IBM Case Studies Saint-Gobain CPS: Giving clients real-time order status updates through innovative mobile apps

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	Saint-Gobain CPS: Giving clients real-time order status updates through innovative mobile apps IBM

Saint-Gobain CPS: Giving clients real-time order status updates through innovative mobile apps

IBM

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
Applicable Industries	Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases	Supply Chain Visibility Track & Trace of Assets
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	Saint-Gobain CPS, a global provider of advanced materials for various industries, was facing a challenge in providing accurate and timely information about delivery schedules and status to its clients. The company had little visibility of the status of goods once they were loaded onto trucks at the factory and until they were delivered to client sites. This lack of transparency led to problems such as delayed deliveries, damaged goods in transit, and inefficiencies in the delivery chain. The company's clients, who were looking to reduce costs by holding less stock in their warehouses, needed better information on the timing of deliveries to avoid out-of-stock situations and unnecessary waiting times for deliveries. Read More
About Customer	Saint-Gobain is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of advanced materials for the construction, automotive, transportation, and packaging industries. The company operates through high-profile brands including ISOVER, PAM, Weber, Placo, Gyproc, and CertainTeed. The Saint-Gobain Construction Products Sector (CPS) offers interior and exterior solutions to enhance the comfort of commercial buildings and homes. With a global footprint, Saint-Gobain CPS operates in 64 countries and employs nearly 190,000 people. In 2013, the company achieved sales of EUR42 billion. Read More
Solution	To address these challenges, Saint-Gobain CPS engaged IBM Global Business Services to design and implement iOS and Android mobile apps, using IBM MobileFirst technology for app development and IBM WebSphere Cast Iron to integrate with SAP ERP. The solution consists of a mobile app for clients to check the status of their deliveries, a web portal for clients who prefer not to use the mobile app, a second mobile app for delivery drivers to input their estimated arrival time and provide updates on any unforeseen delays, and an intranet portal for the Saint-Gobain CPS service desk. The mobile apps and web portals provide real-time delivery status, saving time and effort for Saint-Gobain CPS, its haulers, and clients. They also offer full visibility into the delivery chain and advance warning of delayed deliveries, improving efficiency. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms

Applicable Industries

Construction & Infrastructure

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Supply Chain Visibility

Track & Trace of Assets

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

Saint-Gobain CPS, a global provider of advanced materials for various industries, was facing a challenge in providing accurate and timely information about delivery schedules and status to its clients. The company had little visibility of the status of goods once they were loaded onto trucks at the factory and until they were delivered to client sites. This lack of transparency led to problems such as delayed deliveries, damaged goods in transit, and inefficiencies in the delivery chain. The company's clients, who were looking to reduce costs by holding less stock in their warehouses, needed better information on the timing of deliveries to avoid out-of-stock situations and unnecessary waiting times for deliveries.

About Customer

Saint-Gobain is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of advanced materials for the construction, automotive, transportation, and packaging industries. The company operates through high-profile brands including ISOVER, PAM, Weber, Placo, Gyproc, and CertainTeed. The Saint-Gobain Construction Products Sector (CPS) offers interior and exterior solutions to enhance the comfort of commercial buildings and homes. With a global footprint, Saint-Gobain CPS operates in 64 countries and employs nearly 190,000 people. In 2013, the company achieved sales of EUR42 billion.

Solution

To address these challenges, Saint-Gobain CPS engaged IBM Global Business Services to design and implement iOS and Android mobile apps, using IBM MobileFirst technology for app development and IBM WebSphere Cast Iron to integrate with SAP ERP. The solution consists of a mobile app for clients to check the status of their deliveries, a web portal for clients who prefer not to use the mobile app, a second mobile app for delivery drivers to input their estimated arrival time and provide updates on any unforeseen delays, and an intranet portal for the Saint-Gobain CPS service desk. The mobile apps and web portals provide real-time delivery status, saving time and effort for Saint-Gobain CPS, its haulers, and clients. They also offer full visibility into the delivery chain and advance warning of delayed deliveries, improving efficiency.

Impact #1	The new mobile apps and web portals have enabled Saint-Gobain CPS to provide clients with more accurate and timely information about delivery status and schedules.
Impact #2	The solution has increased efficiency throughout the entire delivery chain by reducing the time spent waiting for delayed shipments.
Impact #3	The company has gained a better picture of the end-to-end supply chain, bringing full transparency to what was previously an opaque stage between the dispatch of goods and their arrival at the client site.

Impact #1

The new mobile apps and web portals have enabled Saint-Gobain CPS to provide clients with more accurate and timely information about delivery status and schedules.

Impact #2

The solution has increased efficiency throughout the entire delivery chain by reducing the time spent waiting for delayed shipments.

Impact #3

The company has gained a better picture of the end-to-end supply chain, bringing full transparency to what was previously an opaque stage between the dispatch of goods and their arrival at the client site.

Benefit #1	Before the introduction of the new platform, it could take as much as one hour for a client to get a response to a question about delivery schedules. Today, clients have all the information they need instantly at their fingertips—effectively more than a 99.9 percent improvement.
Benefit #2	For delivery drivers, the mobile app makes it easy to keep clients informed about their progress and about any unexpected delays, to the extent that some companies have discontinued their costly telematics solutions in favor of this more simple approach.

Benefit #1

Before the introduction of the new platform, it could take as much as one hour for a client to get a response to a question about delivery schedules. Today, clients have all the information they need instantly at their fingertips—effectively more than a 99.9 percent improvement.

Benefit #2

For delivery drivers, the mobile app makes it easy to keep clients informed about their progress and about any unexpected delays, to the extent that some companies have discontinued their costly telematics solutions in favor of this more simple approach.

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Overview

Saint-Gobain CPS: Giving clients real-time order status updates through innovative mobile apps

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit