The fourth annual Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) South Africa conference, entitled "Unlocking Potential", will be held on 2 and 3 October at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
The ECR Conference is the only forum in the country that covers the entire spectrum of issues relating to companies in the consumer goods market and is aimed at all key decision-makers in this sector. The 2001 conference was attended by 352 delegates from 72 companies.
"This year`s event will cover ECR developments in the local and international market, all with a view to reducing costs, improving efficiencies and increasing sales," says Mike Harvey, ECR executive director. "Presentations will include local and international company-to-company case studies, ECR global scorecard developments, and industry projects including anti-crime initiatives, transport optimisation, the product data catalogue, and training."
ECR, a joint initiative between retailers and manufacturers in SA`s R59 billion-a-year grocery business, is aimed at optimising business processes between FMCG trading partners and reducing costs throughout the supply chain. It has its roots in the US, where it was first established in 1992 in response to market conditions such as low growth, the emergence of highly efficient new entrants, increased competition, the high costs resulting from traditional adversarial relationships, pressure from consumers, an emphasis on trading rather than focusing on consumer needs, and the emergence of new channels.
"ECR is aimed at integrating the separate aspects of the supply chain and enhancing the value delivered to the consumer through practical improvements," says Harvey. "The conference will focus on companies working together to integrate their operations and eliminate barriers between trading partners that impact their ability to satisfy customers and to drive out spiralling cost."
Alwin Swales, product and marketing director at Global Technology Business Intelligence (GBI), a division of JSE Securities Exchange-listed Global Technology, says the conference will empower delegates with information to help drive efficiencies in the consumer goods market.
"Margins are being driven down by the impact of inflation and the unnecessary costs of producing and supplying goods, yet the FMCG sector is still trying to drive profitability so competitiveness is increasing rapidly," says Swales. "Companies competing for share of wallet must optimise the delivery of goods from source to consumers and bring these costs down. The only way companies in the supply chain can survive in such a competitive market is to pass on the benefits of optimisation to the customer.
"One of the ways to cut costs and offer greater consumer value is through business intelligence. International analysts have forecasted that business intelligence is set for major adoption by the retail sector, of which FMCG forms a huge part. As a major sponsor of the ECR conference, we will be educating delegates about the positive impact business intelligence can have on the consumer goods industry, and about the ways in which business intelligence solutions help to understand and optimise the FMCG supply chain."
Attendance costs are R2 950 for ECR members and R3 200 for non-members. Prices exclude VAT. To book, visit the ECR Web site at www.ECR-SA.co.za, telephone (011) 644 5934, or e-mail ecr@qbic.co.za.
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