Hindustan Unilever Wins Digital Supply Chain at P&SC Awards

Hindustan Unilever has won the Digital Supply Chain Award at The Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards.

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), India's leading FMCG company, has embarked on an ambitious digital transformation of its supply chain, yielding impressive results across its vast network of 28 factories and 50+ manufacturing partners.

The company's 'Re-imagine HUL' programme has been instrumental in shifting from a linear value chain to a non-linear ecosystem, leveraging data, technology and analytics to drive innovation and efficiency.

At the heart of HUL's digital strategy is the implementation of IoT-enabled tools for real-time downtime analysis and root cause identification in production lines.

The company has also embraced machine learning for demand planning, achieving a 250 basis point improvement in forecast accuracy and a 400 basis point improvement in service levels.

Perhaps most notable is HUL's development of a Supply Chain Nerve Centre (SCNC), which integrates various supply chain verticals to enable intelligent decision-making and end-to-end visibility.

This initiative, coupled with the use of digital twins and predictive analytics, has led to a 200 basis point reduction in conversion costs and a 7% decrease in energy costs across manufacturing sites.

The impact of these digital initiatives is particularly evident in HUL's Dapada and Sonepat sites. The Dapada facility has seen a 39% reduction in manufacturing costs per tonne and a 50% decrease in end-to-end product development lead time.

Meanwhile, the Sonepat site has implemented over 30 Industry 4.0 use cases, resulting in a 40% reduction in site conversion costs and an impressive 88% reduction in Scope 1 carbon footprint.

These achievements have not gone unnoticed, with both sites receiving the prestigious Lighthouse award from the World Economic Forum.

Furthermore, HUL's digital supply chain innovations have earned the company second place in the BRICS Industrial Innovation Contest, cementing its position as a leader in intelligent manufacturing and supply chain management.

The awards

Launched in 2024, The Global  Procurement & Supply Chain Awards 2024 debuted at Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London on 24, September. 

The comprehensive programme acknowledges companies, professionals and projects that have demonstrated exceptional performance, innovation and strategic thinking in a multitude of categories.

The awards celebrate the best companies, professionals and projects in procurement and supply chain and offer free entry for charities and NGOs.

“It was an honour to spotlight such a wide range of incredible companies at the inaugural Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards,” said Glen White, CEO of BizClik, Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital.

“At a time where it is crucial that companies are getting their global sourcing, risk & resilience and technology strategies right, it's important to celebrate the successes of those who have implemented and developed the key supply chain, procurement and logistics programs, especially when it has a positive impact on sustainable supply chains in the future.

“To host the awards during Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London is an incredible moment for the sector to celebrate, we encourage many more companies to enter our Awards for 2025. 

“Thanks to every company that entered - it's important that you stay focused, motivated and continuously innovative and I am excited to see so much more of Generative AI when we meet again in a year.

"And a Big Congratulations to every company who entered, those that are highly commended and of course to our 14 winners – we appreciate your input more than you know.”

The Digital Supply Chain Award

The Digital Supply Chain Award celebrates those companies that have embraced digital technologies to enhance supply chain operations and drive innovation. 

• How has the company successfully leveraged digital technologies to optimise its supply chain operations and enhance agility and responsiveness?
• What digital initiatives or solutions has the company implemented to improve supply chain visibility, collaboration and efficiency?
• How has the company demonstrated innovation in integrating digital tools and analytics to streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance customer satisfaction?
• How has the company effectively utilised data-driven insights and predictive analytics to drive informed decision-making and improve overall supply chain performance?

Shortlisted companies included: 

• CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd
• Hindustan Unilever Limited
• Ministry of Health
• project44
• Stack&Track

Highly Commended: Saudi Ministry of Health & CrimsonLogic

In a rapidly evolving global marketplace, two organisations have made significant strides in digitalising supply chain operations, showcasing the transformative power of technology in trade facilitation and healthcare logistics.

The Saudi Ministry of Health's Supply Chain Department has revolutionised its operations through the development of a specialised supply chain operating unit. This unit focuses on operational reporting and automated performance indicators, covering 80 metrics across 300 hospitals and 2,122 primary healthcare centres. The impact has been substantial; unscheduled surgeries due to supply shortages, which once exceeded 4,500, have been virtually eliminated. Weekly surgical operations have tripled from 4,000 in 2021 to over 12,000 currently.

The Ministry's digital initiatives include a ticketing system engaging more than 2,000 employees, which has processed over 300,000 tickets in three years with a closure rate exceeding 97%. It has also implemented systems to monitor supply chain blind spots across 70 entities and eight medical specialties, integrating data from over 15 sources to ensure accuracy and efficient challenge monitoring.

Meanwhile, CrimsonLogic, part of the PSA Group, has been at the forefront of Total Trade Solutions for over three decades. Their innovations span 40 countries, with notable implementations in Botswana and Oman. In Botswana, CrimsonLogic developed a National Single Window integrated with a Customs Management System, streamlining trade processes and enhancing the country's position as a regional trade hub.

In Oman, the company's Bayan system has achieved permit clearance times under three seconds, linking 60 government and private agencies and managing 183 electronic services. This has significantly boosted Oman's cross-border trade efficiency.

Both organisations demonstrate how strategic deployment of digital technologies can enhance supply chain visibility, improve operational efficiency and drive innovation in their respective sectors.

The Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards 2024

Thanks to our esteemed panel of industry leaders who judged the awards:

• Jim Townsend, VP of Property & Procurement at Asda
• Alisa Bornstein, Chief Procurement Officer at Visa
• Daniel Weise, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group
• Benn Godfrey, Vice President of Procurement at Rolls Royce
• Roger Waring, Head of Procurement at UK Power Networks
• Jacqui Rock, Chief Commercial Officer at NHS England
• David Loseby, Professor of Research Impact in Supply Chain Management at Leeds University Business School
• Sheri Hinish, Principal/Senior Partner, Global Consulting Sustainability Technology and Ecosystems Leader at EY
• Brooke DiNatale, SVP of Global Treasury Solutions at Mastercard

The full list of awards categories for 2024 is:

• Procurement Transformation Award
• Digital Supply Chain
• Global Logistics Award
• Supplier Diversity Award
• Supply Chain Innovation
• Supply Chain Sustainability
• Procurement Technology
• Procurement Consultancy
• Future Leader
• Executive of the Year
• Project of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement
• Social Enterprise
• Start-Up

Essential diary dates for 2024 and 2025…

Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE continues to expand its repertoire of events, with more to come in 2024 and 2025. Discover our essential diary dates below.

2024 diary dates:

• Manufacturing & Mobility LIVE | 6 November 2024

2025 diary dates: 

• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Singapore | 11 February 2025
• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: Scope 3 | 5-6 March 2025
• Manufacturing & Mobility LIVE | 5-6 March 2025
• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Dubai | 29 April 2025
• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Chicago | 4-5 June 2025
• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE London | 23-24 September 2025
• Procurement & Supply Chain Awards | 24 September 2025
• Manufacturing & Mobility LIVE Chicago | 4 November 2025

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Make sure you check out the latest edition of Supply Chain Digital and also sign up to our global conference series - Procurement & Supply Chain 2024

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