Roc launches platform to cut waste & speed payments in construction

Roc Technologies has announced the launch of Digital Cost Assurance, the first software product under its new Coria brand, aimed at helping UK government departments, contractors, and suppliers in the construction sector reduce waste, prevent fraud, and speed up payments.

The Digital Cost Assurance platform is designed in collaboration with major UK infrastructure stakeholders to automate the analysis and comparison of large-scale cost data and payment requests. The software authorises payments that comply with predefined criteria and flags irregularities for further scrutiny.

The new solution is positioned to offer a range of advantages across the construction supply chain. For government bodies and public sector clients, the software can process and analyse the entirety of their cost data in the time it would traditionally take to review only a subset—about a fifth—of that information. This increased visibility allows them to catch fraudulent payments and duplication, ensuring public funds are properly utilised.

Early trials of the Digital Cost Assurance platform identified that as much as 19% of costs on a major National Highways project might not have required payment, tallying up to millions in potential public savings.

Contractors may benefit through reduced resource spending, as automated validation diminishes the need for manual processing and rework. Tier one suppliers and subcontractors stand to experience improved cash flow and fewer delays in receiving payments, thanks to simplified processes and a reduction in payment disputes.

Commenting on the launch, Chelsea Chamberlin, Chief Technology Officer at Roc Technologies, said: "Digital Cost Assurance was built hand-in-hand with experts inside the construction industry to address real problems they face every day. The result is a system that's already proving its value by delivering both cost savings to buyers and bottom-line benefits to suppliers and construction businesses. For example, the automation of manual elements alone can save Government buyers up to £20,000,000 per annum. As such, the technology has the potential to transform how infrastructure projects are managed across the UK and have a tangible impact on our economic position."

Roc Technologies is providing multiple levels of support for Digital Cost Assurance, from first-line assistance such as FAQs and online resources, to direct, fourth-line access to engineering and product teams. This support extends to bespoke rules implementation, audit support, and supply chain training.

For initial implementation, organisations can deploy a low-code version of Digital Cost Assurance, allowing them to analyse their current cost discrepancies and tailor workflows before committing to a high-code, fully customisable rollout.

Security and compliance are built into the platform, leveraging Roc's established accreditations including ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus, alongside a dedicated Security Operations Centre. This suite of security features is aimed at clients managing sensitive financial information and seeking to reduce account-related risks through detailed audit processes.

Roc confirmed that while managed IT services remain central to the company's strategic direction, the introduction of Digital Cost Assurance under the Coria brand reflects its intention to address significant industry challenges that affect the UK economy.