Arlington Independent School District (Arlington ISD)—a major K–12 institution serving 54,000 students across 76 campuses—encountered a variety of procurement challenges familiar to many public sector organizations: manual, paper-heavy processes, limited budgets, and complex oversight requirements. For lifelong Arlington resident and Director of Purchasing, Lisa Phillips, the need for a streamlined solution was clear.
“When I arrived, we didn’t even have a purchasing manual. That’s the core foundation for our department—how could we do our jobs without it? We had to start from the ground up.”
Determined to reduce inefficiencies and enhance transparency, Arlington ISD partnered with Euna Solutions. Guided by Phillips’ hands-on experience—from campus secretary to leadership roles in multiple departments—the district made a compelling business case for automating procurement. In this series of blog posts, we’ll dive into how Phillips and the team at Arlington ISD took the leap from outdated, manual processes to a fully automated, efficient procurement system. From Sourcing to Contract Management to Marketplace shopping and Invoicing, they revolutionized procurement, saving time, reducing errors, and leveraging AI for cost-saving opportunities. Each post will explore the key steps and how each module transformed Arlington ISD’s operations.
The Turning Point: A Step-by-Step Transformation
For years, Arlington ISD’s existing ERP system posed challenges for procurement. Onboarding suppliers could take up to a year, limiting the district’s ability to quickly adapt to changing needs and expand product diversity. Secretaries spent countless hours on manual data entry, which inevitably led to errors and delays.
“It’s hard to sell the idea of saving time and money when you’re telling secretaries it’ll take a year to get there,” recalls Phillips. “By the time it’s implemented, the enthusiasm is gone.”
Arlington ISD Transforms Procurement with Euna Solutions
It became clear that Arlington ISD needed a modern, automated solution to streamline procurement, reduce errors, and improve overall efficiency.
Phase 1 (2016): Automating Bid Management
Arlington ISD’s modernization began with Euna Sourcing, streamlining bid management, expanding supplier networks, and reducing compliance risks. “We replaced filing cabinets with a digital system, freeing our team for strategic tasks,” said Phillips.
Phase 2 (2021): Centralizing Contract Management
Euna Contracting improved visibility and automated renewals, preventing missed deadlines and compliance risks. “We now have full control over contracts, which makes a huge difference,” said Phillips.
Phase 3 (2022): Accelerating Supplier Onboarding
Euna Marketplace reduced supplier onboarding from a year to minutes, growing the supplier base by 1,780% in two years. Its AI-powered Savings Advisor also identified over $36,000 in savings in 2024. “We went from onboarding one supplier a year to multiple in minutes,” said Phillips.
Phase 4 (2023): Streamlining Invoicing
Euna Invoicing automated the invoice-to-payment process, reducing errors and increasing invoice processing by over 10X between 2023 and 2024. “What was once a hassle is now fast and accurate,” said Phillips.
Results and Benefits
Arlington ISD’s procurement transformation, supported by Euna Solutions, underscores how targeted automation can deliver measurable benefits in the public sector. Though the transformation is ongoing, the district has already seen significant improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and compliance. Through initiatives such as digitized bidding, expanded supplier networks, and robust contract oversight, Lisa Phillips has not only earned multiple TASBO Awards of Merit, but also cultivated a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. “I’m proud that our department is recognized for its customer service and efficiency. We can actually help everyone—from our secretaries to our community—because every dollar we save goes back into educating students.” The district saved over $36,000 with the AI-powered savings advisor in 2024 alone, cut supplier onboarding times from a year to minutes, and increased invoice processing within the system by 10X.”We now have full visibility and control over our contracts, which makes a huge difference,” says Phillips.
What’s Next?
As we continue this series, we will examine the specific modules behind Arlington ISD’s procurement success and share key takeaways for any public sector leader aiming to optimize procurement. Next, we’ll explore how Arlington ISD revolutionized their Sourcing and Contract Management process and the drastic improvements they saw in efficiency.
Ready to learn more? Keep reading to discover how Euna Solutions can empower your organization to meet the demands of a fast-evolving digital landscape—delivering better outcomes for both internal stakeholders and the communities you serve.
