost any utility market customer engagement is dictated by how easy it is to shop around and how customers find information in order to make informed choices about their water retailer.

Those customers who had switched supplier, brokers appeared to be the most popular for those searching for information, followed by direct random contacts with other retailers.

Then finally those who used price comparison websites, however there is only one price comparison website that goes out to the whole market, giving all water retailers the opportunity to pitch for the water contract. The other price comparison websites are agents for only one particular water retailer. This is not immediately obvious until the customer requests transparent pricing deals from other water retailers which are not even forthcoming, scrupulous due diligence is needed here!

The vast majority of price comparison websites are supported and managed by energy brokers who have limited knowledge and expertise of the water market, how it operates and complex billing issues so customers believe they are getting the best value deal and often they are not, particularly if customers are being overcharged or undercharged to start with.

So what are the customer benefits of switching water supplier ?

Switching water supplier has enabled many customers with multiple sites to consolidate their billing onto one scheduled account listing multiple locations, which reduces the amount of time spent processing single bills.

What other savings benefits could the customer achieve ?

Water and waste water cost reduction services are on offer, some water retailers offer water audit and cost reduction services. Other services such as water leak detection and water audit and forensic billing audits designed to shine a spotlight on overcharges and incorrect billing are more often carried out by independent water consultants.

The overall water market impressions are the water market is falling apart and very little savings can be achieved.

In most instances that could not be further from the truth, yes there are challenges, however if the customers do their due diligence they should reap the rewards.

So what is the perfect water procurement business solution ?

From procurement perspective customers should aim for a business water switching site that compares the whole market and gives all retailers the opportunity to pitch for your business. A platform not tied to any specific water retailer or acts as the primary agent for a specific water retailer.

Brokers are often tied to one or two retailers and there are 20+.

Next, the site should be independent impartial and transparent and not tied to any one or two retailers, and for customers protection be governed by the water regulators (OFWAT)  and their code of conduct to ensure you are getting the best possible service and support. Customers should ensure the site is managed by water industry experts as there are many potential pitfalls.

Can the managers of the platform demonstrate that the customers water supply billing data is sent out to all suppliers to ensure the best value deal and the suppliers are pitching for your business in a competitive. environment.

That your procurement terms and conditions can be attached with the bid requests?

Finally, you must ensure your existing bills are correct and not overcharged before you switch as this is an ideal time to resolve historical billing issues.

So what is the perfect business solution for water procurement ? Switchwatersupplier.com The UK’s only independent, impartial and transparent business water switching platform.