Consultancy, Provisioning and Implementation or ERP Solution for Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS)

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS), formerly known as Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Agency (EPSA), embarked on a transformative journey with the implementation of SAP S/4HANA solutions in partnership with our implementation team. This project aimed to address critical challenges faced by EPSS within the pharmaceutical service industry in Ethiopia, a developing nation striving to enhance efficiency, transparency, and operational excellence in its healthcare supply chain.

Challenges

EPSS operates in a challenging environment characterized by:

1. Industry Complexity: The pharmaceutical supply industry demands rigorous regulatory compliance, stringent inventory management, and effective distribution networks to ensure availability of medicines across the nation.
2. Operational Efficiency: Manual processes and disparate legacy systems hindered EPSS's ability to optimize procurement, inventory control, and distribution, leading to inefficiencies and delays.
3. Resource Management: With a vast network of suppliers, warehouses, and healthcare facilities to manage, EPSS faced challenges in resource allocation, tracking, and utilization.

Solutions

Our team at SEIDOR undertook a comprehensive implementation approach:

• Solution Design and Configuration: Tailored SAP S/4HANA modules including Enterprise Management, Finance, Business Warehouse, HCM, Fleet Management, and Asset Management to meet EPSS’s specific requirements to:

-Enhance Operational Efficiency Streamline procurement, inventory management, and distribution processes to ensure timely availability of pharmaceuticals.
-Improve Financial Management: Optimize cash management, budgeting, and financial reporting through integrated SAP Finance modules.
-Strengthen Human Capital Management (HCM): Modernize HR processes with core HCM modules to efficiently manage workforce operations and payroll and more.

• Integration and Data Migration: Ensured seamless integration with existing systems and migrated data from legacy systems to SAP S/4HANA for continuity and data accuracy.
• Training and Change Management: Conducted extensive training sessions for EPSS staff to facilitate smooth adoption of new processes and technologies.
• Go-Live and Support: Successfully deployed the SAP solution with minimal disruption to EPSS operations, followed by ongoing support to ensure system stability and user satisfaction.

Results

The SAP S/4HANA implementation has yielded significant outcomes for EPSS:

• Operational Efficiency: Streamlined procurement processes, reduced inventory holding costs, and improved distribution accuracy resulting in enhanced service delivery.

• Financial Management: Improved cash flow management, real-time financial reporting, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Human Capital Management: Enhanced workforce management, payroll accuracy, and employee satisfaction through streamlined HR processes.

• Business Intelligence: Enabled data-driven decision-making with comprehensive analytics and reporting capabilities from SAP Business Warehouse.

• Asset and Fleet Management: Optimized utilization and maintenance of assets and fleet, resulting in cost savings and improved operational reliability.

The SAP S/4HANA implementation has positioned EPSS as a leader in pharmaceutical supply chain management in Ethiopia, leveraging modern ERP capabilities to overcome industry challenges and achieve operational excellence. The partnership with our implementation team has been instrumental in delivering a robust solution that meets EPSS’s current needs and supports its future growth and sustainability goals.