Covid-19 has been putting the world on alert since December 2019, when the first outbreak was reported in Wuhan province, China. In just over two months, it reached Brazil and several other countries around the world.
The disease has been recognized as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is advising world leaders to take measures to reduce the transmission of the virus. In light of this, thousands of corporations are adopting home office – all employees are working from home and meetings are held via online platforms, avoiding contact between people as much as possible.
In this scenario, companies that already have their digitalized processes are at an advantage, since demands can be accessed and carried out from anywhere, requiring only that the employee has access to the internet. For those that have not yet reached this level of digital transformation, the moment requires restructuring.
The challenge of digitalization
Keeping businesses running 100% successfully while all employees need to work remotely can be a huge challenge for those who work in supply chains. However, there are some tools that technology provides us with that can be great allies in times like these that the planet is experiencing during the pandemic. These include:
e-Procurement
It allows the buyer to manage all purchasing processes online, centrally and from anywhere in the world. An e-Procurement solution digitizes the “Request”, “Quotation”, “Order”, “Invoice” and “Pay” modules, and provides intelligence to free teams from manual, decentralized routines with low levels of compliance. In addition, purchasing costs decrease and professionals have more time to be strategic.
Product tracking
It is necessary to keep digital records of the incoming and outgoing products at each stage of the supply chain. This measure ensures a more accurate estimate of demand, as well as improved management of products in stock.
Data management
It consists of gathering and analyzing information from customers, internal data and the market as a whole. This qualifies the decision-making process and ensures a more assertive demand forecast, with less waste and without failing to meet orders.
Internet of Things (IoT)
It occupies a prominent place as a highly transformative technological solution in the logistics sphere. It can help companies monitor inventory in motion, as well as manage it in the warehouse – in real time – and optimize fleet routes.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, the business world will undergo a major evolution if it does its homework properly. With all the technology available on the market, companies need to include in their strategy the correct implementation of ideal solutions for their types of business. This way, the impacts caused by unexpected situations can be overcome and major losses avoided.
Last but not least, it is essential that, in addition to technological solutions and digitalized processes, digital culture is also rooted in people. Furthermore, discipline and commitment, associated with remote work, are part of the daily management of companies. If there is an opportunity for every crisis, this may be the best one to increase productivity and team engagement, and thus achieve a positive result with lower operating costs.
* Fabrizio Tassitano is the product director at Mercado Eletrônico.
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