SupplyChain Magazine May 2018 | Page 209

MIDDLE EAST its usage . Standardisation of such equipment has become the norm , meaning the maintenance department can be more proactive rather than reactive .
Furthermore , KAUST has contracted with partners such as Thermo Fisher Scientific , Merck and VWR , part of Avantor – organisations that are willing to adapt their business models to the needs of the university . Successful examples include the reduction in the time preparing shipments for export and increasing their in-stock first time SLA .
Working with companies such as SAP , Jaggaer and Tungsten has enabled KAUST to implement tools such as e-catalogues , an online procurement portal and e-invoicing . These tools have enabled more than 40 % of the transactions to be automated from order to invoice , allowing time to be freed up for more complex , strategic actions .
Furthermore , working with Kintetsu World Express , Biocair and DHL has ensured that logistics are aligned to KAUST ’ s customs and compliance needs and that goods arrive in a viable Sayed Magthum www . supplychaindigital . com 209