Specialist SAP consultancy Absoft has been selected as development partner by Scotland’s leading independent Scotch Whisky company, The Edrington Group, to assist them with a number of exciting e-commerce projects.
The Edrington concept, known as E-whisky.net, was piloted by two key distributors early in 2003. The next planned releases involve the implementation of an Order Capture application to allow Edrington distributors to procure point-of-sale promotional items. A subsequent phase will see the introduction of an e-Whisky portal to allow Edrington distributors to place their regular orders of whisky via the Internet.
Both solutions will utilise e-commerce functionality available from Edrington’s SAP system. The internet applications will integrate seamlessly with the back office functions of accounting and logistics to ensure efficient, streamlined processes and accuracy of data.
Edrington’s Director of IT, Alan Carlile, is enthusiastic about the benefits and disciplines of e-commerce for his organisation: “These solutions are all about helping us to develop closer, more effective relationships with our customers and partners on a global basis, which is a key strand of our business strategy. Edrington is committed to leveraging technology to achieve its aims. The addition of e-commerce facilities to run alongside our SAP system is a key step in enhancing the substantial benefits we already gain from the software.”
Edrington have been using SAP since 1999 and one of their leading whisky brands, The Macallan, features regularly in high-profile SAP advertisements, with the strapline “Macallan Runs SAP”. The Group’s SAP solution incorporates functionality to support all of the key functions of the business, from manufacturing and supply chain management through to finance and human resources. It is utilised at Edrington’s two main sites in Glasgow and Perth, and key distilleries at Highland Park (Orkney), The Macallan on Speyside and The Famous Grouse Experience at Crieff.
Alan Carlile is very positive about Absoft’s involvement in these e-commerce projects: “We initially contracted Absoft to work on our Management Information project, which utilised the Business Warehouse module of our SAP system. The work Absoft undertook was of an exceptionally high quality and the relationship between the two companies has developed well. It was a natural progression to involve Absoft in our e-commerce plans. Absoft offer excellent calibre staff, with the leading edge skills required for these projects. I look forward to the results of our project later this year – and continuing to develop the partnership.”
Susie Davison, Absoft’s Consultancy Director, has played a key role in gaining the Edrington business and retains a supervisory role on the projects: “I’m delighted that Absoft has the opportunity to work with Edrington on these ground-breaking projects. It’s a pleasure to work with a client who has genuine vision about e-commerce and how it can be good for their business. Having had the foresight to buy into mySAP.com early, Edrington created for themselves a readymade e-business platform. Absoft’s job now is to construct the Internet Sales and e-Whisky solutions to deliver the desired benefits.
“From Absoft’s viewpoint, our relationship with Edrington signals another positive step in our strategy of expanding our SAP consultancy business into new vertical markets. Much of our business is actually conducted outwith Scotland and the rest of the UK, and it is therefore particularly pleasing to gain a new customer in our home territory.”
