PFSCM

Histoire de réussite

The Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM)

Réseau Blue Yonder

PFSCM’s digital transformation with Blue Yonder delivers streamlined access to a diverse range lifesaving health products

L'entreprise

Le Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM) est un agent de services d’achat (PSA) et un prestataire de services 4PL au service des donateurs, des gouvernements, des organisations à but non lucratif et des agences humanitaires. Ses produits de santé sont utilisés pour prévenir, dépister et traiter le VIH, le paludisme, la tuberculose, la résistance aux antimicrobiens, la COVID-19 et la mpox, ainsi que pour répondre à d’autres priorités de santé.

PFSCM propose des solutions complètes en matière d’approvisionnement, de chaîne d’approvisionnement et de logistique. Cela comprend des solutions de gestion des catégories et des canaux, d’approvisionnement stratégique, de chaîne d’approvisionnement et de logistique 4PL, dont la prévision, la planification de la demande, l’assurance qualité des produits et les tests de contrôle qualité, la logistique amont et du dernier kilomètre, le suivi des expéditions de bout en bout, ainsi que les services de stockage et d’entreposage.

Il aide ses clients à atteindre leurs objectifs de santé publique grâce à des achats permettant de réaliser des économies, une logistique efficace, un stockage de qualité pharmaceutique et un suivi des données en temps réel dans 75 pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire (PRFI) répartis en Afrique, en Asie et en Amérique du Sud (90 % de ses volumes étant destinés à l’Afrique).

Son siège social est situé à Washington, D.C., et son principal bureau opérationnel se trouve aux Pays-Bas. PFSCM a également accès à plusieurs entrepôts et installations de qualité pharmaceutique conformes aux bonnes pratiques de distribution (BPD), permettant la mise en place d’enregistreurs de données et le renouvellement de la glace.

Le défi commercial

PFSCM’s legacy systems were outdated, inflexible, and overly customized. They were not designed for integration with other systems or digital engagement with supply chain partners and were expensive to operate, enhance, and maintain.

PFSCM needed to undergo digital transformation to improve supply chain visibility and streamline stakeholder collaboration. PFSCM sought a solution that could manage its operational scale, product complexity, multi‑party collaboration, and provide a better user experience for its staff.

PFSCM has a product portfolio of more than 6,200 unique stock keeping units (SKUs), and associated services comprising pharmaceuticals and medical devices spanning ambient, temperature-controlled, cold-chain, and frozen products. Its products all have unique attributes that require specialized packing, storage, transportation, installation, and servicing, making every order a complex challenge.

Supplying customers in LMICs presents additional challenges and physical bottlenecks. Often, in-country logistics comprises many supply chain tiers, with deliveries to central medical stores, then to regional and district stores, before reaching hospitals and health facilities. Poor quality roads, sporadic staffing levels, and demurrage penalties for delayed sea freight exacerbate the challenge.

Another big challenge is unrest. Of the 75 countries it serves in 2025, at least 25 experienced a severe and disruptive hardship from natural disasters to infrastructure collapse, conflicts, and socio-political unrest. In some countries, the internet was inaccessible for long periods of time.

La solution

PFSCM chose Supply Chain Command Center, powered by the Blue Yonder Network, to execute operational functions such as managing incoming client requisitions, order placement, logistics fulfilment and global logistics execution. The Command Center enables digital execution of processes, and improved collaboration with suppliers and freight forwarders within the platform. The solution helps users manage their transactions, enables managers to track transaction execution, and streamlines exception handling. With Blue Yonder Supply Chain Command Center deployed in a public cloud, the organization now has real-time data for decision-making, performance monitoring, risk management, and continuous improvement.

“Having a digital supply chain supported by Blue Yonder Supply Chain Command Center has enabled our many stakeholders within PFSCM’s supply chain to better understand situations that could result in risk. With increased data visibility and the right tools and partners, we’re able to save time, drive accountability among stakeholders, proactively manage issues, and always keep our finger on the pulse, ensuring risk is managed optimally. With our digital transformation, we’ve seen a huge improvement in our operational improvements whilst handling an explosion in the size of our product assortment over recent years.”

–Berry de With, Product Owner et Lead ERP chez PFSCM.

La flexibilité nécessaire pour adopter de nouveaux modèles économiques

Traditionally, PFSCM had focused on the shipment of pharmaceuticals like antiretroviral (ARV) medications, which was a straightforward procedure (around 50 SKUs), with purchase orders (POs) sent directly to a small number of vendors. But since the COVID pandemic, PFSCM has seen a massive increase in shipments of more sophisticated medical devices such as X-ray machines, which have created many additional layers of complexity in its operations, as these devices often require special shipment conditions and supporting products and services. These "lab technics products” are not only more capital-intensive devices but are also more challenging to supply. Aside from their physical delivery, they also require installation, commissioning, and training services—all of which are managed within the Blue Yonder system.

