A utilização de tecnologias emergentes como fator de transformação digital de Compras à luz das Organizações Humanitárias

Abstract

The world is rapidly reshaping itself. Digital transformation is a crucial bridge between the status quo and a promising tomorrow, and it is a mandatory imperative for communities and companies to explore opportunities and thrive in a new era. As technology investments accelerate, new digital solutions emerge, the volume of data increases, new paradigms arise, and the effects to be captured seem unattainable. Organizations have a long way ahead. Digital transformation is influencing all market sectors and all areas within companies, allowing them to seize opportunities and address threats. For Humanitarian Organizations, it is no different. For Procurement, as well. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the effects, opportunities, and challenges of using emerging technologies in the Procurement functions of Humanitarian Organizations. Furthermore, to provide the reader with a satisfactory overview for understanding the topic and the necessary knowledge for debate – which, due to its relevance, should not cease with this work – it is essential to understand the Procurement process in Humanitarian Organizations, the internal and external barriers related to the digital transformation of Procurement, and to expose the perceived contribution of emerging technologies throughout the process. The application of emerging technologies, throughout this work, is seen as a beam of light not only for a more strategic role in Procurement, something frequently demanded by top management – even in Humanitarian Organizations – but also for another important aspect, connected and encompassed by the same mantle: executing Procurement functions in a strategic, optimized manner, without forgetting to safeguard lives and resources, the central focus of these institutions. Therefore, through multiple case studies enabled by qualitative research, using semi-structured interviews with Procurement Leaders from renowned humanitarian agencies, and a literature review, the proposed research scheme is put into practice in light of academic literature. The main finding is that the use of emerging technologies has not yet reached its maturity of implementation, at least not for Procurement in Humanitarian Organizations, leaving them with two options: adapt or remain at the mercy in natural selection. Finally, a checklist is proposed to guide the implementation of a digital transformation project in Procurement, as well as a matrix to be used as an application parameter in Humanitarian Organizations or similar companies.