Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider and private employer of New York State, has joined IBM’s Rapid Supplier Connect network for COVID-19 relief.
IBM’s network is a cloud-based application, which uses distributed ledger technology (DLT) to assist businesses in providing COVID-19 relief supplies to connect with buyers. However, IBM will provide Rapid Supplier Connect free of charge to qualified buyers and suppliers in the United States and Canada until August 31, 2020.
IBM Rapid Supplier Connect makes it possible for buyers and suppliers – including non-traditional suppliers joining the fight to help keep hospitals and key support organizations ready – to quickly find each other, accelerate verification and onboarding processes, and gain near real-time insights into inventories of life-saving equipment.
“Suppliers and buyers currently joining the network include hospitals and other organizations such as Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider, and The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation, which is onboarding more than 200 American suppliers from its 3,000 global community members.” – IBM said.
Phyllis McCready, the Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer of Northwell Health, highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare organizations in needing to vet new suppliers amid resource shortages.
She added:
“It is through creating our own group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and supply chain, and joining forces with non-traditional suppliers that we have maintained an adequate stockpile of personal protection equipment (PPE) and other equipment and supplies, so we are pleased to join IBM Rapid Supplier Connect.”
New suppliers seeking to make connections with providers, check this out –>> Northwell Health Joins IBM Blockchain Supplier Network To Battle COVID-19 via @forbes https://t.co/DwlGUU2tvb — Chris Moose (@moosechris) April 26, 2020
Likewise, IBM Blockchain has devoted its Rapid Supplier Connect network for assisting and vetting suppliers providing emergency goods needed for COVID-19 relief efforts.
It has also been analyzed that the platform includes digital identity services to streamline supplier vetting, and offering emergency supplier onboarding.
For buyers, the platform also provides a single platform through which information regarding a supplier can be accessed, including product listings.
IBM states:
“Provider organizations and government agencies face critical supply shortages. In response, they’re often turning to new, unproven suppliers. Identifying and vetting these suppliers can be time consuming and drains critical resources.”
IBM’s network is welcoming the Supply Chain Federation, comprising over 200 US-based members.
Source: Cointelegraph | Forbes | Image: Direct Relief