| | December 20178UTLOOK Healthcare Tech How Supply Chain adds Value to Information Technology ContractingBy Tom Harvieux, Senior Executive Director & VP, Corporate SCM, Sanford HealthParticularly in healthcare, it's common for supply chain teams to sit on the sidelines while information technology (IT) leaders and teams independently negotiate and manage software, hardware and purchased services contracts. While supply chain has responsibility for all remaining organizational contracting and procurement, getting involved in IT contracts has been elusive to many procurement leaders.The decision to include supply chain has nothing to do with who is a better negotiator but rather how to achieve the best possible outcomes by engaging all your organization's talent. Open collaboration and sharing of information internally can be leveraged for mutual advantage. The use of multidisciplinary teams can be illustrated by the four legs of a chair representing the business owner, IT, legal and supply chain. Each team member brings a unique and important knowledge set to the discussions.This article will share some lessons learned and how including your supply chain can help improve procurement and contracting, specifically in negotiations, financial policies and contract management.NegotiationsThink ahead. It's easy to get consumed by the challenges of the day, and far too often contract expiration dates sneak up on you and new product needs can't get done fast enough. Being put in the position of "get it done" rarely results in a great outcome. Supply chain staff members manage contract lifecycles day in and day out. They're positioned to help you establish procurement timelines and know when to start negotiations and engage with business owners. As the expiration date draws near, the power rapidly shifts to the suppliers.Have a plan. A plan does not need to be overly complicated but should include a minimum of what is needed, the options, the best way to achieve the desired outcome, the most likely pushback by the supplier, and the IN MY OPINION
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