Le Centre de commande de la chaîne d’approvisionnement de Blue Yonder a contribué à cette transition grâce à l’exécution numérique des processus. La solution prend en charge des milliers de commandes simultanées, chacune comprenant plusieurs lignes de commande et de nombreux calendriers de livraison, pour plus de 6 200 unités de gestion des stocks (UGS). Elle peut également gérer des processus de cycle de vie distincts pour les produits, les garanties, la maintenance et les services, tout en maintenant ces flux liés aux enregistrements de la commande et des actifs d’origine.

In recent times, PFSCM also pivoted to serve as a more strategic orchestration partner to its many stakeholders. Previously, it provided straight-forward order management services—taking orders and handling POs with vendors. With the increasing focus on more complex medical devices, PFSCM needed to transition to a more ‘broker/middleman’ service offerings whereby it can orchestrate the strategic fulfilment amongst multiple parties. By handling all sales and purchase orders, PFSCM can conduct ‘strategic inventory’ for different inventory stores. This has led to improved customer service and increased options using various channels and pricing mechanisms.

The system maintains a robust item master and supplier master database to ensure quality compliance, serial, and lot traceability, and to prevent non‑compliant products from entering the supply chain (chain of custody, serial/lot tracking, recalls).

Collaboration numérique avec les partenaires de la chaîne d'approvisionnement pour gérer les transactions

PFSCM uses Blue Yonder to execute all its critical operational functions, from managing incoming client requisitions to order placement and logistics execution. Importantly, Blue Yonder Supply Chain Command Center enables digital execution of those processes and direct collaboration with freight forwarders within the platform. It also provides native and custom-built functionality to help users manage their transactions and enables managers to track transaction execution and streamline exception handling to mitigate impact.
 

The Blue Yonder solution ingests purchase requisitions from all types of client systems and external portals and supports quotation generation, routing, approval capture, and version control. It helps order placement with suppliers, tracks confirmations, monitors lead times, and exceptions through to fulfilment. It also helps orchestrate collaboration across suppliers, carriers, third-party logistics (3PL) services providers, and customs brokers to align pickup dates, shipping schedules, import documents, waivers, and customs clearance. This enables execution of warehousing, consolidation/deconsolidation, and last‑mile delivery to health facilities and other sites, while enabling partial/split orders and multi‑shipment handling to help optimize logistics. Ultimately, it provides a single version of the truth across planning, execution, and finance, so decisions are based on consistent, audited data.
 

“Data integrity ensures we can make decisions based on facts. Without data, it is impossible to see where processes, transactions, or activities are getting stuck, why they are getting stuck, and how to get them unstuck. Highly interconnected supply chains require clients, suppliers, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders to perform critical roles and actions throughout each transaction’s life cycle. The Blue Yonder system has excellent integration capabilities, enabling us to connect with partners in a real-time, networked environment. This streamlines processes and drives effective data-sharing and digital collaboration, thereby ensuring transactions are executed smoothly.”—

–Berry de With, Product Owner et Lead ERP chez PFSCM.

Faster order turnaround by smaller teams

PFSCM has seen good results following the Blue Yonder deployment in 2019 (which was managed by a system integrator that later became part of digital solutions company Accenture). 

The organization now sees shorter lead times across all stages of its transaction lifecycle, including quotation, order placement, supplier lead time, and freight execution. Its data-driven processes result in fewer errors and exceptions. Additionally, internal efficiencies have led to lower service costs, which in turn result in savings for its customers. 

PFSCM is seeing the benefits of real‑time, multi‑party visibility across suppliers, carriers, distributors, and clients to surface early warnings and exceptions and reduce lead times and errors. By improving visibility and generating alerts, staff can proactively communicate with supply chain partners to ensure the smooth flow of goods. Not only does this ensure that lifesaving medication and medical devices arrive on time and cost-effectively, but it also avoids demurrage and detention penalties associated with port delays. 

Logistique optimisée pour améliorer l'efficacité

PFSCM is also optimizing logistics planning. The Blue Yonder solution enables the grouping of items to improve logistics efficiency (consolidation for ocean/air freight) and the splitting of orders and shipments to match supplier readiness, transport capacity, funding windows, or recipient constraints.

It also supports dynamic allocation and routing to make real‑time trade-offs between cost, speed, and risk when exceptions occur. These include load and route optimization, mode selection (road, rail, air, or sea), carrier management, cost control and freight budgeting, and regulation compliance. Planners leverage technology, including Blue Yonder and a Product Information Management (PIM) tool, to analyze data, track shipments, and make informed decisions that improve service levels and operational resilience.

Logistics optimization also helps drive PFSCM’s sustainability targets by orchestrating plans to optimize loads and minimize the number of containers and shipments needed.

