E-Government and Public Procurement: A Scoping Review of Technologies, Institutional Readiness, and Governance Challenges

Abstract

Digital transformation in public procurement is reshaping governance by embedding transparency, efficiency, and accountability into state operations. This scoping review explores the strategic adoption of e-Government tools in procurement systems, guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework as refined by Levac et al. It systematically maps 48 peer-reviewed articles and policy documents published between 2000 and 2025. The review identifies key technologies, including eProcurement platforms, blockchain systems, and AI-driven analytics, implemented across procurement procedures such as tendering, contract management, and auditing. Thematic synthesis reveals enabling conditions such as institutional readiness, ICT infrastructure, and policy support, alongside persistent barriers including infrastructural deficits, behavioral resistance, and regulatory fragmentation. While digital systems improve procurement outcomes, the review highlights underexplored issues such as adaptive corruption, digital exclusion, and trust dynamics. It concludes with implications for research and practice, recommending longitudinal studies to assess impact over time, inclusive platform design to mitigate exclusion, and regulatory agility to address evolving governance challenges and ensure sustainable, equitable digital transformation in public procurement.