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Improved Data Quality Auditability Process Transparency

Digital Transformation Case Study: BERNER Group Product Data Management Automation

BERNER Group partnered with Expert Extend to streamline Complex Product Data Ecosystem Management, Driving Efficiency & Scalability

Master Data Management Use case using Robotic Process Automation

Executive Summary

The BERNER Group is a leading specialist for B2B chemical products in Europe. “Furthermore, we deliver over 100,000 premium products for repair, care and maintenance to our customers in the mobility, construction and industrial sectors to keep their businesses successful and running,” says Supratick Basu, Group IT Director, Digital Transformation & IT Central Functions. “With our strong brands BERNER, BTI by BERNER and CCS, we also offer industry-leading services that enable our customers to further drive their business forward.” Across five sales channels, the company creates an integrated omnichannel shopping experience and is available for B2B professionals 24/7 in 21 countries. 

BERNER’s previous master data process involved a high level of manual effort and included the complex management of thousands of materials and suppliers over disparate systems such as SAP, SharePoint, etc., which limited scalability. Expert Extend optimized the company’s product data ecosystem using Power Apps and robotic process automation by automating workflows and integrating data management. The solution improved efficiency, security, access control, auditability and data accuracy, delivering a robust, enterprise-ready system.

Why Expert Extend?

Managing our extensive product data across multiple systems was a complex, time-consuming challenge requiring high-quality, repetitive work. Expert Extend quickly understood our needs and delivered a sustainable solution that transformed our Complex Product Data Ecosystem Management. Team Expert Extend had autonomous and innovative approach. Their expertise has significantly improved our data accuracy and operational efficiency, making them a vital partner in our ongoing digital transformation.

Martin Ganser

Chief Digital Officer, Berner Group

We start with the “WHY”

We focus on your core challenges to deliver solutions that drive real value and impact.

Quick iterations & MVP approach

Fast, cost-effective MVP development that drives continuous improvement and maximizes impact.

Deep business focus and tech understanding

We understand the unique challenges to deliver innovative, scalable, and efficient IT solutions.

Turning customer focus into true partnership

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Sustainable solutions tailored to your needs

We build solutions that have ability to evolve and scale as per the future scope and make our partners independent and autonomous

Challenges in Product Data Management

BERNER Group’s material management and purchasing departments faced multiple challenges before. For example, they had to administrate the lifecycle of an vast & intricate product ecosystem. Handling operational processes was extremely time-consuming, especially since it involved a high level of manual effort. Manual data entry also increased the potential risk of errors.

Complex Product Lifecycle

Managing the lifecycle of a vast & intricate product ecosystem, encompassing everything from initial supplier creation to handling subsequent supplier changes, presented a substantial challenge.

Slow Process Execution Time

The overall business process, from sourcing raw materials and creating products to making them ready for sale, was inefficient and protracted.

Operational Bottlenecks

The monthly transfer of 1000’s of materials & 300 to 500 data categories from master files to SAP & SharePoint can take up to days or weeks or months, leading to operational bottlenecks & delays in procurement cycles.

Limited Scalability

The inability to increase headcount due to a hiring freeze created a significant challenge in managing increasing workloads and expanding operations.

Suboptimal Resource Allocation

Highly skilled procurement professionals were required to spend excessive time (10-12 hrs/week) on manual data tasks, diverting their focus from strategic sourcing & value creation.

Manual Data Errors

Manual data entry raised the risk of errors in product data, affecting decision-making and supplier relationships.

Expert Extend’s Strategic Approach

We have shown our employees the potential of how things can be done in the modern world, automating repetitive tasks. The Pilot was not just a technical implementation but also like an awareness campaign for innovation within Berner.

Supratick Basu

Group IT Director, Digital Transformation & IT Central Functions, Berner Group

Power Apps & Automation Solution Implementation

Expert Extend implemented an intelligent automation solution for BERNER Group, featuring a user-friendly Power Apps interface for streamlined data input and a robust RPA framework to automate critical data workflows across their complex product lifecycle, integrating seamlessly with SAP and SharePoint.

Results: 90% Error Reduction & Operational Excellence

This automation has significantly accelerated the BERNER Group's operations and reduced the time to market to just a few hours. In addition, data accuracy has been enhanced by minimising the risk of potential manual errors, allowing business teams to fully focus on strategic initiatives rather than dealing mundane IT system tasks.

Process Transformation:
From Manual to Automated

As-is process

  • User teams (Product Management Team, Sourcing Team & Compliance Team) enter the data (basic material data, supplier information, material specifications logistics data or regulatory data) to master excel in the SharePoint

  • The Data Management Team prepares data using predefined calculations such as price conversions, unit of measure conversions, and tax calculations.

  • The Data Management Team monitors the Excel file whenever there is a new entry or change.

  • The Data Management Team creates a template file for bulk data uploads, and with the help of the IT team, this data is uploaded to SAP.

  • If data is missing or contains errors, the data management team will notify users manually via email.

To-be process

  • Users (Product Management Team, Sourcing Team & Compliance Team) enter the data (basic material data, logistics data or regulatory data) to Master Data App (Power Apps)

  • RPA will validate and verify the data, prepare the data based on predefined calculations, upload the data to SAP

  • In case of missing data/errors, the RPA will notify the users via email.

Business Impact Metrics

Accelerated process execution times from weeks to days

Scalable solution for business volume growth

Data errors and duplications were reduced by over 90%

Improved auditability of changes enhancing transparency & compliance

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