IFS Cloud Transition: Project Boost
If someone were to tell you they are giving you a tool that will make your work simpler, more streamlined and connected, what would you say? “Bring it on,” that’s according to Mark Braun, Director of IT Applications and Solutions for Heaven Hill Brands.
With the help of third-party vendor, Arcwide, Mark is leading the charge for Heaven Hill’s year-long transition to IFS Cloud, a one-point technology platform that can be accessed from virtually anywhere. While the task at hand is large, Mark and his business partners Director, Customer Service & Data Integrity Kevin Andrew, Sr. Manager, Finance Transformation Stacy Clements, Sr. Manager, Forecasting & Scheduling Megan Reynolds, and Sr. Manager, Regulatory Compliance Bobby Lee are handling it in stride. They’ve even given the transition a name: Project Boost.
The newly updated, cloud-based system, IFS Cloud, takes several of our key business offerings and breaks down the traditional barriers across data sharing and management. Namely, the new system is identifying core services such as our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other key data management areas and consolidates them into a single platform where you can access critical data on demand.
“Why now?”
Since the original implementation of IFS, some two decades ago, there have been many integrations and modifications that have been made over the years, primarily as add-ons to the system. Fast forward to today, and as Heaven Hill has grown and integrated brands, it became very apparent that much was needed to be done to update the current system. The work that was still being done manually will now become automated allowing our teams to focus on more important areas of the business.
The new web-based platform is beginning its systemwide rollout in March of this year with a “go-live” date of 3Q FY24. The upgrades that are planned for Heaven Hill look nothing short of remarkable!
“How is this important to me?”
When first learning about the new IFS cloud operating system, it’s natural to ask exactly what it can do for YOU.
The new platform has enhanced reporting capabilities and offers better visibility across the system, such as precise data on how much whiskey is made every day, better understanding of grain loss and knowing precisely where trailers and pallets are in the supply chain. There is also increased uniformity in the data as well. Previously, some labels were named one thing in one system and another name in a different system. Now, data and data collection will be unified and simplified. For example, the Barrel Inventory Control system, or BIC, allows our marketing teams to track specific barrels in the warehouse with precise data. Where did that corn come from? The bottle? Our teams can literally follow the location of the whiskey in the system from grain to glass.
“How will this affect the business?”
Business processes will also be standardized across sites and incorporated into the platform. One tangible example of this will be that our finance team members can close out each month, and even annually, through a single platform. IFS Cloud improves reporting accuracy and access to unified financial data. It also provides one, common update system eliminating the continual need to update separate operating systems at different times throughout the year. Improvements can also be seen on the operations side, with a centralized source for production and inventory management and a dashboard that gives us real-time updates to better manage production lines.
Simply put, IFS Cloud will help us address real-world business needs with a one-stop approach to managing the data.
So far, the Project Boost team held a kick-off call for key stakeholders and has been busy meeting with IFS subject material experts during week-long workshops. Mark is in the process of touring departmental all-hands calls to build employee anticipation and buy-in. The team is doing a fantastic job implementing this transformative technology across the organization… and this is just the beginning.
“We’re investing in the future,” Mark said. “The business is growing and so are our business solution needs. The transition to IFS Cloud through Project Boost is just the start of an era of digital transformation that will drive ROI and help all of Heaven Hill work better together.”
