Introduction
The Federal Logistics (FEDLOG) system remains a vital resource for the United States Army, providing essential procurement data for military operations. This article, based on a third-party market research study conducted we initiated in 2021, explores the Army’s current reliance on FEDLOG, the system’s potential enhancements, the proportion of Army personnel using WebFLIS instead of FEDLOG, and the number of integrated Army systems.
Army’s Current Reliance on FEDLOG
The research confirmed that the Army continues to rely on FEDLOG, as it provides offline access to crucial procurement data. Army officials have expressed a preference for a hybrid system that combines web-based and offline access to FEDLOG. This confirms that the conclusions drawn in a 2016 Army report, which emphasized the importance of offline access, remain relevant today.
The 2016 report provided valuable insights into the users of FEDLOG. According to the survey results, by 31 May 2016, the G-4 had received responses from 989 individuals, consisting of 47% military personnel, 43% Department of the Army (DA) Civilians, and 10% contractor personnel. See breakdown below:
Military respondents:
• Army Warrant Officers: 56%
• Non-commissioned officers: 37%
• Largest users by MOS:
• 915A (Automotive Maintenance Warrant Officers) & 92Y (Unit Supply Specialists): 64 responses each, 14%
• 915E (Senior Automotive Maintenance Officers): 40 responses
• 920A (Property Accounting Technicians): 37 responses
• 59 unique MOSs; FEDLOG used in various fields
Department of the Army Civilian respondents:
• GS-11 to GS-13 pay grades: 68%
• Largest groups:
o Logistics Management Specialists: 111 responses (34%)
o Equipment Specialists: 60 responses (18%)
• High response rates from other career programs:
o Supply Program Management, Quality Assurance, General Supply, General Engineering: 4-5% each
Contractor respondents:
• Army Material Command (AMC): 37% (368 responses)
• Army National Guard: 17% (166 responses)
• U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM): 13% (124 responses)
How is FED LOG being enhanced?
To improve the user experience for Army personnel, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) officials have been working on enhancing FEDLOG’s usability. These enhancements include a modernized interface, a simplified and more powerful search feature, a scroll format, a scalable screen size, a one-click spreadsheet export, and broader computer operating system compatibility. Synergetics’ OpenFLIS platform is the solution for DLA that meets and exceeds the directives set forth by the DoD CIO and general Government IT leaders.
Proportion of Army Still Using WebFLIS
Although exact statistics on the proportion of Army personnel using WebFLIS over FEDLOG are unavailable, research suggests that FEDLOG remains more popular due to its offline access capabilities. The most recent government statistics showed that only 33% of surveyed personnel had a WebFLIS account, while approximately 63% used FEDLOG at least once per day. The research suggests that there are many possibilities for this, but the main one being usability and design. WebFLIS was designed more for back-office and cataloguer use cases and was designed before mobile phones were a powerful tool for accessing data products. Technology has changed over the past 30 years since WebFLIS was first designed. We are interested to see how these statistics change once WebFLIS is migrated to OpenFLIS, scheduled before the end of 2023, with all the benefits and familiarity of a modern data product.
Number of Integrated Army Systems
Based on AlphaBrook’s research, there are currently four Army systems integrated with FEDLOG: the DECOMP utility, National Level Ammunition Capability (NLAC), Global Combat Support System – Army (GCSS-A), and the National Guard Electronic Financial Liability Investigation of Property Loss (eFLIPL) System. It is worth noting that the Logistics Data Analysis Center (LDAC), formerly known as LOGSA, is likely no longer integrated with FEDLOG due to its recent transition and refocused mission.
Conclusion
The U.S. Army’s continued reliance on FEDLOG highlights the system’s importance in providing offline access to procurement data. With a focus on enhancing the user experience and maintaining integration with key Army systems, FEDLOG remains a crucial component of Army logistics operations.