Boughey Distribution are one of the UK’s leading logistics providers to the food industry with particular experience and expertise in the ambient grocery sector. To improve customer service and digitalise existing paper-based proof of delivery processes, Boughey selected Rocket as their SAP partner to provide and implement a mobile proof of delivery solution that would work seamlessly with the Boughey SAP Business Suite (SAP ECC) ERP system and processes.
The Challenge
Boughey want to modernise and improve the existing in-cab and on the road processes for delivery management and proof of delivery across their B2B logistics services provision for their clients.
To achieve this the existing paper-based and administration intensive processes will be transformed through the introduction of a real-time mobile logistics management solution. The desired solution will be seamlessly integrated into the existing SAP Business Suite (SAP ECC) and be provided to all drivers by means of specialised in-cab mobile devices.
A specialist SAP partner able to implement a turnkey mobile proof of delivery solution into the existing Boughey SAP ECC landscape was required.
Working in collaboration with Barcode-IT, Rocket was selected for a combination of specialisation in SAP consulting and implementation services for supply chain and operationally intensive businesses and the Rocket Logics mobile Proof of Delivery solution for SAP which was selected over competitors for the ease of use, capability and lower cost to implement thanks to the standard SAP integration.
Furthermore, the project includes the evaluation and adoption of the SAP Digital Access licence structure. Adoption of this will allow significant license cost savings for the mobile workforce using Rocket Logics which has an SAP Digital Access approved architecture.
The Solution & Approach
Rocket Logics mobile proof of delivery (ePOD) and mobile logistics management is being deployed; taking advantage of the standard, real-time integration into SAP ECC, directly into the delivery document and standard document flow for ease of use to quickly enable Boughey Distribution with the following capabilities in their B2B logistics services:
Mobile Technology
It expected that approximately 100 drivers will be provided the Rocket Logics mobile POD solution utilising Datalogic Memor 10 handheld devices, running android operating system and optimised for in-cab and on the road use. Contract drivers will also be able to operate using Rocket Logics on their android smartphones.
Business Outcomes
Anticipated Project Outcomes
People
Performance
Planet
Digital transformation to SAP S/4HANA and digital supply chain for a nationwide network of cash-and-carry and delivery service wholesale outlets, serving large and small-scale companies in the hospitality industry, leisure facilities, caterers, large-volume users, company restaurants, petrol stations, small and medium-sized enterprises, small retail businesses, and the institutional market.
The Challenge
Supporting the business strategy to continue scale-up and stabilise operating margins, the supply chain required an overhaul to overcome current challenges, introduce greater controls and move towards common ways of working in order to ensure more consistent output, productivity and predictability.
The Solution & Approach
Working as part of a wider SAP S/4HANA transformation project led by a global system integrator, Rocket are providing specialist supply chain operations and SAP digital supply chain software expertise to this project.
Updating the current supply chain solution will bring greater reliability and consistency to the customer supply and provide greater controls and management to the warehouses. However, this project impacts significant change across all areas:
Systems - moving to SAP Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM).
Technology - moving to SAP HANA and modernisation of operational technology.
Operations - improvement and standardisation of business process and ways of working.
People - change management across multiple sites.
Acknowledging the Change Management challenges, the project is using an MVP (Minimal Viable Product) approach, first targeting the core requirements and mitigation of priority pain-points currently impacting the supply chain.
The MVP approach provides a short time to value without deviating from the longer-term strategic needs and supporting the SAP HANA roadmap.
SAP Extended Warehouse Management will be used. Running on SAP HANA this WMS will be deployed as a decentral architecture to the SAP S/4 HANA ERP system, ensuring scalability and responsiveness in the digital supply chain operations.
Creating an efficient mobile workforce is an essential aspect of the project. The supporting warehouse mobile infrastructure will be updated, including modern android based industrial mobile (RF) devices and printers allowing them to support new labels.
Other operational technology, such as the warehouse automation, will be addressed with alignment to standard SAP EWM business processes and greater integration of system and operational activities.
Accurate representation of the warehouse layout will drive up customer service by using layout-oriented processes and the creation of system driven work allocation.
