Kinaxis at the heart of Microsoft Azure ecosystem
How cloud-based supply chain management specialist Kinaxis is helping pharma navigate transformation , in partnership with Microsoft .
Microsoft ’ s Azure ecosystem is helping businesses modernise supply chains worldwide , and Kinaxis is at the heart of this important process . Kinaxis provides cloud-based supply chain management ( SCM ) software called RapidResponse , built on prescriptive AI and automation . This provides organisations with supply visibility and resilience . Supply chains are by nature complex , and involve many operational steps and activities – whether this is manufacturing , procurement or logistics .
Using RapidResponse , planners can create disruption scenarios – such as severe weather events , material shortages or major surges in demand – and use this to make informed decisions , with business outcomes , customer needs and sustainability in mind .
Giovanni Pizzoferrato is Kinaxis CTO and helps define the technology strategy of its customers globally . “ We are an amazing global team of engineers and experts ,” he says . We are grounded in a ‘ people matter ’ culture built over nearly 40 years .” It ’ s a culture Kinaxis brings to its customers through Microsoft Azure , the cloud computing platform that facilitates access , management and development of applications and services through global data centres . Kinaxis is a Microsoft Independent Software Vendor partner , and co-sells RapidResponse through the Azure Marketplace , where businesses seek out Azure-optimised software solutions .
“ We work closely with Microsoft ’ s industry verticals teams , and interoperate with the MS Supply Chain Frameworks and Cloud Solutions ,” explains Pizzoferrato . In terms of pharma supply chains , Kinaxis helps some of the world ’ s leading pharma companies manage supply chain complexities that are unique to areas like biotechnology , cell and gene therapy , medical devices and over-thecounter medicines . “ The regulatory environment is very complex in pharma ,” says Pizzoferrato , “ so our software uses embedded , attribute-based planning specifically for this challenge .”
He adds that “ expiry management ” is another critical part of the pharma landscape . “ Planners use RapidResponse to get a clear view of what ’ s on-shelf , what ’ s about to expire , what the demand patterns look like and what supply plans will meet consumers ’ future needs .”
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