In the bustling heart of New York, National Convenience Distributors (NCD), a retail distribution powerhouse with a revenue of $3 billion, embarked on a journey of transformation that would redefine efficiency, streamline operations, and empower data-driven decisions in the ever-evolving retail landscape.

The Challenge:
With a rich legacy spanning over 150 years, NCD recognized the need to evolve and modernize their operations to maintain their competitive edge. Serving independent store owners and large retail chains across multiple business units, including HLA Distributors, JPolep, and Allen Brothers, NCD grappled with complex supply chain dynamics, intricate pricing structures, and diverse customer demands.

The Solution:
To navigate these challenges and achieve a seamless transformation, NCD turned to Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, a modern, comprehensive solution that promised to reshape their operations and provide a unified platform for their diverse business entities.

Key Achievements:
1.    Standardizing to One Unified Platform: With NCD consisting of three distinct companies, the adoption of Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP provided a common platform to align operations, consolidate processes, and achieve a unified view across the organization.

2.    Streamlined Procurement: The automation of NCD's procure-to-pay process, including purchase order creation, supplier management, and invoice processing, enhanced accuracy, reduced paperwork, and enforced procurement policies. A custom purchase order entry form streamlined the purchasing process and reduced order placement time.

3.    Efficient Financial Management: Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), General Ledger (GL), and Fixed Assets (FA) were seamlessly managed using Oracle Fusion Cloud. AP automation improved visibility into payables and cash management, while AR automation enhanced the order-to-cash process. GL served as the central repository for financial transactions, providing real-time visibility into financial health, and FA module efficiently managed assets throughout their lifecycle.

4.    Optimized Inventory and Product Data: The Inventory Management/Product Data Hub module enabled NCD to manage inventory levels efficiently, reduce stockouts, and maintain accurate product data. A custom product rule was developed to ensure product data accuracy through duplicate barcode checks.

5.    Enhanced Order Management: NCD gained the ability to capture customer orders from various channels, route them based on predefined workflows, and provide real-time order status visibility to sales representatives and customers. Robust pricing capabilities facilitated dynamic pricing, discount management, and optimized pricing strategies.

6.    Third-Party Integrations: Integration with mobile apps like Ignite and Pepperi, channel sales systems, and EDI streamlined the flow of data and communication, creating a seamless customer experience.

Results and Benefits:
Through the strategic adoption of Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, NCD witnessed a transformation that redefined their operational landscape.

Benefits included:

•    Real-time data reconciliation and faster financial reporting for informed decision-making.

•    Tight control over inventory and purchasing processes, resulting in operational efficiency.
•    Unified reporting using Oracle Cloud's reporting tool (OTBI) and Power BI, enhancing financial transparency and flexibility.

•    A single platform to cater to diverse business entities, fostering standardized processes and collaboration.

While specific savings numbers weren't shared, the implementation of Oracle Cloud ERP undoubtedly resulted in improved process efficiency, enhanced data-driven decision-making, and positioned NCD to navigate the future of retail distribution with agility and confidence.