Digitizing Procurement Process

Case Study 1
Client:
Petroleum Development of Oman
Objective:
To digitize the manual procurement process in Supply Chain Management (SCM), improve integration across systems, and reduce operational costs through modern technology.

Challenges

  • Outdated Technology:
    The existing manual processes for procurement were time-consuming and inefficient, with a need to digitize them for improved performance.
  • Poor Integration Across Applications:
    The lack of seamless integration between the Epicor ERP system and procurement processes led to manual intervention for Purchase Requisition (PR) details and Purchase Order (PO) creation, impacting workflow efficiency.
  • Supplier Management Issues:
    Supplier onboarding and management lacked a centralized platform, creating inefficiencies in handling supplier data and communication.
  • Lack of Analytics & Insights:
    The absence of a robust analytics solution hindered SLA and KPI monitoring, leading to limited operational insights.
  • High Licensing Costs:
    The cost of maintaining a decentralized system was high, particularly due to licensing fees and customization costs of ERP software

Solution

To address these challenges, a full-stack development approach was implemented:

  • Advanced Architecture:
    A holistic solution was designed to fit the client’s supply chain landscape, modernizing their infrastructure.
  • Centralized Procurement Platform:
    An ASP.NET Blazor-based application was developed to streamline and centralize procurement operations.
  • Seamless ERP Integration:
    API-based integration with Epicor ERP enabled a unified interface, eliminating manual intervention and ensuring smooth procurement workflows.
  • End-to-End Deployment Automation:
    Using Azure DevOps, the entire deployment process was automated, increasing efficiency.
  • Robust Monitoring:
    An audit log system was introduced for SLA and KPI monitoring, helping track performance more effectively.
  • Real-Time Notifications & Insights:
    Implemented Power BI for real-time insights and analytics, facilitating faster decision-making and critical tracking of supply chain processes.

Business Impact

  • 75% Improvement in Procurement Cycle Time:
    Streamlined processes significantly reduced end-to-end cycle time.
  • 60% Reduction in ERP Costs:
    Lowered monthly costs associated with ERP user licenses and customization requirements.
  • 50% Reduction in Support Tickets:
    Automated solutions and centralized systems drastically cut down support issues.
  • 50 Man Hours Saved Per Month:
    Enhanced user experience, along with built-in reports and insights, saved considerable time across teams.

Technology Stack Used: