Navigating uncertainty: Workday's tech-driven approach to healthcare supply chain stability

When unpredictability is the only constant, healthcare supply chains should quickly adapt, tapping into the transformative power of data to convert would-be chaos into calculated clarity.

The healthcare industry's supply chain management remains under significant pressure, a situation that has persisted since COVID-19. Challenges like product availability, inflation and major disruptions, including weather-related events, continue to strain the system. While these events have exposed important vulnerabilities, the more pressing issue recently has been the shortage of essential products, like IV solutions. This crisis reached a point where, in October 2024, the American Hospital Association urged the Office of the President to take immediate action and implement strategies, stressing the urgent need for solutions.

Amid this constant pressure, how can healthcare companies become more agile? It demands a strategic yet swift response, as supply chain resilience directly impacts patient care. The solution often lies in revolutionizing planning through the power of data, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technology. PwC is at the forefront of this transformation, implementing Workday for healthcare organizations to help their healthcare supply chains evolve into flexible, proactive, data-driven powerhouses.

Data is the new currency in healthcare supply chains

Planning for the unplanned is no longer an option. It’s not just about knowing what supplies you have on hand; it’s about anticipating what you often need to effectively respond to disruptive events.

Workday enables healthcare providers to move beyond traditional demand forecasting by offering insights that are as dynamic and adaptable as the challenges we may all face. Additionally, by understanding supply needs in real-time, healthcare organizations can proactively prepare for any eventuality, equipping them to handle sudden spikes in demand and unexpected turmoil.

This readiness is supported by tangible capabilities, such as:

• Inventory tracking: Track inventory at the site level, including items in transit, allocated and on order, for a holistic view of stock status.
• Mobile inventory transactions: Perform inventory transactions on mobile devices, allowing for real-time updates and decision-making from anywhere.
• Automated inventory replenishment: Use automated replenishment functionality to help streamline the restocking process, reducing manual errors and delays.
• Min/Max and reorder point calculations: Maintain ideal inventory quantities by using system-calculated min/max and reorder points, helping to prevent both stock shortages and costly overstocking.

These features enable healthcare companies to quickly react to unforeseen circumstances, maintaining stability and continuity in their operations—even when the unexpected occurs.

The healthcare industry has long grappled with supply chain inefficiencies, such as item shortages and stockouts, often caused by outdated operational practices and disconnected systems. Workday tackles these challenges directly, providing seamless integration that can decrease human error, minimizes annual processes with regular oversight and help boost overall efficiency. Some integral tools include:

• Point Of Use (POU) Interfaces: Implementing interfaces like PAR Excellence or Tecsys connects inventory management technology directly to the point of use where medical supplies are used, helping confirm timely access to necessary resources.
• GHX/Workday connectors: These connectors facilitate real-time item updates and order processing and enable tracking of supplier backorders, enhancing transparency and reliability in supply chain operations.
• Electronic Health Records (EHR) and patient billing system connections: Workday integrates with electronic health records and patient billing systems such as Epic and Cerner, incorporating inventory depletion interfaces to maintain precise stock levels and help streamline the billing processes.

Additionally, by uniting supplier relationship management with customer relationship management, Workday equips healthcare providers to proactively plan for any potential scenario. For example, with Workday Strategic Sourcing (WSS), healthcare providers can speed up the Request for Proposal (RFP) process and communicate directly with suppliers—all in one place.

Leveraging Workday’s edge

Workday's flexibility and integration capabilities are among its greatest assets. By providing a single, unified platform for supply chain management, Workday standardizes operations, and help prevents the guesswork from the process. It offers real-time analytics that can enhance decision-making, helping make sure that healthcare organizations have products available at the ideal time and cost. There’s also no need to switch between multiple systems, store paper supply logs or sticky notes that once served as re-order reminders.

Workday Mobile and its intuitive user interface (UI) allow users to access the platform from anywhere, providing seamless navigation and ease. Additionally, Workday offers over 850 pre-configured business processes that can be tailored without the need to build complex code or logic.

The future of tech-powered healthcare supply chains

According to PwC’s next in health services 2025, AI will power the organizations of the future, with 77% of health executives ranking AI among their top three investment priorities in the next 12 months.

Looking ahead, AI is also, unsurprisingly, set to play an integral role in healthcare supply chains. Its ability to enhance demand forecasting and serve as a holistic knowledge base is unparalleled. Workday leads the charge in this innovation, continually evolving to meet industry needs, while PwC’s industry-leading implementation experiences help make sure each integration is tailored to respective—and nuanced—client needs.

Integrating technology like Workday isn’t just necessary; it can be revolutionary. It can also be the difference between treating a patient with the right supplies or triaging with limited resources, potentially affecting efficiency and care outcomes. By embracing digital and AI transformation, healthcare providers can build resilient supply chains capable of delivering high-quality patient care amid an environment that is often far from predictable.