As procurement leaders operate under strained budgets and complex supply chains, the pressure for greater agility and sustainability continues to rise.
“Budgets are tighter than ever because of economic changes, which means every dollar has to stretch further,” says Andy Krzmarzick, principal strategy leader for emergency solutions at Amazon Business. “Building resilience in procurement is about smart, strategic moves that balance preparedness with efficiency.”
THE CHALLENGES OF LEGACY PROCUREMENT
Recent disaster patterns highlight the urgency for modern, resilient procurement. In recent years, weather-related disasters have cost the United States more than $1 trillion.[1] In 2024 alone, the Federal Emergency Management Agency made 90 major disaster declarations, which is more than 40 percent higher than the annual average number of declarations, according to a CNN report.[2]
This underscores why procurement preparedness has moved from peripheral planning to a mission-critical priority. When hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other severe storms strike, government agencies must quickly obtain emergency supplies — from shelters and medical items to communication tools and basic needs for impacted individuals. Traditional procurement, with its lengthy bidding processes and complex approval workflows, can delay help when communities need an immediate, more adaptive response.
PROCUREMENT RESILIENCE WITHOUT DISRUPTION
Replacing entire legacy procurement systems is often too expensive and risky. Instead, agencies should focus on manageable modernization by:
- Digitizing purchase orders
- Consolidating supplier portals
- Streamlining approval processes
These steps create efficiencies and make it easier for governments to identify the best value options, including small and local business offerings, to fulfill their procurement requirements.
Resilience also depends on smarter supply and inventory strategies. “Diversifying your supplier base is crucial,” says Krzmarzick. “Digital marketplaces, combined with advanced analytics and AI, transform the purchasing process. They reveal trends earlier, allowing procurement teams to develop proactive strategies versus being in a reactive posture.” Meanwhile, real-time inventory management reduces redundancy and waste while keeping essentials within reach.
States are also leveraging resilience offices and outcome-oriented approaches to procurement, bringing in a broader array of vendors and supply options and aligning purchasing with leading practices in preparedness, response and recovery.
TECH-ENABLED COMPLIANCE
Digital procurement tools support compliance requirements while increasing operational efficiency. Automated workflows route purchases through proper approval channels based on dollar amounts and product categories, and integrated vendor management systems streamline supplier verification and ongoing performance monitoring.
These digital solutions help reduce manual oversight requirements and create clear audit trails that satisfy accountability standards.
“One good example is the state of Utah, which tackled issues with off-contract spending by engaging Amazon Business,” says Krzmarzick. “By adopting tools like Guided Buying, Utah blocked unapproved purchases and ensured spending stayed compliant. Dashboards improved visibility, flagging irregularities before they became issues.”
5 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BEST PRACTICES
1. Establish preapproved vendor lists — Maintain quick access to trusted suppliers with verified credentials, performance histories and emergency contact information to enable rapid sourcing.
2. Create clear purchasing policies and framework agreements — Develop streamlined approval processes and pre-negotiated contracts that allow teams to bypass lengthy procurement cycles during emergencies while maintaining department compliance rules.
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[1] https://business.amazon.com/en/blog/weather-procurement-state-gov
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/24/climate/fema-disaster-emergency-declarations