Areas included in the MVP are:
Managing Change Management is a key success criterion with a prioritisation of mitigating current pain points while building a platform for longer term capability supporting the SAP HANA roadmap.
Business Outcomes
Anticipated benefits of the approach and solution are:
A refreshing outlook from this forward-thinking business, that will bring many benefits to the business and workforce.
The Challenge
The business has a large mobile workforce across multiple worldwide locations, compounded by very seasonal demand requiring a significant contingent workforce during the peak periods.
As with every business, optimising operating processes for efficiency, accuracy and cost are central to this project. However, this project is taking a more cutting-edge approach with an appreciation of the additional workforce benefits to be gained from the creation of an enhanced UX implementation.
The project goals include:
The adopted solution needs to be robust, scalable, high performance and not add technical complexity.
The project is running as part of a wider program in which the business is undergoing a business systems and process transformation around the implementation of SAP S/4 HANA platform and as such needs to take advantage of the latest S/4 development techniques to drive up performance for the high throughput operation.
The Approach - Rocket Design & Operation Thinking Mobile UX Design Methodology
Selected as the specialist SAP mobility partner for all aspects of the mobile solution. Chosen for our Enterprise Mobility approach, methodology and know-how combined with our SAP EWM experience and turn-key mobility services and extensive innovation IP:
Benefits of Approach
Using the Rocket Design & Operational Thinking UX Design Methodology puts the user at the centre of the design process to ensure the user persona and user experience is designed considering all the necessary aspects to ensure a robust, fit for purpose, high performance outcome.
The Solution
The overall solution is being built on the SAP Digital Supply Chain platform, Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), with the mobile execution.
The project includes optimisation and extension of standard EWM mobile transactions and the development of bespoke tailored mobile processes.
Mobile device selection and deployment will be carried out with the benefit of the Rocket mobile technology SAP provisioning library and SAP Digital Supply Chain mobile device validation program.
Benefits of Solution
The solution keeps the core SAP EWM application and technical architecture standard, ensuring ease of support, performance and compatibility with the SAP roadmap & release strategy.
The Rocket Mobile UX framework is built on SAP ITS mobile and keeps the solution 100% on-premise and without any middleware, while providing significant uplift to the standard capability and resulting benefits to the operation and mobile workforce:
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The Challenge
To provide a transportation management platform to reduce logistics cost of supplying products from over 350 technology brands to a customer base of 22,850 retailers and resellers and improve decision making capability.
The Solution
A UK first for Rocket who, as a trusted SAP partner, has been approved to deploy the latest Ramp-up release of SAP Transportation Management (TM) 9.3 on HANA which will be used to automate and optimise package building, resource planning, carrier selection and freight costing. Real time access to logistics business intelligence and embedded analytics has been achieved thanks to SAP HANA and Smart Dashboards from Fiori.
Business Outcomes
Planned Go-Live
Q1 2021
The Challenge
Rocket’s client required a tightly integrated logistics execution platform, supplying products from over 350 technology brands to a customer base of 22,850 retailers and resellers as part of a supply chain expansion programme. Key challenges include improving profitability of high-volume, low margin business.
The Solution
Another UK first for Rocket who, as a trusted SAP partner, has been approved to deploy the latest Ramp-up release of SAP Extended Warehouse Management on HANA. Extensive warehouse process optimisation, automation and mobilisation will form the foundation.
HANA will enable third party billing to significantly reduce third party logistics operational overheads, additionally, real time business intelligence and embedded analytics will improve visibility, traceability and operational management through Fiori’s Smart Dashboards.
Business Outcomes
Planned Go-Live
Q2 2021
Introduction
Founded in 2005 in Kuwait, our client is a successful provider of luxury building and home furnishing solutions. A recognised premium brand within Gulf Cooperation Council, the client has operations in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia with regional distribution centres, manufacturing facilities and large retail outlets.
The client satisfies thousands of Customer Orders monthly across 14 product categories covering in excess of 50,000 SKUs, both from stock and a Make to Order perspective. An SAP run business operating in SAP ECC with around 2,000 users.
