A model for enterprise resource planning in emergency humanitarian logistics

Abstract

Purpose While the need for information systems is regularly highlighted in the humanitarian logistics literature, a detailed model of what such system would look like is missing. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need and advantages of enterprise resource planning (ERP) technology in humanitarian emergency logistics. The paper also proposes a model for the configuration, maintenance, operation, and improvement of the system. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper uses existing logistics and information systems literature to build the logical case for an integrated enterprise system for humanitarian emergencies, and to propose conceptual content and process models. Findings The problem of lack of coordination is reviewed, and a holistic solution is proposed through a structure and model of ERP systems technology to meet the specific requirements of humanitarian emergencies. Research limitations/implications As in any conceptual paper, a limitation of this paper is the lack of empirical validation of the proposed system. It also might be difficult to obtain the cooperation of multiple organizations. This research focuses on emergency humanitarian logistics, where effectiveness and speed have priority over simplicity or cost. Practical implications The model proposed in this paper links current efforts in humanitarian emergency coordination with existing supply chain information technologies, and is practically feasible both from the technological and organizational perspectives. Social implications Because of the critical, life or death nature of the problem, social and ethical implications of this research are broad, including the divergence of coordination in humanitarian vs commercial and military logistics, as well as inter-agency politics. Originality/value This paper is a bold but realistic attempt to take a holistic view of humanitarian logistics and design a system that would be effective, and calls humanitarian organizations worldwide to collaborate in its implementation.

Multi-level facility location-allocation problem for post-disaster humanitarian relief distribution

“…Consequently, eighty percent of all humanitarian relief operations is built upon logistics without which the relief distribution would be corrupted [18]. There are also many studies related to strategies and available technologies in disaster management and emergency response system and their discussion is out of the scope of this study [19]- [25].…”

The emergent role of digital technologies in the context of humanitarian supply chains: a systematic literature review

“…Big Data (Dubey et al, 2019c ), Radio Frequency Identification—RFID (Yang et al, 2011a ), Sensors (Alamdar et al, 2017 ), Internet of Things—IoT (Sinha et al, 2019 ), Blockchain Technology (Dubey et al, 2020a ), Artificial Intelligence (Dash et al, 2019 ), among others) and oriented mostly towards the isolated effect of individual technologies on HSC activities [e.g. Logistics (Gavidia, 2017 ), Warehouse (Yang et al, 2011a , 2011b ), Procurement (Heaslip et al, 2018 ), Planning (Dubey, 2019 ), Human Resource (de Camargo Fiorini et al, 2021 ), and Finance (Heaslip et al, 2018 )]. In view of this, extant literature in this field has been fragmented and dispersed into different streams of research (Kabra et al, 2017 ), thereby hindering uniform comparisons across technologies and making it difficult to draw substantial conclusions over their objectives in HSC, adoption domains, as well as their deployment across the HSC framework.…”

Digitizing the field: designing ERP systems for Triple-A humanitarian supply chains

“…They introduced general design principles for logistics information systems for the assessment and coordination of humanitarian operations. Gavidia (2017) proposed a conceptual model for ERPs for humanitarian emergencies using an existing systems development life cycle model from logistics and information systems literature.…”

“…Bad data quality orients the firm toward firefighting rather than managing the supply chain process and relationships. Unfortunately, HOs routinely lack integrated information technologies, with only a small percentage of aid agencies having access to ERP software (Gavidia, 2017;Guire, 2015;Pettit and Beresford, 2009;Blecken and Hellingrath, 2008).…”

“…Designing ERP systems in atypical contexts, such as the humanitarian context, is particularly challenging and tends to take much longer than in the commercial sector (Gavidia, 2017;Guire, 2015). As stated by the IT Director of M edecins Sans Fronti eres (MSF) [Doctors Without Borders in English speaking countries], "ERP in HOs must accommodate the humanitarian routines characterized by a lack of infrastructure and connectivity, speed of distribution versus accurate inventory management, scalability in terms of opening and closing projects, and the specification of relief items like KITs."…”