Ferrero, a well-known sweets producer, uses SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI) technology to unite its SAP system with other solutions used by the company and IT systems of its business partners. SAP XI is a component of SAP NetWeaver integration platform.
Both in Poland and in other countries Ferrero uses PRISM, an IT system dedicated to planning and steering production. The interfaces developed during the Polish implementation project are now a model solution for uniting PRISM with SAP. SAP has also been integrated with a system used by sales representatives to check stock levels and clients’ payment status. Thanks to two-way communication, orders entered by mobile employees are immediately passed to SAP system.
For Ferrero Polska a particularly important solution, created with SAP XI technology, is integration with external logistic operators that provide services to the company. SAP XI participates in communication between Ferrero’s SAP system and Qguar and MLS solutions used by logistic operators.
Cooperation with logistic operators (Fresh Logistics of Raben Group and Partners company) is for Ferrero a key element of the logistic chain, as it has a significant impact on the efficiency of product distribution and punctual deliveries to customers. Logistic partners are responsible for deliveries to customers, i.e. retail chains and depots. The number of deliveries amounts to 3000.
On the basis of SAP-generated information on the planned sale the partners receive and store Ferrero products in their distribution centers. Thanks to communication provided by interfaces Ferrero managers know stock levels in operator’s locations. An order registered in SAP is passed to a logistic operator that prepares dispatch and delivers products to the customer.
”Managing the so-called decentralized warehouse through SAP system helps us optimize logistic costs without losing control over stocks and with maintaining a high quality of customer service”, estimates Henryk Nowak.