The initial phase of the project focuses on luxury kitchen design and installation services with other categories to follow.
The Challenge
The typical customer sales engagement process follows a life cycle of multiple stages from an enquiry and concluding with an installation.
The client offers their customers a high degree of flexibility and personalisation, with each installation being unique. Personalisation is handled with a configuration of complex sales bills of material, fulfilled through a combined make to order and inventory on hand across over 50,000 SKUs. This presents a significant supply chain planning and execution challenge, to balance demand and supply to provide the expected high level of customer service.
To improve customer service levels and satisfaction, The client requires the ability to provide their customers with a real time, realistic and achievable installation promise date for their orders.
Achieving this requires firstly a change in business approach from a mainly Make-to-Order operation to a Make-to Stock operation. This requires the ability to consider finite production capacity and material availability across the client's Supply Chain Network instantly throughout the customer sales engagement life cycle.
The client needed more than an SAP integrator to solve this, they needed a specialist partner who understood the intricate complexities and interdependencies of this supply chain intensive, customer fulfilment process and the SAP supply chain management and planning software intimately and how it could be applied in a highly personalised customer sales lifecycle.
Rocket were selected as the implementation partner after quickly demonstrating a firm grasp on the challenge and how to approach it in the context of the SAP landscape with a clear outcome driven mindset to ensure customer service improvements were at the heart of the benefits.
The Solution & Approach
SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP), SAP Capacity Requirements Planning (part of SAP Production Planning), and SAP Advanced Planning and Optimisation (SAP APO) for supply chain were all evaluated as potential candidates for delivering the desired outcome.
SAP Capacity Requirements Planning was quickly eliminated as it simply does not have the required capability to achieve the business outcomes. Both SAP IBP and SAP APO are tightly integrated with SAP Business Suite however, despite SAP IBP being the latest supply chain planning solution from SAP in this instance, the SAP APO platform was selected due to several key advantages with respect to the client's scenarios.
Real time material available to promise during the sales order process was key to success, with automated checks throughout the sales cycle This demand and supply alignment process automatically:
Automated Production Planning based on requirements and WorkCentre capacity
This will be achieved using SAP APO, providing integrated demand and supply planning, forecasting and demand management, production planning and detailed scheduling (PP-DS) with Capacity to Promise (CTP) and Global Available to Promise (GATP).
Achieving the client's customer service goals required a deep understanding of the supply chain processes and challenges as well as the SAP ECC & APO software. The ultimate solution required Rocket to bring unique innovations to create a ground-breaking solution enabling Sales Bill of Materials (BOM's) to be utilised in conjunction with SAP APO GATP Rules Based Availability (RBA) including Delivery Date correlation and Consolidation Location.
Proof of Concept
We have developed and proved, through a detailed Proof of Concept, an innovative and ground-breaking solution that uses existing Business Data, including Sales Bills of Material (BOM’s) to demonstrate how SAP can be used to achieve the desired outcomes and meet the Customer’s needs. The solution leverages mainly standard SAP functionality, with specific targeted innovations, IP, and extensions to complete the solution.
The solution ensures that the client can continue to use their existing Sales Bill of Materials as a basis of product design and in conjunction with Advanced Planning and Optimisation functionality (Global Available to Promise and Rule based Availability Checking and CTP (Manufacturing Capacity to Promise) from Multi-site sources with automatic Stock Transfers to Consolidation Location and with Delivery Date Correlation alongside automatic Production Planning and Scheduling.
Business Outcomes
Increased Customer Satisfaction and Service Levels through accurate and reliable Customer Installation dates
There are many ways to reach us if you have more specific questions, please connect with us via Linkedin - we aim to respond to message within 24 hours. If you would like a fast response please email us via launch@rocket-consulting.com or alternatively schedule a call back to suit by using the below booking form.
S/4HANA
SAP Integrated Business Planning
SAP Extended Warehouse Management
SAP Transport Management
SAP Duty Management
SAP Health Engagement
SAP Track & Trace
SAP Cloud Platform
SAP Extended Supply Chain
SAP Development
SAP Integration
Mobilising SAP
Fiori/Smart Business
Rocket Mobile
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