Puerto Rico has taken a significant step toward modernizing public sector operations with the introduction of Mercadito, Latin America’s first government e-commerce procurement platform. Developed in partnership with Silicon Valley-based government technology firm Glass, this initiative represents a major shift in how public agencies acquire goods and services.

The government e-commerce procurement platform incorporates Glass’s G-Commerce technology to create a user-friendly digital marketplace that combines the efficiency of commercial e-commerce with the regulatory compliance required for government purchasing. By centralizing over 25,000 pre-approved products and services — from office equipment to medical supplies — into a single searchable catalog, Mercadito eliminates much of the bureaucracy traditionally associated with public procurement. The system includes features like real-time price comparisons, vendor ratings, and an integrated checkout process with electronic approvals.

Image Credit: Mercadito