Heineken Ireland
Credit: M.Minderhoud.

Dutch brewing company Heineken has extended its partnership with US-based supply chain management solutions provider JDA Software to strengthen its business planning capabilities.

The company has been working with JDA for more than five years for its large-scale cloud-based digital planning transformation.

JDA Software EMEA president Johan Reventberg said:  “We’ve formed a strategic relationship with Heineken with a foundation built on trust and openness, which is highly critical as we develop the next phase in their IBP roadmap.

“With a clear roadmap for the future, Heineken is well-positioned to continue driving a leadership position in the market, while delivering superior customer levels across all its 70+ markets.”

By extending its partnership with JDA, Heineken aims to upgrade its business by transitioning its sales and operations planning (S&OP) model to an integrated business planning (IBP) model.

Under the model, the company will combine its sales, marketing and finance, as well as supply chain and procurement to improve decision-making and plan for the future.

Heineken global customer service / logistics / planning senior director Joost Luijbregts said: “We have some of the most complex and volatile markets in the world and have been working with JDA to make faster, more well-informed decisions, which directly impact everyone in the value chain.

“With JDA, we have taken big steps forward – fundamentally changing the way we plan our business in terms of S&OP and scenario planning. As our partnership with JDA continues to strengthen, I am looking forward to working with JDA on our journey towards IBP.”

Recently, Heineken has expanded JDA footprint in five European countries including Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Poland and France.

Since the expansion, the company has improved its forecast accuracy, as well as achieved a reduction in stock-outs and improved inventory turns and productivity.

Going forward, Heineken aims to introduce the integrated JDA solution at various locations worldwide.

Furthermore, the company plans to begin a pilot project using JDA Luminate Demand Edge and will harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

In September, Heineken España signed an agreement with Spanish electric utility company Iberdrola, allowing the former to brew its beers using only renewable energy.