HEINEKEN Teams Up With Blue Yonder To Improve Demand Planning
May 15 2024 - 4:00AM
Business Wire
Global brewer works with Blue Yonder to
support its strategic roadmap toward improved customer experience
and sustainability
HEINEKEN, the world’s most international brewer, confirms Blue
Yonder as a vendor of trust to further transform its supply chain
planning capability. The global brewer will implement Blue Yonder
Cognitive Demand Planning, a next generation cloud-native,
microservices-based SaaS solution, that utilizes artificial
intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to improve forecast
accuracy and reduce bias by considering dynamic external and
internal variables.
HEINEKEN has been implementing Blue Yonder solutions for
multiple years unlocking value for its business, especially with
the potential to improve forecast accuracy through ML demand
forecasting solution. HEINEKEN has selected Blue Yonder, as one of
the current major supply chain solution providers, to future proof
its demand planning process and leverage AI/ML, autonomous scenario
planning, planning process orchestration and solution
extensibility.
“We want to continuously improve our supply chain processes and
adopting Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand Planning is an important step
in that ambition. Working together with Blue Yonder will support us
in our ambition to become the best-connected brewer and foster
functional excellence in demand planning, leading to improved
customer experience. And with the right supply response it could
generate a positive impact on our sustainability targets as well,
for example by reduced write-offs and less goods movements,”
said Corneel Hindriks, manager, Digital & Technology -
Global Planning, HEINEKEN.
Once the Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand Planning solution is
implemented, HEINEKEN expects to achieve the following
benefits:
- Make more informed, data-driven decisions: get all the
real-world and business data HEINEKEN needs in a unified data cloud
and integrate all planning processes to make better decisions –
with speed and scale.
- Manage complexity and boost accuracy: combine the best output
from statistical forecasting and extensible ML to deliver higher
forecast accuracy and reduce bias.
- Respond faster: compress the planning cycle and empower
planners to drive strategy and respond in the moment, not on a
fixed schedule.
- Create and deploy customized and extended solutions: build,
test and confidently deploy customized and extended ML models,
workflows, personalized user experiences, and business logic at
production scale with minimal effort.
Consumer goods companies are currently encountering challenges
due to fluctuations in demand caused by inflation, supply chain
disruptions, evolving consumer habits, and a growing demand for
more sustainable products and processes. These industry dynamics
pose a significant challenge for conventional forecasting methods.
Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand Planning solution, which sits on
Microsoft Azure, addresses these challenges with a new generation
of AI-based capabilities, transforming the way companies around the
world collaborate, predict, plan and make decisions.
“We are proud to bring our contribution as supply chain
management leaders in supporting HEINEKEN’s mission to become the
best-connected brewer. Blue Yonder’s future-proof solution helps a
brewer like HEINEKEN to adapt to new external dynamics and changing
market conditions, ensuring their supply chains remain agile,
sustainable and competitive. Thanks to Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand
Planning, HEINEKEN can optimize its supply chain and ensure that
customers can always enjoy their preferred beers and beyond all
over the world,” said Terry Turner, President, Manufacturing,
Blue Yonder.
Additional Resources:
- Learn more about Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand Planning
- Video: Next Generation Demand Planning with Cognitive Demand
Planning
About Heineken
HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the
leading developer and marketer of premium and non-alcoholic beer
and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the Group has a
portfolio of more than 350 international, regional, local and
specialty beers and ciders. With HEINEKEN’s over 90,000 employees,
we brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. Our
dream is to shape the future of beer and beyond to win the hearts
of consumers. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand
investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost
management. Through "Brew a Better World", sustainability is
embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic
footprint with leadership positions in both developed and
developing markets. We operate breweries, maltings, cider plants
and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. The most
recent information is available on the Company's website and follow
us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. For press inquiry please
contact pressoffice@heineken.com.
About Blue Yonder
Blue Yonder is the world leader in digital supply chain
transformation. Global retailers, manufacturers and logistics
providers leverage Blue Yonder to optimize their supply chains from
planning through fulfillment, delivery and returns. Blue Yonder’s
AI-embedded, interoperable supply chain solutions are connected
end-to-end via a unified platform and data cloud, enabling
businesses to collaborate in real time across functions, which
supports more agile decision-making, improved customer
satisfaction, profitable growth, and more resilient, sustainable
supply chains. Blue Yonder - Fulfill your Potential™
blueyonder.com
“Blue Yonder” is a trademark or registered trademark of Blue
Yonder Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in
this document using the name “Blue Yonder” is a trademark and/or
property of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. All other company and product
names may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of
the companies with which they are associated.
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Blue Yonder Public Relations: Marina Renneke, APR, Global
Corporate Communications Sr. Director Tel: +1 480-308-3037,
marina.renneke@blueyonder.com
Rossella Benti, EMEA Corporate Communications Director Tel: +39
335 7849149, rossella.benti@blueyonder.com