Buinesses are increasingly transitioning to digital platforms to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and gain valuable insights. In particular, supply chain and procurement teams tend to handle large amounts of sensitive information about suppliers and customers. This is on a daily basis and they are expected to provide data protection and security to this information.

As more and more organizations rely on technology to streamline their procurement processes, the risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks increases exponentially. This means, data protection and privacy have become paramount considerations for businesses and can act as a significant barrier to adoption of digital procurement solutions.

In a world where data is king, it’s protection has never been more critical

As it stands, procurement processes are underlined by vast amounts of information exchanged daily. Now take all these onto a digital platform and add sensitive data generated with each interaction and transaction!

Organizations use the Scale platform to handle and deal with confidential supplier information, bidding details, strategic procurement plans and contracts. Hence, a potential fallout from a data breach is not just financial; it can lead to reputational damage and erode the trust that both Buyers and Suppliers have placed on us.

This is what makes data privacy and protection non-negotiable in digital procurement.

This is what makes it non-negotiable for us.

Scale is officially Certified as a Data Controller by the ODPC

We are happy to announce that Scale has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining certification as a Data Controller by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in Kenya, solidifying our dedication to safeguarding all sensitive information of our users and clients.

As a leading SaaS company in the industry, we recognize the critical role that data security plays in fostering trust and ensuring the success of our digital procurement solution.

This certification is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a proactive step we’ve taken to fortify confidence within our team and among users and clients. It demonstrates our company’s dedication to adhering to the highest standards of data privacy and protection, instilling trust in buyers and suppliers.

What Data Protection means to users on our e-Procurement platform

First, us receiving the Data Controller certification means that you can continue using our system with confidence that all your sensitive procurement data is very secure. This certification signifies that we have implemented robust security measures to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your data. Some of these security measures include encryption, access controls, and regular audits of our system.

Secondly and most importantly, procurement teams need to also put in place physical and people-led measures that will complement our system interventions. This includes activities such as:

• Limit access to your Scale account and within the account, use the role-based access to protect access to sensitive data. This minimizes the risk of accidental exposure or misuse by employees.
• Conduct a background check on vendors and suppliers and ensure contracts are clear regarding confidentiality and data protection obligations of all parties involved.
• Train team members on best practices to avoid password thefts, phishing attacks and social engineering.

With the above key areas addressed, you can focus on optimizing your procurement processes (Buyers) and bidding activities (Suppliers), knowing that your information is shielded from unauthorized access and potential breaches.

By prioritizing and actively addressing these data security concerns, Scale facilitates a smoother transition to digital procurement. Further, we empower businesses to leverage the full potential of modern procurement solutions. This is what makes us your trusted partner in the evolving landscape of procurement technology.