Business Impact Analysis, Business Continuity Plans and Crisis Management Plans
Very often Business Impact Analysis (BIA), Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and Crisis Management plans, although correctly defined and distributed by the responsible organizational structures, sometimes do not see actual implementation and enforcement through specific information systems, but remain documentary "organizational" procedures that leave the actors maximum freedom in the application, in terms of mode of action and tools. Plans and processes should instead be regularly tested and evaluated by the involved actors in order to be prepared to really manage a crisis.
BIA, BCPs and Crisis Management Process are amongst the processes that Reply masters with its strong ITIL competencies, consultancy and implementation skills. Reply creates solutions for BIA and Crisis Management processes automation that are integrated within the customers’ organization.
Where a crisis is faced, it is essential to have a specific Crisis Management plan that will be applied during and after the crisis itself, with the support of specific enabling technologies.
Rethink traditional supply chain models
Covid-19 has highlighted the need to rethink traditional supply chain models, by accelerating digital transformation and adopting tech-led business models to deal with the needs of this “new normal” as well as prepare for future crises. The discontinuity of supply chain caused by any predictable or unpredictable event is certainly an element of very high criticality.
Where logistics and IT processes have traditionally been behind the scenes, the Covid-19 crisis has brought them to the front line; and there is a huge opportunity now for logistics and IT managers to show the robustness of their operations and IT architectures to ensure the survival of their supply chains and thus the business.
The role of logistics professionals in the next phase is far from over: now more than ever we need them to accompany us in the next delicate phases of the return to normal, or at least the new version of it, characterized by social distancing, automation of interactions, re-planning of supply and new digital behaviors.