Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is enabling the manufacturing manufacturing companies improve their processes and increase their productivity. This was said at the  CIO100 Symposium where three case studies from the manufacturing companies were made. The three companies demonstrated how they have embrace ICT as a solution to their operational challenges.

Coca Cola East Africa for instance has invested in a mobile-based distribution system to help them manage their retail network. The company wanted a solution that is capable of accelerating growth. But there was need to understand their retail network before engaging in any expansionist plans. The company needed a solution that will properly manage their stocks and their distributed sales channel.

They settled on a solution that runs on mobile phones and laptops in response to accessibility and IT-literacy issues of their distributors.

John Midwa, the IT Client Engagement Manager sees this simple application as a success because the company was able to accurately analyse brand demand and increase the number of transactions per day among other benefits.

BIDCO Oils Company, a manufacture of edible oils, on the other hand saw the need to add a second helping in their ERP system which will help double their sales. They called this solution, Pamoja Collaboration suite. While the ERP is the bridge between the company and the distributors of its products, Pamoja,  links the distributors with the outlets.

With this kind of application, the distribution network had a continuous improvement scale. “The goal of achieving distribution and sales force effectiveness, and inventory management are the major drivers to this,” says Vishnu, Head of IT, BIDCO. At the end of the day they were able to accurately invoice their customers and implement schemes & claims.

Flora Kinuthia, Farmers Choice IT Manager explained why the company annual sales were boosted with the injection of ICT in their core business. Using a HP PDA they are able to monitor and control a sales person stock with generated hourly reports.

The solution was built to run on the existing platform and as added functionality to their ERP. The PDA handled by the sales person is synchronized to the server and the data collected can be accessed via a web page. This system is also linked with Mpesa where customers can pay for the products without necessarily paying cash.

“The company has over 30 sales persons who are using the PDA based solution in their daily sales”, says Flora.  Apart from the simplicity and reliability of this solution to push sales, it has a KRA supported printer.