Mobile computers put extra fizz into SA Breweries

SA Breweries (SAB) expects to optimise inventory counts after going live with a new version of its mobile stock-taking system at 33 of its depots and breweries across the country.

Customised specifically for SAB, the system replaces one that also used handheld devices but was built before open integration and applications platforms were available and that, therefore, didn't link directly to SAB's existing SAP infrastructure and business management system.

By enabling operators to upload precise stock levels to that infrastructure by 8am every day, the new Stock Take System (STS) provides SAB with centralised visibility of stock age and significantly improves the accuracy and duration of inventory count. Also, by easing the collection and updating of inputs and, therefore, speeding an appropriate response to data, the STS reduces the difficulty of monitoring huge volumes of stock.

Says SAB's Brenda Knox: "We're achieving much greater stock optimisation and utilisation - which, of course, translate into an increase in sales. As an added benefit, we're seeing an increase in customer satisfaction."

The new STS was developed for SAB by Johannesburg-based SAP consultancy, OneArch, on top of SAP Mobile Infrastructure. It is powered by SAP NetWeaver, an open integration platform designed to lower information technology (IT) costs across heterogeneous IT landscapes. OneArch was tasked with meeting SAB's 'Innovation and Quality' value, by ensuring that the new STS fully exploited the benefits of state-of-the-art technology.

Combining SAP's advanced technology with a thorough understanding of both SAB's industry and its operations, OneArch was able to make the STS so easy to use that the time between real-world testing, to see if it met the necessary standards and delivered the required functionality, and going live at the first site was only two weeks.

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"Even a complicated depot such as Prospecton - with its 24-hour and weekend packaging interface, inter-depot, distribution, exports and calling operations - could be set up on the Friday, trained on the Sunday and count its first stock on the Monday," says Knox.

OneArch managing director, Christian Bowker, said the roll-out was the first of its kind in SA and would provide a reference and benchmark for future implementations in other organisations.

"The solution is ideal for any company managing large volumes of stock. Because it is fully integrated with SAP, data can be transferred quickly and seamlessly to those who need it. So, it not only improves management decision-making, it also eliminates time-consuming manual processes such as re-keying data into ERP, accounting and logistics systems."

Brandon Shaban, SAP retail and consumer industries solution manager, agrees, pointing out that this and other mySAP Mobile Business solutions are extending the back-end business processes for a growing number of customers worldwide.

"By taking advantage of the deep integration and key capabilities of SAP's mobile applications, organisations are able to increase response times, improve processes and dedicate more resources to essential projects."