The Challenge
In 2023, Odense Municipality, Denmark’s third largest city, set out to modernise its procurement processes in earnest. The ambition was threefold: improve efficiency, support sustainability and create a better user experience for both procurement teams and end users. But it wasn’t just about streamlining workflows. They needed a digital platform capable of navigating the complexities of public tenders, providing clear oversight of agreements, and staying flexible enough to meet the evolving needs of the organisation.
We wanted to show municipalities that our Tellis® platform is the most advanced and effective tool out there, one that truly supports and automates a wide range of procurement processes. That’s why we’re genuinely thrilled that Odense has chosen us. Their needs align perfectly with what Tellis® delivers.
– Marie Østergaard Andersen, CPO, Intellis
Odense faced several tangible challenges. A large number of supplier contracts had to be managed and monitored. Tender rules needed to be followed to the letter. And sustainability had to play a far more central role in procurement decisions. On top of that, there was a clear wish to move away from outdated manual workflows and replace them with a platform that felt intuitive from day one, no steep learning curve required.
After a competitive EU tender, the municipality opted for Intellis and the Tellis® e-Procurement solution. The decision was based not just on functionality, but also on the system’s alignment with Odense’s wider vision for smarter, greener procurement in the public sector.
Customer
Odense Municipality
Location
Odense, Denmark
Additional modules
The Solution
The Tellis® platform has been configured with modules tailored to Odense’s specific needs. The contract management module pulls all agreements into one place, fully searchable, clearly structured, and with built-in reminders for renewals and expiry dates. That creates transparency and strengthens compliance with contractual obligations.
Sustainability is a core priority for Odense, and this is where the built-in sustainability module makes a real impact. Eco-labels and green criteria are visible throughout the procurement process, helping users make climate-conscious choices without compromising on quality or compliance.
Catalogue management is streamlined through automation. Users only see approved and up-to-date products and services. And with the PunchOut feature, staff can access external supplier webshops directly from Tellis®, while product data, pricing and shopping carts are automatically pulled back into the platform. This provides a seamless and familiar buying experience, without losing control of procurement policies.
We’re always happy to welcome new members into the Intellis family. And we’re proud that Odense chose us. We see great potential for a close and ongoing collaboration around the continuous development of Tellis®.
– Stig Larsen, CEO, Intellis
Tellis® is also ready to integrate with Odense’s existing ERP system, ensuring stable data flow across departments and removing the need for double entry. This opens the door to real time reporting and a more cohesive digital ecosystem for procurement.
Implementation is shaped around local needs, through joint workshops and training sessions, laying the groundwork for a strong and lasting partnership.
The Perspective
With Tellis®, Odense Municipality gains a future ready tool that supports smarter and greener public procurement. The solution meets key demands around contract management, usability and sustainability. It has been developed with a focus on innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
“Throughout the tender process, it was crucial for Odense that the solution delivered professional contract management. But just as importantly, it had to support their sustainability goals. Usability was also a decisive factor. Tellis® ticks all those boxes, built on the latest technology, informed by years of experience in usability, and backed by a team at Intellis who are deeply committed to ongoing development, innovation and involving users throughout the journey.” Says Stig Larsen.
With Tellis®, Odense has gained not only a powerful procurement platform but also a partnership with Intellis that goes far beyond implementation.
About Odense Municipality
- Home to over 207,000 people, making it Denmark’s third largest municipality
- Around 17,000 people work across its departments and institutions
- The municipality runs roughly 35 primary schools and over 100 childcare centres
- Odense aims to become climate neutral by 2030 and places strong emphasis on green procurement and circular economy
- Every year, the municipality handles public procurement worth several billion kroner, covering everything from IT and services to construction and healthcare
Learn more about Odense municipality: https://www.odense.dk
The Challenge
Ease of use topped the wishlist for Varde Municipality. With nearly 50,000 residents and a wide network of decentralised departments, they needed a procurement system that any employee could navigate with confidence. At the same time, it had to handle the full complexity of public procurement, from placing an order to processing payments, without sacrificing functionality or visibility.
Finding a simple application that was both intuitive and robust enough to support every stage of the process proved tricky. On top of that, the municipality lacked a full overview of supplier contracts across departments, making it hard to steer purchasing toward the right agreements. In short, Varde was searching for a solution that could fit into existing workflows and still offer a significantly better user experience.
Customer
Varde Municipality
Location
Varde, Denmark
Additional modules
The Solution
Intellis answered the challenge with Tellis®, a tailored e-procurement platform configured to match Varde’s specific needs. The platform supports the entire digital procurement journey and brings all agreements together in one place. With a dedicated contract management module, Varde gained a central repository where contracts can be stored, shared and updated, with automated reminders for key deadlines.
Tellis® also ensures that employees always purchase under the correct agreements, with the agreed prices and quality. Access is role-based and centrally managed, so each user only sees the catalogues and items relevant to them.
This spirit of trust and collaboration meant the platform was adapted from day one to fit our local workflows and reflect real user feedback.
– Lisbeth Kohls Jensen, Head of Procurement, Varde Municipality
Tellis® was integrated with Varde’s financial system, allowing seamless data flow from order to payment, no manual re-entry needed. The implementation was carried out in close dialogue between Varde and Intellis, with the supplier showing genuine flexibility and openness to the municipality’s input. “We’re glad to have them back on board. We trust their ability, because we’ve seen it before. They’ve been flexible, they’ve listened, and they’ve helped us get what we need.”
The Result
Varde began to see the difference not long after implementation. Staff now enjoy a simpler approach to e-procurement, where orders can be placed quickly and intuitively without lengthy training. The improved contract management across departments has increased compliance and made it easier to track suppliers and pricing. Centrally managed user access also means greater control and ensures only authorised staff can place orders, all without adding extra pressure on the IT team.
Varde highlights user friendliness as one of the platform’s major strengths and expects strong value from Tellis®, both now and in the long term:
“Tellis® is easy to use and navigate, and it’s a top priority for us that end users get the best possible solution. We expect both our team and our users will benefit greatly from its features. It meets our needs today, and those we’ll have tomorrow. We’re looking forward to working with Intellis to ensure the solution continues to meet our goals.”
About Varde Municipality
- A medium-sized Danish municipality with nearly 50,000 residents
- With an area of 1,240 km², it is the fifth largest municipality in Denmark by size
- Employs around 4,000 staff across services including education, care and administration
- Known for its long North Sea coastline and natural landmarks such as Wadden Sea National Park and Vesterhavet Nature Park
- Procures hundreds of millions of kroner worth of goods and services annually, from IT and office supplies to construction, education and healthcare
Learn more about Varde Municipality: https://vardekommune.dk
