Survey of Humanitarian Logistics Software Currently in Use SUMA FACTS CTS PALMAS FRITZ

Strengths  Donor-Focused tracking system  High level of transparency in process coverage  Had supply prioritization capabilities Weaknesses  Poor planning capabilities  Poor inter-modular workflow  No financial management Developed in 1993 as technical cooperation project in Latin America and Caribbean by WHO and PAHO Still primarily used in those countries to transport food & other commodities Mission focused on creating self-sustaining national teams of volunteers from disaster inflicted countries SUMA Systems (Humanitarian Supply Management System)

Microsoft FACTS (Food and Commodity Tracking System) Strengths  Highly mobile  Internet-based  Good process coverage  User-friendly system  System uses clear receipts and waybills for tracking Weaknesses  Poor logistics management  Poor workflow integration Developed through Microsoft and Mercy Corps partnership; designed in collaboration with several global NGOs Program is designed to cover the “last mile” of the logistics process

Commodity Tracking System 2000 (CTS) Strengths  Ability to generate numerous reports  Good process coverage  Very user-friendly Weakness  Poor logistics management  Poor workflow integration  Insufficient procurement assistance Currently in use by Save the Children and World Vision Designed to be user-friendly with minimal training necessary

Purchase Plus PALMAS Strengths  Creates RFQs and Bid registering  Strong financial management  Tracks fixed assets Weaknesses  Poor planning assistance  Insufficient coverage of logistics process  No focus on humanitarian organizations Private industry-focused procurement software Used widely in private sector, Oxfam and IRC Program designed to

Log 6.5 (XNEGOS) Strengths  Good report configuration  Good item categorization and coding capabilities  Supports local procurement  Good process coverage Weaknesses  Difficult installation process  Inadequate planning capabilities  Poor user help functions System used by Medicins Sans Frontieres Used to track food, medicine and other commodities

Other Programs SAP Large German inter-enterprise software development company used by UNICEF Ability to track all commodities, catalogue relief items, produce purchasing documents (Requisitions, RFQs, POs), and track assembly and packing stage GMIS (Government Management Information Systems) Georgia-based NPO composed of IT professionals volunteering to help strengthen governmental information systems Used by CARE International

Other Programs Cont. SBT (Scan Based Trading) Used by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Uses a retail scanner data to synchronize supply with consumer demand at the point of sale, resulting in an efficient, market-driven supply chain.

Fritz Humanitarian Logistics Software New software designed by the Fritz Institute in response to lack of adequate humanitarian software Currently in use by International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Designed to interface with other systems Framework Design Mobilization ModuleLogistics and Tracking Module Procurement ModuleReporting Module

Problems Common to all Existing Systems Poor Logistics Management Inadequate Financial Management Poor workflow integration