Using customer input as the driver, Premier has launched significant usability and capability enhancements to its supply chain automation tools. Supply Chain Advisor is Premier's proprietary system through which group purchasing organization members evaluate contract, product and price options; activate contracts; manage local contracts; validate pricing; and uncover cost savings opportunities.

"We work with our members on an ongoing basis to find ways to improve our tools and drive more value to our members," said Marla Weigert, Premier Purchasing Partners group vice president. "In this latest release, we have accomplished some significant changes that will greatly improve the users' experience with our already comprehensive tools."

Based on the report from Business Wire, in the Supply Chain Advisor 3A release, Premier has added enhancements in the following areas, along with many others:

- Ability to drive consistent and improved contract pricing throughout a healthcare organization by offering override functionality at the Integrated Delivery Network level.

- Concise, user-friendly instructions from suppliers on price facilitation processes are now incorporated into the tool.

- Streamlined communications between suppliers and purchases through the price activation approval process.

- Alerts and e-mails to members regarding price activation status.

- Supplier-provided tier aggregation opportunity alerts.

- Member ability to revise localized contracts for changes to distributor, facility, expiration dates and tiers.

- Contract optimization and cost savings opportunities are enhanced through inclusion of non-Premier contract summaries.