2017 ICT4D Conference

Last-mile logistics systems need quality demand and inventory data shared through reliable coordination mechanisms to prevent unnecessary cost and waste. But with medicines and other essential commodities, the ideal condition — real time actionable data — is difficult to come by. Ground realities contribute to this. Poor road infrastructure and the absence of computerized systems result in major information delays, and people generally operate without deep visibility into what else is happening along the supply channel. These obstacles magnify uncertainty, manifesting what operations researchers call the “bullwhip effect”.

Although techniques to mitigate these effects have long existed where computing infrastructure and data capture were well established, only in recent years, afforded by the rapid adoption of smartphones in low-resource environments, are these efficiencies are available to a broader section of humanity. As such, the possibilities are greatly enhanced for more equitable access to public good commodities in the rural, developing world.

In this presentation the speaker will demonstrate the open source Logistimo platform and its features that enable dynamic coordination between various echelons of public supply chains. More promisingly, its open, collaborative framework will allow for more inclusive, community-directed solutions. From inventory and order management, optimization and forecasting, GIS enabled services, performance dashboards rich with data visualization and analytics, to transport routing, scheduling and monitoring; it is intended that the audience get a comprehensive view of the user-centric system and gain perspective on the opportunity it presents to the ICT community for wider participation toward the goals of equitable social development.