A Mobile Application Prototype of Materials Procurement for the Bahraini Construction Industry

The success of procurement process in construction projects is based on the total procured material's cost and time of delivery. However, in Bahrain, the clients face a time and cost loss due to the construction sector's dependence on paper-based procurement mediums, fragmentation of the building process between clients, contractors and suppliers, and control of contractors in providing materials. This paper is aimed to demonstrate a development of a mobile application prototype that is expected to act as an automated procurement medium, act as a central medium of communication, and provide a direct link between clients and suppliers. This is believed to enhance the excessive cost and time of procured construction materials. Methodologically, a waterfall System development life cycle (SDLC) methodology of two phases and seven processes was employed to develop the mobile application “SARAY”, while systematic literature review (SLR) and content analysis in addition to two questionnaire techniques were all employed to identify the problems facing the procurement process, and collect user requirements along with a third questionnaire was employed to evaluate the application's usability based on Nielsen and mobile heuristics. Empirically, research findings revealed the existence of the problem, identified the reasons and requirements underpinning, and informed the need for a dynamic mobile application prototype supplemented by 82.7% of respondents who confirmed the time and cost loss of regular procurement and 59.7% and 92% willingness of development of such a mobile application for individual and company levels. In terms of the development, eight user and system functional requirements were collected, analyzed, & documented, including, register supplier, register client, manage client and supplier records, create and manage supplier store, select material, place an order, make Payment, and manage order. User interfaces & database records were designed, implemented, installed, tested, and evaluated, demonstrating 86% of usability achievement.