Dear University Stakeholders,
The Office of Purchasing and Contract Management (PCMO) is excited to announce the release of our new chatbot, “Just-In”, a helpful tool located on the homepage of the PCMO website. The chatbot is designed to assist you with the purchasing and contract management processes at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
This resource offers 24/7 convenience, providing quick answers to frequently asked questions and enabling faster support for procurement needs. Given your leadership role, you may find the chatbot especially useful for quickly directing team members to relevant purchasing information and support within your departments. The chatbot is integrated with resources from the PCMO website and can address queries such as:
- How do I find the status of my purchase order?
- How do I request help with a purchase order?
- How do I check the status of a contract?
- Who should I contact for assistance?
- How do I submit a Standards Exception Request?
- What is the process for filing a procurement exception?
- How long does the procurement process take?
Benefits of the Chatbot:
- Available anytime: Units and departments can receive instant help, even outside of business hours.
- Timesaving: Users can quickly access information without navigating multiple web pages.
- Constantly improving: The more the chatbot is used, the more efficient and helpful it will become.
This project is a result of the Operational Excellence initiative, with Technology Services, the Strategic Project Management Office (SPMO), AITS, and the GenAI Solutions Hub all playing vital roles in developing and launching the tool. We extend our thanks to these teams for their support in bringing this innovation to life.
For any questions about the tool, or if you encounter issues while using it, please contact Jenna Montgomery and/or Ramona Palmer, and we’ll be happy to assist. We also welcome feedback to help make this resource even better.
Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to enhancing our university community!