Tea for two?

Twinings Ovaltine, one of the world’s most iconic tea brands, has selected SAP to lead its transformation programme as it looks at ways it can better engage with its customers, while ensuring supply-chain reliability and operational efficiency.

At the heart of the solution sits RISE with SAP on Microsoft Azure, supported by SAP Business Technology Platform and SAP Ariba solutions which will digitalise procurement operations, and support Twinings Ovaltine as it looks to modernise its core capabilities from finance to manufacturing to logistics; all the elements needed to run a global business in a real-time, intelligent and agile manner.

Looking to avoid a drawn out IT implementation, Twinings Ovaltine turned to RISE with SAP for a quick deployment that delivered on speed to value. It also ensures Twinings Ovaltine is delivering on the internal standards the company sets itself and that any elements of its transformation programme aren’t just a re-implementation of ERP, but a game changing innovation. The RISE programme delivers on that promise, using standardisation alongside automation to guarantee it can meet the expectations of today’s ever-demanding consumers.

“When we started our transformation journey and reflected on what we wanted to do, it was never a technology conversation. It was a conversation about how do we get closer to our customers, understand what they want and how to deliver on that”, comments Sandeep Seeripat, Global Chief Information Officer at Twinings Ovaltine. “We need partners that are matching our business drive, and it’s clear SAP does that. While others can offer the technology, SAP really stood out with its understanding of our business objectives and how it can simultaneously deliver an experience to our customers that goes beyond expectation, whilst setting the platform for our growth agenda.”

With a process for making tea being refined for over 300 years, for Twinings Ovaltine tea is more than just a drink. It’s become a part of people’s daily lives and has satisfied generations of tea lovers, thanks to its 330+ varieties, and production facilities that manufacture anywhere between 45 million and 75 million tea bags per week.

Thanks to RISE with SAP, Twinings Ovaltine can deliver automation and simplification of business processes in the cloud, enhanced (consumer-grade) user experience, real-time data and insights, and near real-time sales, inventory and process visibility. This will enable the business to respond more adeptly to the needs and behaviours of its customers and the wider market.

As Michiel Verhoeven, UK & Ireland Managing Director of SAP, says: “The move to RISE with SAP is a simplification of an engagement Twinings Ovaltine already has with us, as well as establishing a service level that meets the demands of the organisation while delivering an upgrade path that reduces complexity across the business. We’re excited to continue our partnership with Twinings Ovaltine, a company with a rich history of innovation, and one that is now ideally placed to meet the needs of its growing customer base as it continues its legacy of being one of the most recognisable beverage brands in the world.”