Ethical decision making during COVID-19: Team Medical Supplies

This Phocas blog highlights how one of our customers in wholesale distribution is coping with the new challenges of the COVID-19 crisis. The purpose is to outline specific issues, different strategies and to share knowledge. Team Medical Supplies is supporting its loyal customer base, who need its products more than ever to carry out essential health services during the crisis. Past purchasing data helps equitably distribute the highly sort after products and underpins the commitment to ethical decision making.

Team Medical Supplies is Australia’s number one online hospital and healthcare equipment supplies company and has adopted an equitable and ethical long-term approach to the extreme demand for its products.

It supplies close to 5-10k medical centres across the country. It’s no surprise that masks, sanitisers, paper towel and thermometers are in extremely high demand, but how does Team Medical Supplies operate ethically and fairly in the face of COVID-19?

“Sadly, there are people who see dollar signs during these times. We’ve had unknown suppliers approaching us wanting to sell products that do not meet our quality standards. And unknown “customers” calling wanting to buy at higher prices in bulk quantities, said Tom Vriens, Manager at Team Medical Supplies.

“At Team Medical we are casting-off all this noise and we are staying focussed on supplying our loyal customers with as much stock as we can get them as they’re on the frontline supporting the community with healthcare.”

Currently Team Medical Supplies is dealing with 400% demand at 110% supply - the maths doesn’t add up. “We are leveraging sales data in Phocas and looking at customer buying history to assess what each customer normally buys from us and in what quantities. Our approach is to stay aligned with their typical purchasing trends and buying patterns. Data in Phocas is very helpful for managing this day by day.

“It’s very important we manage supply with an even-hand and prioritise. Of course, supermarkets and pharmacies want these products more than ever now too, but our priority is supplying the doctors. You have to have some tough conversations and stand firm on your long-term strategy because when the dust settles looking after your loyal customers and doing the right thing ethically pays off,” said Tom Vriens.

Phocas is here to support and assist customers with any data needs. If you have extra reporting requirements, need to add more data sources or new licences for people working from home, we are here to help.