FDBusiness.com

Anheuser-Busch InBev has expanded its relationship with IBM to make use of the latter’s global supply management capabilities in cloud-based e-sourcing solutions. AB InBev has operations across six geographic zones and manages a portfolio of more than 200 beer brands, holding the number one or number two market position in 19 countries.

In its procurement operations, AB InBev is a leader in embracing and embedding best practices in eSourcing as a way of ensuring process consistency and auditability around the world with its supply base, completing more than 25,000 eAuctions in seven different languages during 2011 alone.

“AB InBev is a focused organization that sees the benefits of strategically managing our supply base globally while recognizing the nuances of each geographic region we serve. Additionally, we continually strive to maintain strong financial discipline in our procurement activities,” says Mark Roberts, global eSourcing center director at AB InBev. “With IBM Emptoris, we have found that perfect supply management mechanism and valued partnership to invest in ideas together, and nurture them for the long-term as we support operations in both developed and emerging markets.”

AB inBev has signed a new five-year contract to extend its use of IBM Emptoris solutions – part of IBM’s Smarter Commerce initiative – in the cloud to help streamline supplier sourcing and contract management. Smarter Commerce transforms how companies manage and swiftly adapt to customer and industry trends across procurement, marketing, selling and service processes to address the challenges brought on by the acceleration in online connectivity and speed, combined with the explosion of information and unprecedented access to it. IBM Emptoris solutions enable companies to transform their procurement operations by developing the right procurement strategy that will cut costs and mitigate supply risk.

For AB InBev, that transformation includes utilizing IBM Emptoris Sourcing and Contract Management solutions across their global enterprise to achieve significant breakthroughs in supply chain visibility. In order to achieve its high eAuctions volume, AB InBev has trained more than 250 employees globally in auction strategies, which has resulted in breakthrough activities in Marketing and Media. The organization deployed Emptoris Contract Management globally in under six months. 

“As a truly global organization that manages many thousands of suppliers worldwide, AB InBev is drawing on its global procurement knowledge and best practices while ensuring all vendor relationships and contracts are in full compliance. We are proud to continue helping them raise the bar in strategic supply management,” says Patrick D Quirk, chief executive of IBM Emptoris.

More than 350 Global 2000 companies rely on IBM Emptoris for its strategic spend, supply and contract management solutions.