Újpest, Budapest’s dynamic fourth district, serves as home to over 100,000 residents in Hungary’s capital. The municipal government, operating from its historic Town Hall, manages essential public services while navigating the complex balance between modernization imperatives and budgetary constraints. Under the leadership of its IT Department, the district has emerged as a model for innovative public sector technology procurement, demonstrating how local governments can embrace digital transformation without compromising fiscal responsibility.
The Forscope Effect
Cost savings achieved through strategic software procurement
Workstations modernized with enterprise-grade software
Reduction in software licensing costs
Lower costs compared to new software alternatives
The Challenge
In an era of digital transformation, Budapest’s Újpest district faced a critical inflection point. The municipality’s aging software infrastructure threatened to impede operational efficiency across 200 workstations, while strict budgetary constraints and public procurement regulations created a complex decision-making environment.
The district’s IT department confronted three core challenges:
- First, their outdated software ecosystem risked compromising both security and productivity.
- Second, the initial tender specifications called for retail-grade software solutions ill-suited for enterprise-scale deployment, threatening to burden IT staff with weeks of manual installations.
- Finally, navigating the used software market posed significant compliance risks, with some vendors offering suspiciously low prices without proper legal documentation.
This multifaceted challenge required a solution that would balance technological advancement with fiscal responsibility while ensuring full compliance with public sector procurement regulations.
What did
Forscope do
Forscope’s intervention in Újpest’s software procurement challenge unfolded across three critical phases:
Strategic Consultation & Analysis: When Forscope’s Sales Manager, Imre Csordás, reviewed the initial tender specifications, he identified a crucial oversight. The municipality’s requirement for Office 2016 Home and Business edition would have resulted in weeks of manual installations across 200 workstations. Instead, Forscope recommended transitioning to Volume Licensing products, enabling centralized deployment and management.
Compliance Navigation: In a tender field of five competitors, Forscope distinguished itself through rigorous documentation and transparent pricing. While one competitor offered suspiciously low prices without adequate legal documentation, Forscope provided comprehensive compliance assurance, protecting the municipality from potential audit risks. Their expertise in public sector procurement requirements proved invaluable in helping Újpest evaluate competing bids effectively.
Implementation & Support: The final solution included a complete suite of enterprise-grade software: Windows 10 Pro, Office 2016 Professional Plus, Windows Server, Exchange Server, and SQL Server with corresponding CALs. By leveraging the Volume Licensing channel, Forscope enabled Újpest’s IT team to deploy and manage their software infrastructure efficiently, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual installations.
The Results
- 73% reduction in software procurement costs compared to new licenses
- €100,000+ in taxpayer funds saved through strategic sourcing
- 200 workstations equipped with enterprise-grade software solutions
- Streamlined deployment through Volume Licensing, saving weeks of IT labor
- Complete legal documentation ensuring full compliance and audit readiness
