Building data-driven procurement: Best practices for leveraging data and emerging technologies

Modern supply chains are increasingly complex and subject to global disruptions, which has grown the need for companies to use data and new technologies to improve efficiency and resilience. This shift has made the role of procurement function more strategically important than ever before and increased the need to explore new technologies and better ways of working. This thesis explores effective ways for companies to use data and emerging technologies in procurement and aims to identify best practices for approaching these technologies and factors supporting their implementation. The research combined a review of existing literature with empirical research, including interviews with 13 industry professionals and representatives of solution providers. Based on the literature review, an initial framework for building data-driven procurement was created, outlining all the important aspects of using data and emerging technologies effectively in procurement. The framework was validated and updated according to empirical research findings. Key areas discussed in the research include data management practices, organizational structures and roles, tools and types of analytics solutions that facilitate the creation of data-driven insights. The findings of this study reveal the significant potential of technologies like AI, advanced analytics, and automation to transform procurement practices. A practically applicable framework is presented to support organizations aiming to build or update their procurement function or processes. While previous research has mainly concentrated on specific technologies in procurement and factors supporting the digitalization of procurement, this research has given an overview of what should be considered when building a procurement function that effectively utilizes data and advanced technologies

Improving Cash and Voucher-based Humanitarian Assistance Operations with Blockchain Technology

An increasing number of man-made and natural disasters, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to a growing need for humanitarian aid. To alleviate the suffering of millions of people around the world, humanitarian organizations must continuously develop more effective and efficient practices and innovations. In the past decade cash and voucher-based approaches have become an alternative solution to traditional in-kind help, meaning that instead of transporting finished goods to the affected area, beneficiaries are provided with cash. Blockchain technology is another innovation whose potential has been explored in recent years. The technology that was initially associated only with cryptocurrencies can now possibly create significantly faster, cheaper, more transparent, and safer humanitarian supply chains. This thesis discusses the potential benefits, opportunities and challenges of blockchain technology in the context of cash and voucher-based assistance. The research is conducted as a literature review with an illustrative case example from the field. The case presented is World Food Programme’s (WFP) blockchain project called Building Blocks. The paper first identifies the main issues of cash-based approaches and then discovers that those are largely the same as the main benefits of blockchain technology. The conclusion is that most of the challenges of cash-based humanitarian operations can in theory and in practice be answered with blockchain technology, but more research on the topic is needed