The technology, which will also use Accenture’s existing supply chain management consulting services, is powered by SAP and webMethods software and enables enhanced collaboration and connectivity between consumer products goods (CPG) manufacturers and their suppliers.
As a result, partnering companies are expected to derive mutual benefit by optimizing their shared supply chain processes. This is achieved through the communication of information such as forecasts, materials plans, orders, schedules, inventory data and shipment notifications between companies.
As products manufacturing companies seek enhanced benefits from their existing ERP systems, collaboration in the planning and delivery of goods and materials across companies has become a rapidly expanding reality, said Jaume Ferrer, head of Accenture’s supply chain management practice in Europe.
Accenture’s new offering can enable manufacturers and suppliers to improve collaboration. As a result, they can reduce inventories and administrative costs while improving service levels and time-to-market.
As part of the acquisition, Nestle, Danone and L’Oreal are engaged to use the collaboration solution. Currently, the service allows them to connect their plant operations to approximately 140 suppliers. Under the new contracts, the companies plan to add additional plants in several key markets while growing the supplier network significantly over the next three years.
