Direct Relief International (SAP Business Suite)

The complex of software solutions from SAP and in particular the SAP product Business Suite implemented in Direct Relief International charitable organization helps to analyze quickly the current situation, quickly and flexibly to react to different events.

Background

The outdated Direct Relief systems reached the limit and significantly slowed down growth of non-profit organization and expansion of its humanitarian programs. The choice of Direct Relief fell on SAP.

Result

The Direct Relief International charitable organization providing humanitarian aid around the world to millions of people suffering from poverty, natural disasters and political disorders uses the software from SAP AG company for support of thousands of hospitals in 62 countries.

"Misfortunes, poverty are current problems in many countries of the world, – Thomas Tighe, the president and the CEO of Direct Relief International told. – We should make the available resources available those who really need them, and to make it as fast as possible, precisely and effectively. It is possible only on condition of obtaining the necessary information in due time – and here invaluable support to us is given by SAP solutions".

Using SAP solutions the Direct Relief International organization predicts different events on places, for example distribution of epidemics and diseases, makes important decisions and provides fast delivery of personnel and humanitarian aid there where they are really necessary for the fastest relief of human sufferings. The software of SAP allows Direct Relief International to monitor any departures from warehouses of the organization to a destination point that provides complete transparency and the guaranteed delivery of target humanitarian aid.

The SAP solution "Management of a Logistics Chain" (SAP SCM) gives the Direct Relief organization exact information on the available resources, allows to visualize a flow of the humanitarian aid passing through its network. It is very important to provide proper inventory and warehousing of loads as storage conditions, the scope and an expiration date of medicines and the medical equipment differ. The warehouse personnel of Direct Relief use scanners of barcodes for entering of data into the system of SAP which manages inventory and a logistics chain. At the same time employees precisely know, where loads and what their destination are stored that provides the high accuracy of accounting and guarantees free delivery.

About a complex

Using SAP solutions of the Direct Relief organization it was succeeded to implement network approach that allowed to optimize processes of collecting of donations and accomplishment of the plan of emergency measures, to create continuous flows of information and to considerably increase productivity of work. The SAP component of NetWeaver Portal gives to Direct Relief the chance of effective interaction within the partner network integrating thousands of non-profit clinics in the USA. The organization opens for them direct access to information on the warehouse stocks through the protected website. It provides the high accuracy of formation of orders, big transparency and strict accounting of donations which go for assistance to needy citizens and uninsured patients.

Besides, Direct Relief implemented the SAP solution "Customer relationship management" (SAP CRM) – with its help in clinics it is possible to create requests for goods and materials and to check their existence. Charitable organization gained a better understanding about demand and supply that helps it to adapt to needs of consumers quicker. Direct Relief could optimize planning within all logistics chain – and it is crucial when rendering the address help.

In January, 2010 the earthquake completely destroyed the capital of Haiti Port-au-Prince. About one million citizens of Haiti live in camps, in insanitary conditions, they lack medicines, food, water and the qualified help, the menacing rates diseases extend. Thanks to considerable support of private and corporate philanthropists Direct Relief organized the campaign, largest in the history, for humanitarian assistance which still continues. Solutions from the SAP Business Objects portfolio help Direct Relief to manage delivery more than 600 tons of medicines and other humanitarian aid. The organization constantly keeps track of requirements over 50 medical institutions and hospitals of Haiti to deliver loads there where most sharply need the help. The analytical software guarantees complete transparency of process of inventory and collecting of donations, helping Direct Relief quickly, precisely and effectively to distribute the available resources between those for whom they are really necessary.

The Direct Relief International network is not limited to public clinics and the medical centers. Such corporations as Abbott, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, are key partners of the humanitarian organization, they provide about 30% of the total amount of donations. These companies often donate full lots of drugs that provides fast and their effective distribution. The analytical software of SAP allows the Direct Relief organization to monitor effectively donations from the large companies and individuals and to direct them at the destination, observing at the same time complete transparency. Those who entered donation have access to the interactive map on the Direct Relief International website constructed based on SAP solutions and can learn where exactly humanitarian aid and money are dispatched.

Opinion

"Thanks to innovations which only the SAP company is capable to implement we expand possibilities of such organizations as Direct Relief International that they could make the justified and effective decisions in real time, – Sanjay J. Punen told (Sanjay J. Poonen), executive vice president and general managing director of SAP "Business intelligence. Industry and industrial solutions and sales, SAP AG". – SAP provides to Direct Relief the uniform IT platform which manages all significant processes and information, providing the maximum accuracy and transparency. Now employees and partners of charitable organization will be able to manage more effectively funds, finance and logistics. The SAP company helps to make the world better, and the software of SAP allows the Direct Relief organization to focus on the main mission – humanitarian aid to all persons in need".