FAQ
Corporate social responsibility in the UAE is a relatively novel term that sparks burning questions…and we happen to have all the answers to help you get acquainted with the concept of substantiality.
Below are the most commonly asked questions around the topic of sustainable procurement, procurement automation—and their impact on your business.
Whether you are looking to educate yourself on the subject area of sustainable development goals or seeking out a sustainable procurement tool in the UAE, be sure to read through our comprehensive set of FAQs asked by customers like you!
Still lost?
If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can always contact us below.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can always contact us below.
General
What is sustainable procurement?
Sustainable procurement is the process by which businesses can purchase products and services in a sustainable way.
Sustainable procurement ensures value for money both in the short term and across the life cycle of the products or services. This approach to procurement also addresses equity, environmental performance, climate change resiliency, and business, and economic continuity.
What is sustainable procurement automation?
Oscar is a corporate social responsibility solution that provides sustainable procurement automation. Oscar integrates seamlessly into your existing procurement processes and automates the sustainability due diligence for you.
Instead of hiring an expensive consultant, or spending months developing a sustainable procurement process on your own you can automate this process. Oscar studied the most relevant international standards, best practices, and KPIs and has simplified them into protocols that are specific to the MENA region.
Who is sustainable procurement automation for?
For enterprise businesses, that work with hundreds or thousands of suppliers, looking to improve the sustainability of their supply chain. Oscar currently targets Contractors and Developers in the construction industry but will be expanding into other industries soon.
How is Oscar different from other procurement software in the MENA region?
No other procurement software in the UAE and the MENA region allows you to screen suppliers for sustainability topics, let alone automates this process for you.
Oscar team of experts has built a robust set of protocols that can be seamlessly integrated into any procurement process.
I am a developer/contractor, will sustainable procurement automation work for me?
Yes! Oscar has been bespoke to the needs of contractors and developers and will be able to integrate into your existing procurement processes. Contractors and Developers are especially impacted by the introduction of more stringent sustainability-focused legislation and guidelines due to its impact on business continuity, communities, and the environment.
Oscar helps you prepare for these changes, stay on top of changing legislation and mitigate associated risks.
I am a supplier/manufacturer, will sustainability procurement automation work for me?
Yes! Oscar is able to cover multiple activities and categories of suppliers. As a supplier with an existing contractor or developer, you will receive an invitation to complete the Oscar due diligence process.
Once complete, you will receive a certificate with your score valid for a 3-month period. If you sign up with Oscar directly, you can be certified for multiple services that are valid for all of your potential customers on the Oscar platform.
You will also be able to conduct further due diligence and get insights into your performance and how to improve it in order to maximize your chances of closing clients.
How do you conduct assessments for sustainability?
The Oscar team has taken the most relevant International Sustainability standards, best practices, and KPIs and made them easy to understand and locally accessible. The Oscar protocol auto generates the applicable SDG requirements and accordingly communicates with suppliers to ensure compliance.
When providing responses, suppliers must also upload evidence to the Oscar platform for verification. Our team of sustainability experts will then verify this data and certify the performance of the supplier.
What happens if assessed suppliers do not meet local and international sustainability requirements?
It is ultimately up to the Oscar user how to proceed—however, Oscar will work with suppliers to improve their performance. We generate reports highlighting gaps and demonstrate how suppliers can implement best practices.
How do you support my internal Sustainability Reporting process?
Oscar can support your reporting in line with GRI 204 and 414 directly. Our team of experts constantly reviews our protocols to ensure they are up to date with the latest standards developments. Our KPIs will always align with the latest reporting guidance.
How often will assessment results be reviewed/updated?
Oscar is constantly reviewing and updating its sustainability protocols. Our suppliers will be assessed on the most material and relevant KPIs. We recommend that the assessment certification is conducted quarterly.
Solution
How does the free trial work?
The Oscar free trial allows users to try before they buy. You will be given access to the tool for one month as well as an initial consultation with one of our experts.
What happens at the end of the free trial?
You will not be automatically billed at the end of the trial. You can either continue with a monthly subscription or decide to use partial access.
Is the Oscar Sustainability assessment verified?
There is no verification for this type of assessment; however, Oscar is built upon the most widely accepted standard and guidelines, and localized for the MENA region. As such, Oscar is the first certification of its kind, and is compatible with any sustainability reporting approach.
Is my data private and safe?
Yes, Oscar follows the GDPR data protection framework. Our encryption ensures that any sensitive data is safe at all times.
Do you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?
The Non Disclosure and Confidentiality clause is built into Oscar’s terms and conditions to protect your business’ data.
How can I check compatibility with my existing procurement software and process?
When you first sign up, Oscar will initiate an onboarding call with your team to understand your specific needs. We will walk you through all the requirements and best practices to get the most out of Oscar!
Do I get free support and updates when using the software?
You will get access to our customer support upon signing up with Oscar. Customer support can be contacted at: customersupport@oscarsdg.com.
The protocols will also be regularly updated to comply with the latest international and local standards by our in-house sustainability experts.
Payments, Billing & Cancellations
How do you charge for the software?
Oscar charges a monthly subscription fee based on the package you select. For more information on our packages please see our pricing page.
When will payment be charged?
Payment will be charged at the end of every month.
Can I upgrade/downgrade or change plans later?
Yes. We do not want to restrict our customers at all. Should you decide to downgrade, you will still have full access for the duration of the period paid for.
Do I have to sign a long-term contract?
Sustainability is a long-term goal—and long-term relationships help users grow together. However, if you are more comfortable with a shorter time period you can benefit from our monthly subscription options.
What payment methods do you accept?
Oscar accepts bank transfers, direct debit, and credit card payments.
Do I need to enter credit card details to sign up?
No, you can simply sign up and start using the platform. You will not be billed automatically at the end of the trial period.
Any setup fees?
Oscar provides optional setup services for all of our customers. These services will make sure you are ready to go ASAP. Alternatively, you could directly access the tool and get started with no setup fees at all.
Can I cancel at any time?
Yes, we will be sad to see you go but we want to offer our customers the flexibility they need. You can cancel at any time without any cancellation fees. You will have full access for the remaining duration paid for.