Global supply chain and retail technology provider to help streamline hospital deliveries

RedPrairie, a global supply chain and retail technology provider, announced today that it will provide a warehouse and workforce management solution to support the efficient supply of goods to hospitals throughout Northern Ireland, as part of the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s new contract with Advanced Computer Software Group plc (Advanced).

Advanced has been awarded a 10 year, £17 million deal for the provision of a province-wide finance, procurement, business intelligence and logistics solution for Health & Social Care Northern Ireland (HSC). The agreement is part of the wider business services transformation programme (BSTP) which will provide savings of over £100m in the next decade.

As part of this project, Advanced has selected RedPrairie’s best-of-breed warehouse and workforce management solutions to streamline the supply of goods, including medical and surgical consumables, food, stationery and uniforms, from HSC’s two warehouses in Bowcher and Campsie, to 38 hospitals throughout Northern Ireland.

Replacing legacy systems, some of which are up to 25 years old, RedPrairie’s solutions will support the efficient management of inventory and labour in HSC’s warehousing operations and provide enhanced supply chain visibility and control, along with high quality, system-generated management information. The solution will also support the use of handheld RF terminals for the re-ordering of goods by approximately 1,000 hospital wards.

In support of the contract, RedPrairie has established a dedicated team in Belfast, which will work closely with both Advanced and HSC in preparation for the planned go-live in summer 2012.

Vin Murria, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Computer Software Group, said: “RedPrairie’s solutions perfectly complement our own suite of systems enabling HSC to improve operational efficiency and reduce administration and purchasing costs.”

RedPrairie’s President International, Martin Hiscox said: “We have a strong track record in the design and delivery of solutions for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications to optimise people, inventory, and equipment to deliver the most agile, efficient, and lean distribution operations possible.

“We are delighted to extend our relationship with Advanced and look forward to working with the company to help HSC to achieve its ambitious efficiency and cost-saving targets over the next 10 years.”