Assessing the Impact of Digitalisation on Moroccan Public Procurement Through News Sentiment Analysis

Digitalization is globally recognized as a transformative force

in public procurement (PP), promising enhanced transparency, efficiency,

and competitiveness. In Morocco, leveraging digital tools in PP is crucial

for tackling persistent challenges such as corruption, inefficiency, and

limited supplier participation. However, direct measurement of digitalization’s

impact is hampered by data scarcity. This article addresses this

gap by employing an innovative approach: sentiment analysis of news

articles related to PP. Using the AraBERT model, we analyzed news

sentiment from 2011 to 2023, revealing a consistent increase in media

coverage, suggesting improved transparency perceptions fostered by digitalization.

Furthermore, our analysis explores the broader implications

of digitalization on carbon emissions and overall PP effectiveness in the

Moroccan context. This indirect assessment provides valuable insights

without open data, highlighting both the progress and ongoing challenges

in Morocco’s digital procurement journey.