Consumer Products

Consumer Products covers a wide range of industry verticals and various distribution channels. From consumer foods to white goods via fashion and electronics, this sector is very diverse. However it is characterised by a number of common traits:

• Multi-channel distribution
• Fragmented supply chains
• Complex and dynamic discounting and promotion
• Tight margins
• Heavy promotion and marketing spend

ERP for Consumer Product organisations

ERP is a core component of a dynamic consumer products business systems architecture. In a sector where velocity is key, a carefully selected and well implemented ERP can be a real driver of competitive advantage. Some of the key challenges that this environment poses to your ERP strategy include:

• Multiple billing and distribution paradigms
• Complex and flexible discounting and rebate requirements
• Dynamic forecasting needs
• Multiple inventory ownership paradigms

CRM for Consumer Product organisations

CRM can be a crucial tool for Consumer Products organisations, from managing customer satisfaction to understanding and influencing consumer sentiment. There are many challenges for CRM in a world where social media and mobile internet means that consumers may be communicating about your brands all of the time in ways that ill equipped organisations struggle to understand, quantify or influence.

Understanding what aspects of increasingly complex CRM offerings can best help you address these challenges is the first step. Once the right solution is selected, your challenge is to drive the change in your organisation to realise the potential of that investment.

Lumenia and Consumer Product Organisations

Lumenia has extensive experience of helping clients in this sector. We have worked on dozens of business systems projects in this sector at various stages of the systems lifecycle.  A sample set of our Consumer Products clients are listed below.

Client Testimonials

“We needed to develop a strategy for ERP in our operations in Ireland and the US. Lumenia delivered a comprehensive and very clear roadmap in a timely and professional manner. They work very effectively, combining deep ERP and process knowledge with an ability to engage with people at all levels of the organisation. I would have no hesitation in recommending Lumenia”.

John D'Arcy, CFO, Campbell Bewley Group

“Our ERP upgrade project was one of the major projects undertaken by the business last year, and as it was a number of years since the initial implementation we needed someone with the right skills and experience to guide us through the planning and execution of the project. We’ve worked with Lumenia over the years on many projects, so we were happy to engage them again. Lumenia advised us initially on setting up the project, putting a plan in place and negotiating with the vendor. Lumenia then provided an advisory and mentoring role for our implementation project team, giving us structure and guidance along the way as well as helping us foresee issues and manage potential risks. The project was very successful, being delivered on-time and on-budget, and the knowledge and experience gained by the project team will help us greatly with future ERP projects. I've no hesitation in recommending that anyone needing help with an ERP implementation or upgrade should talk to Lumenia first!”

Tara Canning, Systems Accountant, Kepak Convenience Foods

“Deciding whether to keep our existing ERP system or replace it with a new one was difficult. Lumenia have deep ERP knowledge and provided structure, objectivity and clarity of thought to help us to arrive at the right decision.  Highly recommended!”

Graham Wright, Systems Manager, Aimia Foods

"Jacob Fruitfield and Lumenia have been working together since 2002 on projects such as ERP Selection & Implementation; New Production Introduction; Business Intelligence; and Outsourcing. Lumenia’s approach is professional and methodical and, yet, it has allowed us to complete our projects on time and within budget. Our experience has been that the Lumenia consultants have extensive knowledge of system requirements and best practice; they have worked well with the various members of the project teams and can readily adopt a hands-on approach to the tasks. We have no reservations in recommending Lumenia to other companies."

Seamus Kearney, Managing Director, Jacob Fruitfield Food Group

"When we wanted to select a new ERP system for Pat the Baker we spoke first to Lumenia, as they have great experience in this area. Lumenia 's selection methodology made a lot of sense, and helped us to focus on our requirements throughout the process. The tender process allowed us to see clearly which systems best matched our requirements, and the scripted demonstrations meant that we got to see how well each shortlisted system could cope with our business. We had a cross-functional project team, which promoted buy-in to the process and meant that everyone's views were represented. Lumenia 's system selection methodology worked very well for us, and we're delighted that we chose to work with Lumenia."

Mary Farrell, Head of Finance, Pat the Baker