JAGGAER's Bid to Streamline Kedrion’s Procurement Strategy

Kedrion, a biopharmaceutical company producing plasma-derived medicines for rare diseases, is working with enterprise procurement specialist JAGGAER to simplify its supply chain processes.

The partnership focuses on digital transformation of procurement, ensuring that Kedrion can optimise supplier relationships, improve resource allocation and support global growth.

The company has expanded since merging with UK-based Bio Products Laboratory (BPL) in 2022, positioning itself as a stronger global competitor.

Operating in the plasma-derived medicines sector brings unique challenges, as synthetic alternatives are extremely difficult to create. It means the procurement of specialised goods and services is central to Kedrion’s supply chain strategy.

Procurement as a strategic tool

Kedrion’s collaboration with JAGGAER centres on shifting procurement from manual, resource-heavy activity to a digital system that streamlines supplier interactions and focuses resources on strategic sourcing.

The aim is to automate routine transactions such as catalogue management and purchasing administration, freeing staff to concentrate on supplier negotiations and securing quality materials.

Simone Fornai, Global Procurement Senior Director at Kedrion, explains: "We believe that efficient procurement doesn't just focus on costs, but adopts a vision that, in line with the company's ultimate goal, aims to meet the therapeutic needs of patients better.

“From this perspective, the role of procurement is to source quality products that optimise the company's performance. 

“I want to emphasise that, while digitalisation is indeed an urgent need for every company today, it is equally true that people continue to make a difference, as technology alone is not enough."

This balance between automation and human oversight reflects wider trends in supply chain management, where digital systems support rather than replace decision-making.

In a tightly-regulated industry such as pharmaceuticals, supplier qualification and compliance demand human input, while technology ensures transparency and efficiency across operations.

Incremental digital rollout

The partnership with JAGGAER began in Italy, where Kedrion is headquartered and operates three production plants. 

The first phase introduced digital catalogue management, before expanding to supplier negotiations and onboarding processes. This step-by-step implementation reduces disruption, allowing the company to test systems locally before extending them across its international network.

Some of these solutions are already in place at Kedrion’s facility in Gödöllő, near Budapest, with expansion to US and UK subsidiaries planned in the months ahead. 

By gradually integrating new tools, the business is building a scalable procurement framework that can support global operations.

Claudia Cristofani, Process and Systems Associate, Global Procurement at Kedrion, says: "We chose JAGGAER as our partner for this procurement evolution journey because we immediately appreciated its flexibility. 

“It is a platform capable of adapting to our needs and the requirements of a highly-regulated sector, demonstrating great adaptability across various processes."

Flexibility is especially important for Kedrion, as procurement must respond to regulatory requirements in different jurisdictions, alongside the practical challenges of sourcing plasma-derived products. 

A platform that can accommodate variations in compliance and documentation ensures consistency while meeting local rules.

Supply chain sustainability and growth

Beyond automation, JAGGAER highlights its wider supply chain focus through sustainability reporting. 

The company integrates environmental and social considerations into its source-to-pay solutions, giving clients tools for strategic cost savings, risk management and long-term sustainable growth. 

For Kedrion, this aligns procurement with corporate responsibility commitments while supporting competitive advantage.

The future plan for Kedrion is to extend JAGGAER’s procurement platform across its global subsidiaries. With digital procurement embedded at every level of the supply chain, Kedrion expects to manage suppliers more effectively, reduce operational risk and allocate more resources to strategic decision-making.

In a sector where reliable supply of plasma-derived products is essential for patients, Kedrion’s supply chain strategy reflects the need for both efficiency and responsibility. 

Digital transformation provides the structure, but people remain central to ensuring outcomes align with both regulatory obligations and patient needs.