Blue Yonder takes Heineken’s Demand Planning to Next Level

Heineken is an organisation laser-focused on improving its supply chain planning capability. 

It’s why the world’s most international brewer is relying on Blue Yonder as a vendor of trust to transform this element of its vast operations. 

The Dutch beer giant is implementing Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand Planning, a next-generation, cloud-native, microservices-based SaaS solution that utilises AI and machine learning (ML) to improve forecast accuracy and reduce bias by considering dynamic external and internal variables. 

As consumer goods firms encounter 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, conventional forecasting methods are being rendered insufficient. 

Blue Yonder’s Cognitive Demand Planning solution, which sits on top of Microsoft Azure, negotiates these obstacles with a new generation of AI-based capabilities, transforming the way companies around the world collaborate, predict, plan and make decisions. 

Future-proofing demand planning

Heineken has, for several years, already been enjoying a fruitful partnership with Blue Yonder, implementing its solutions to unlock added value – especially with a view to improving forecasting accuracy through its ML demand forecasting solution. 

As a leading supply chain solution provider, Blue Yonder has been selected to future-proof Heineken’s 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,” explains Corneel Hindriks, Global Digital & Technology Manager for Supply Chain Planning at Heineken. 

“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.

“With the right supply response, it could generate a positive impact on our sustainability targets as well, for example by reducing write-offs and goods movements.”

Heineken receives data-driven boost

With the implementation of Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand Planning, Heineken stands to enjoy numerous benefits and has the ability to:

• More informed, data-driven decisions: Real-world and business data in a unified data cloud and integrated 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 customised and extended solutions: Build, test and confidently deploy customised and extended ML models, workflows personalised user experiences and business logic at production scale with minimal effort. 

“We’re proud to bring our contribution as supply chain management leaders in supporting Heineken’s mission to become the best-connected brewer,” adds Terry Turner, President, Global Manufacturing at Blue Yonder. 

“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 optimise its supply chain and ensure customers always enjoy their preferred beers and beyond all over the world.”

******

Check out the latest edition of Supply Chain Magazine and sign up to our global conference series – Procurement and SupplyChain LIVE 2024. 

******

Supply Chain Digital is a BizClik brand.