The Red Cross's platform aims to replace paper-based tracking methods, which are considered cumbersome and error-prone, usually creating delays during crises.

The Red Cross, the world's largest aid group, has developed a centralised digital stock management solution to improve humanitarian response in disaster-prone Zambia.

The Red Cross's platform aims to replace paper-based tracking methods, which are considered cumbersome and error-prone, usually creating delays during crises.

The Netherlands Red Cross and the Zambia Red Cross Society are working together to pilot a consolidated digital stock management platform.

This invention, centred on the open-source data collection tool Kobo Toolbox, stems from the realisation that humanitarian organisations frequently struggle with tracking incoming and outgoing goods, monitoring stock levels, and ensuring timely distribution during emergencies but are hampered by paper-based tracking methods.

The digital warehouse management system toolkit stores information about items entering the warehouse, such as item types, amounts, and expiration dates. When fresh goods are shipped, the forms are updated in real time, ensuring accurate data capture and reducing errors.

Users receive email notifications of all new stocking actions submitted to Kobo.

Using these solutions has a number of advantages, including being cost-effective and operable offline, as well as delivering useful email alerts on stock movement or expiry.

“We needed an electronic system to track stock and expiry dates of items,” said Howard Nduli, planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting officer at the Zambia Red Cross Society.

He added: “Staff would constantly have to follow-up on stock balances, which is exactly what this system helps with – and so far so good, the system is easy to use.”