Beyond functionality: the gap between materiality and compensatory expectations in e-procurement

Abstract

E-procurement is increasingly adopted in construction to improve efficiency and compliance; however, limited understanding of how material affordances align with users’ expected affordances constrains its overall utilization. This research evaluates the extent to which e-procurement systems’ material affordances meet user expectations across procurement stages. Given the fragmented nature of affordance theory applications in this domain, an exploratory literature review utilising purposive sampling and manual qualitative content analysis was adopted. Material affordances were mapped across procurement planning, supplier selection and bidding, contract management, delivery and payment, and procurement closure. Conversely, expected affordances were systematically derived from documented adoption challenges, including security, infrastructure, supply chain interoperability, human capacity, and legal uncertainty. Comparative analysis reveals significant gaps between expected and material affordances, particularly regarding system resilience, accessibility under limited connectivity, usability, and long-term adaptability to dynamic project variations. The study concludes that while e-procurement offers compliance benefits, a critical misalignment persists users theoretically expect systems to compensate for environmental deficits, yet current material affordances presuppose ideal operating conditions. Addressing this design-reality gap is essential for the sustainable adoption of e-procurement systems.