Pharmaniaga partners Oracle Cloud to optimise Covid-19 vaccine distribution

by S BIRRUNTHA / pic by BERNAMA

PHARMANIAGA Bhd has selected cloud-based logistics platform Oracle Fusion Cloud Supply Chain and Manufacturing (Oracle Cloud SCM) to optimise logistics processes in preparation for Covid-19 vaccine distribution in Malaysia.

Through this partnership, the country’s largest pharmaceutical group is expected to automate its planning and execution processes and gain real-time shipment insights to improve the efficiency and security of its logistics operation.

Pharmaniaga director of logistics and distribution Abdul Malik Mohamed said the group needed a cloud-based logistics platform to automate manual processes and improve the traceability and security of its cold chain services.

“We have been delivering vaccines to health facilities in Malaysia for over 25 years with strong cold chain infrastructure,

but we needed to reduce manual processes to meet the monumental challenge of distributing the Covid-19 vaccine.

“With Oracle Cloud SCM’s logistics and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, we will be better positioned to efficiently and safely deliver the vaccine across Malaysia,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Oracle Cloud SCM said it offers solutions that enhance planning and real-time decision-making through its other providers like Oracle Transportation Management and Oracle IoT Intelligent Applications.

Oracle Corp Malaysia Sdn Bhd software as a service VP Jasbir Singh said implementing Oracle Transportation Management allows Pharmaniaga to automate logistics planning and execution, and improve efficiency.

He added that Oracle IoT Intelligent Applications can help monitor cargo temperature and vehicle routes to validate the quality of products and enhance security.

“Unprecedented demand for the Covid-19 vaccine will create cold chain complexity unlike anything we have ever seen.

“Streamlining logistics processes and enhancing shipment tracking with our cloud-based logistics platform can enable Pharmaniaga to rise to this challenge and scale its operations to support the immunisation of Malaysia’s 32 million population,” he noted.

Previously, Pharmaniaga said it is ready to distribute Covid-19 vaccines efficiently to the public, as soon as it gets government approval.

The government-linked pharmaceutical company has set up a team of 400 personnel skilled in logistics and distribution in five godowns located in Selangor, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak.

The first batch of vaccines are expected to be received by the end of this month, as the vaccination programme is expected to be implemented in phases over a period of 12 months.

Read our earlier report