Walgreens standardizing sourcing on enterprise platform
Walgreens Boots Alliance is unifying sourcing and order management across its retail brands.
The pharmacy and health care services retailer is implementing the TradeBeyond multi-enterprise platform to optimize and standardize numerous processes within its global sourcing function, as well as overall sourcing and order management follow-up.
The TradeBeyond platform will replace several legacy and redundant systems in an effort to create digital efficiencies, unify processes, and facilitate data transparency and integrity. Rollout of the solution has begun on an iterative schedule that will allow the retailer to begin utilizing the TradeBeyond platform in fall 2024.
"We’re excited by the benefits that will be realized through our global sourcing transformation, which will support the growth of WBA owned brands globally" said Adam Swallow, VP, global sourcing and quality, Walgreens Boots Alliance. "TradeBeyond will support us to deliver improved supply chain transparency, increased speed to market, a unified process for our operations, and a platform to manage collaboration internally and with our supplier partners."
"It’s a validation of time, effort and innovation, that Walgreens Boots Alliance global sourcing has enlisted us for such a major initiative that reinforces its standing as a global leader in retail pharmacy," said TradeBeyond CEO Michael Hung. "As global supply chain disruptions and the call for greater transparency make everyday news, businesses are moving ahead with crucial investments in supply chain digitalization. Our partnership with Walgreens Boots Alliance and so many of the world’s largest retailers, continues to demonstrate the trust in TradeBeyond as the multi-enterprise platform of choice to foster a more agile, resilient retail supply chain."
Walgreens focuses on inventory visibility
Walgreens has also been utilizing Blue Yonder inventory management technology in an initiative to know where inventory is and how to best fulfill it.
The retailer implemented the solution in response to increased customer usage of omnichannel shopping features, such as buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS), curbside pickup, and same-day delivery.
In addition, having more accurate inventory available to promise also enables Walgreens to be store-agnostic in its basket search. If a store doesn’t have a specific item a customer placing an omnichannel order wants, another nearby store may be able to fulfill it.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens operates more than 12,500 locations across the U.S., Europe and Latin America.