As COVID-19 wreaks havoc across the world, people everywhere wonder if they’ll have the products that they need to get by. From prescriptions to groceries to medical supplies, suddenly supply chains are big news.
Part of supply chains that you’re not hearing a lot about: procurement.
“The reality is that procurement is the function that keeps the world going,” Chris Haydon, president of SAP Procurement Solutions, says.
Haydon and his team spend their days making sure suppliers and companies around the world are connecting to both provide resources quickly and identify risks. They recently helped a customer seeking 500 hospital beds connect with a supplier in just 30 minutes.
Since making Ariba Discovery software available at no charge to assist with supply-chain disruptions, SAP said buyer postings have increased by 51% and supplier responses have increased by 177%.
The top market categories that have seen the most activity since the software was made publicly available include:
- Computer hardware, software, and telecom
- Medical equipment
- Lab equipment
- Professional and administrative services
- Infrastructure construction
