Nestlé upgrades ERP system to set stage for AI, automation

Core Insights - Nestlé is implementing a more AI-focused ERP system to enhance order fulfillment and align supply with demand in real time for both in-store and online retailers [3][4] - The company plans to reduce costs by cutting 16,000 jobs, which represents 6% of its global workforce, with a significant portion of cuts affecting corporate roles [4] - The upgrade involves transitioning from the legacy SAP ECC system to SAP S/4HANA, with the first phase already completed across 112 countries and 50,000 employees [5][8] Company Strategy - The CEO of Nestlé indicated that the company has not been efficient historically and aims to improve decision-making through increased digitization and automation [4] - The deployment of the new ERP system is expected to provide more flexibility, capabilities, and insights, facilitating faster global product rollouts to meet customer needs [8] Technological Transition - Nestlé migrated its entire SAP ERP to the SAP Private Cloud in 2022, with plans to complete the S/4HANA installation over the next two years [5][8] - The new system will incorporate SAP's AI-powered assistant to enhance procurement, supply chain management, and order fulfillment efficiency [8]