Bubbling to the top of their game
Optimizing Inventory, Boosting Efficiency, and Driving Sales with ketteQ’s Adaptive Planning Platform.
Overview
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. (CCBJI), the largest Coca-Cola bottler in Japan, produces and distributes 90% of Coca-Cola’s products nationwide. With over a million vending and fountain equipment pieces in their network, efficient management of these assets is vital. Vending machines and fountains contribute to 40% of total product demand in Japan, emphasizing the importance of operational efficiency. As a Salesforce customer, CCBJI sought to modernize its operations to meet growing market demands.
Relying on manual processes and decentralized decision-making, the company needed an adaptive planning solution powered by cutting-edge AI technology to streamline operations, improve inventory management, and boost productivity. They turned to ketteQ and its revolutionary PolymatiQ™-powered solutions to achieve these objectives.
At a glance
- Largest bottler in Japan
- Vending and fountain drinks represent 40% of the total demand for Coke products in the country
- Using Salesforce-enabled ketteQ demand, inventory and supply planning, Coke Japan achieved enhanced inventory availability
- Field technicians use ketteQ solution on their iPads, giving them better visibility and efficiency in scheduling repairs
- Achieved a 6% increase in first-time fix rate
- 15% reduction in inventory
The proximity, reach, density, and complexity of our vending operations pushed us to explore solutions. With 698,000 vending machines and a workforce of 1,200 involved in planning and servicing, vending accounts for 40% of our market sales. The challenge was creating a tech platform to drive growth in this area— a change in both technology and mindset. This co-partnership between ketteQ, Genpact, and CCBJI has been about learning what partners can do for us and leveraging the best technology and processes. It's a good match.
Challenge
Before ketteQ, CCBJI struggled to manage its extensive network of vending machines and fountain equipment. Over 1,200 field service technicians manually handled demand, inventory, and delivery planning, leading to inefficiencies, delayed responses, and sales losses. Lacking accurate forecasting, they maintained high inventory to avoid stockouts, tying up resources. Decentralized decision-making caused inconsistencies, with technicians using personal judgment for parts ordering. Their manual, spreadsheet-based planning processes were error-prone and slow, limiting responsiveness to market changes. CCBJI needed an integrated, AI-driven solution to centralize operations, provide real-time visibility, and dynamically adjust plans to meet changing market demands.
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Solution
ketteQ delivered a comprehensive Service Parts Planning solution integrated with its AI-powered Demand Planning and Forecasting platform, built on Salesforce and AWS. Central to this solution was ketteQ’s revolutionary PolymatiQ™ solver, utilizing AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics to evolve with market conditions. This adaptive solver provided CCBJI with a unified view of demand, inventory, and supply chain operations, enhancing decision-making through real-time insights.
Technicians were equipped with iPads running the ketteQ solution, which harnessed the PolymatiQ™ solver's capabilities to offer up-to-the-minute data on parts availability, demand forecasts, and repair schedules. This increased visibility empowered technicians to make informed, data-driven decisions on the go, improving service efficiency and reducing downtime. The ketteQ platform supported CCBJI's complex, multi-echelon distribution network, centralizing inventory management and ensuring parts availability precisely when and where needed.
The PolymatiQ™ solver’s advanced scenario analysis and tuning enabled CCBJI to prioritize refurbished or repaired parts, reducing costs and supporting sustainability initiatives. Automated workflows replaced manual planning, improving accuracy, reducing effort, and accelerating response to market changes.
Results
Implementing ketteQ's PolymatiQ™-driven solution delivered significant operational and financial improvements for CCBJI:
- 15% Reduction in Inventory
Centralized inventory management and the solver's accurate demand forecasting reduced excess stock, freeing up resources and lowering costs.
- 6% Increase in First-Time Fix Rates
Enhanced visibility into parts availability and repair schedules, powered by the PolymatiQ™ solver, allowed technicians to complete repairs more efficiently, reducing equipment downtime and improving customer satisfaction.
- Improved Technician Productivity
With real-time data access, technicians increased efficiency in scheduling repairs, lowering overall field service costs.
- Higher Fill Rates and Increased Sales
Automated workflows and PolymatiQ™-enabled forecasting ensured vending machines and fountains were consistently stocked with the right products, contributing to revenue growth.
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