 

Process improvements

PFSCM has cut down the barriers to process improvement and innovation. Staff can now identify gaps related to supplier documentation and can work with suppliers to quickly upload the required data into the Blue Yonder solution. PFSCM has found that the longer staff collaborate in the digital space, the more they identify opportunities to streamline process interactions and data exchanges with suppliers and 3PLs. 

The Blue Yonder solution provides integration via APIs/EDI with multiple client procurement systems, supplier portals, freight forwarder platforms, customs systems, and financial systems, so information flows seamlessly across stakeholders. 

Clients have total flexibility: They can either be given secure access to the Blue Yonder solution or continue using their own systems and integrate with the Supply Chain Command Center via APIs.

Dashboards create better exception management

Blue Yonder Supply Chain Command Center provides true ‘control tower’ capabilities that encompass people, processes, and technology. For PFSCM’s users (two-thirds of all staff), there have been marked changes as the solution feeds into intuitive, role‑based dashboards (via Power BI) and workflows so operational staff can easily review queues, manage approvals, and act on exceptions without intensive training. The solution also enables actionable alerts, prompts, and workload views so users know what requires attention, where bottlenecks sit, and how to prioritize tasks. Management dashboards enable managers to track transaction execution, measure team workloads (regional teams), and monitor KPIs (turnaround time, fill rates, exception resolution) to sustain improved service levels and efficiencies.

 

Compliant purchasing maintains high-quality standards

PFSCM’s mission is to improve access to health products in LMICs through effective procurement and delivery of quality-assured products.

PFSCM has done extensive work to create and maintain a robust framework for managing item and supplier master data to ensure all procurement complies with product quality assurance requirements. Products in the system all comply with the defined quality requirements, which is a key first step in preventing non-compliant products from entering the supply chain. Blue Yonder Supply Chain Command Center supports various chain-of-custody solutions for serial tracking, lot tracking, tracking across consolidation and deconsolidation, IoT operations, and targeted recalls. These innovations will continue to play a critical role in ensuring product integrity and quality throughout the health supply chain.

 

Partnership and Evolution

Partenariat entre PFSCM, Accenture et Blue Yonder 
“Our approach to working with Accenture and Blue Yonder was to deploy the Supply Chain Command Center as the ultimate ‘go-to’ destination for users and the engine to power the organization. For this reason, it is commonly referred to as our ERP. But in the six years since the initial deployment, we have worked with Accenture to continually refine the system to add incremental value to the business, which is an ongoing initiative. The more our staff use the system, the more they can see areas where value can be created. It is a continual cycle of innovation.”—Berry de With.

 

Secure online catalog launched
In 2025, PFSCM launched a digital product catalog with a secure ordering portal to improve access to lifesaving health products for its clients. The HealthSupply Portal is connected to the Blue Yonder Supply Chain Command Center to provide streamlined access to an extensive range of health products, simplifying procurement with intuitive search, comprehensive product information, and a secure ordering system. “In the last few years, PFSCM has become more digital and data-centric, with the deployment of new tools, including Blue Yonder, to help us incrementally improve product information management, increase transparency, and streamline processes to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations. The new portal reduces the complexity of navigating our extensive portfolio of more than 6,200 specialized health products.” —Perry van Dam, PFSCM Information Technology Director. 

 

Projets futurs

Gestion des transports améliorée

Since the initial deployment of the Blue Yonder system in 2019, PFSCM has been incrementally unlocking the value within the system to embrace new business models, logistic blueprints and best practices. Next, PFSCM plans to explore some of its advanced transportation management system (TMS) capabilities built into the application to increase the efficiency of its international freight management. It seeks to determine how TMS can help consolidate product consignments at the country of origin to promote efficiency. 

 

Résumé

Since the successful deployment of the Blue Yonder Supply Chain Command Center, the solution has been used by PFSCM to deliver around 12,000 shipments (averaging 2,000 annually), totalling more than 94 million individual units.

Bringing together real‑time visibility across an end-to-end network, advanced analytics, and a user‑friendly operational layer has enabled PFSCM to automate the use of accurate data to deliver shorter lead times, fewer errors, lower service costs, and better assurance of product quality for patients and end users of medical devices and other health products in LMICs.

Le Centre de commande de la chaîne d'approvisionnement Blue Yonder a permis de transformer la complexité transactionnelle en une exécution coordonnée et pilotée par les données, permettant à des équipes plus restreintes de gérer des volumes beaucoup plus importants avec une fiabilité et une transparence accrues.

 

“We have seen significant improvements in our operations since the deployment of the Blue Yonder Network solution, but there's still significant potential waiting to be unlocked. Once more business partners start working directly within the Blue Yonder Network, or digitally connect through integrations, we will all gain the reciprocal benefits of true real-time collaboration. The potential for momentum and economies of scale in the future is enormous.”

–Berry de With, Product Owner et Lead ERP chez PFSCM.

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