PepsiCo has followed rival Coca-Cola in standardising on
SAP enterprise resource planning software to manage its supply
chain and other business systems.
PepsiCo used to rely on Oracle systems to run its business, but in
a multimillion-pound global deal it is moving its core business
systems to SAP.
It is rolling out the mySAP Business Suite across the US to look
after brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana juices and Quaker foods.
A European roll-out is imminent, said a PepsiCo spokesman.
The company will use the SAP Netweaver integration and application
platform to help to implement the mySAP Business software. PepsiCo
said the new technology would streamline distribution and delivery,
improve planning and forecasting, increase information
transparency, and link supply chain and inventory processes with
customer-facing activities.
PepsiCo president and chief financial officer Indra Nooyi said,
"The adoption of a common technology platform is a significant step
in the ongoing transformation of our business, which will drive
efficiencies and effectiveness of our multiple operating
divisions."
SAP has signed a similar standardised platform deal with
Lego.
Coca-Cola, a well-established SAP user, recently started to roll
out new SAP supply chain systems which would allow its delivery and
logistics staff to integrate their data with back-end corporate
databases using mobile devices.