To say that COVID - 19 changed the world is an assertion that can easily be associated to any work front within the social scheme of all countries in the world. However, there is one that today more than ever is fully exposed and highlights its high sophistication or the points that still need to be improved: it is Procurement.
Whether it is because of all the scaffolding that supports the day-to-day running of the companies or because of the timely supply logistics that the demanding context of vaccines is demanding, this work front is critical.
The supply
Let's go in parts. In the first block of work of Procurement basic" needs are included of the companies for their proper operation And it is there where the pandemic has revealed the high loads in manual processes, the absence of digitization or mixed digitization (coexistence of multiple systems to solve a single problem), the same lack of knowledge for the proper management of processes, the absence of controls and in some extreme cases the total abandonment for having enabled the focus of Supply, considering it as a secondary task.
In this first block of work it is preponderant, either because there was previous preparation or because the economic situation is forcing the company, to have a constant focus on the Structured Digital Provisioning.
This consists of having a culture and tools associated with the support of supply processes that tend to consolidate, under the same scheme (homogenizing systems and processes and not the sum of multiple tools at the same time) everything that the area and the company need for the harmonious development of the operation; for example, digital control of the purchasing and supply plan, registration and pre-validation of suppliers, online requests and requisitions, online offers, approval committees and digital control of contracts and merchandise.
Supply logistics
The second block of work is associated with Supply Logistics. On this point, companies and even entire countries have been put to the test, showing either their lack of preparation for the issue in question or, on the contrary, showing that they have a culture and a structured development that has led them to lead the rankings of countries with the highest percentages of vaccination compared to the total population.
It is important to consider that in the context of COVID vaccines, other factors come into play: political, economic, social and even health-related factors, but in the light of the logistical analysis, the work of benchmarks such as Israel, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates continues to stand out.
The importance of focusing on supply logistics and structured digital operations has been highlighted, unfortunately by a global pandemic crisis.
Otherwise, the consequences can be quite devastating for the company and, in this specific case, for the economy and the lives of the people of each country.
Conclusion
Structured Digital Provisioning is emerging as a need to be monitored by companies and even governments. It is vital to focus on it so that in the next test (ideally not a pandemic again) the company or government in charge can best meet the challenges of rigor and, in turn, generate value and efficiencies.
