The challenge

Royal FrieslandCampina is a global leader in the dairy industry, with a portfolio that includes milk, cheese, infant food, and dairy ingredients. After a major merger in 2008, the new entity employed over 24,000 people and distributed products to more than 100 countries. 

This rapid expansion created a significant challenge. The company struggled to maintain compliance with varying GFSI and retailer technical standards across its vast, global network. Workflows were duplicated, and there was no single source of truth for supplier information. 

RFC needed a cost-effective software solution to manage its complex supply chain, standardize processes, and provide clear oversight across all business units. 

The solution

Following a thorough due-diligence process, RFC selected Ideagen Food & Beverage to unify its supplier management. The goal was to deploy a single platform that could deliver global control while supporting local teams. 

The solution was designed to: 

• Standardize workflows: Mitigate process variations across different business units and countries. 
• Establish a single source of truth: Create a centralized, reliable database for all global supplier information. 
• Automate documentation: Reduce manual oversight by enabling suppliers to upload required documents directly. 
• Streamline pre-assessments: Save time and resources by automating the initial supplier evaluation process. 

Implementation and impact

The implementation was a collaborative effort. The Ideagen Professional Services team worked closely with RFC stakeholders at every level, from individual business units to the corporate group. 

The process involved recreating all records, programs, and raw materials within the Ideagen system to ensure an optimal deployment. After the go-live, our teams provided extended support to ensure the platform met critical business objectives and was adopted successfully. 

The impact was immediate: 

• Elimination of duplicated work: Centralized workflows removed redundant tasks across the business. 
• Reduced manual effort: Automated supplier documentation gathering freed up internal resources. 
• Improved efficiency: A standardized pre-assessment process saved valuable time and resources. 

The results

By implementing Ideagen Food & Beverage, RFC transformed its supply chain management, achieving significant gains in efficiency and productivity. 

Key outcomes include: 

• 85% reduction in paper-based records. 
• 43% decrease in costs related to global travel for audits and supplier verification. 
• 174% increase in labor productivity through streamlined and automated processes.

This strategic deployment gave RFC complete oversight of its supply chain, reinforcing its commitment to quality and safety across its global operations.