ScoutLab revealed surprising and inspiring solutions from outside the classic procurement domain
Ed Ayoola
MD Sales & Marketing Equipment –
Cross Enterprise Procurement Group,
The Coca-Cola Company
Unlocking cross-industry innovation
COCA-COLA’S SCOUTLAB JOURNEY
FMCG
Vertical
99
Startups
screened
10
Shortlist
solutions
1
Commercial pilots
completed
1
Awarded
contract
How ScoutLab helped Coca-Cola find cross-industry innovation
The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. As part of the company’s digital procurement transformation, they are constantly looking for external solutions and starting to take their cooperation with startups to the next level.
In 2021, Coca-Cola was looking for a cutting-edge equipment sourcing solution to automate the configure-to-quote process for its bottlers.
They needed a new partner to tap into this challenge after traditional approaches and analyst firms failed to find a niche solution to solve this challenge. That is where the collaboration with DPW began.
CHALLENGE
PORTFOLIO
Equipment Sourcing
June 2021
COCA-COLA’S SCOUTLAB STAKEHOLDERS
MD Sales & Marketing Equipment – Cross Enterprise Procurement Group
Senior Project Manager
EQUIPMENT SOURCING CHALLENGE.
CHALLENGE
Coca Cola was searching for a guided buying solution to automate the configure-to-quotes process for Sales and Marketing Equipment (SME) materials categories, e.g. coolers, vending machines. The solution needed to be scalable for Production Equipment (PE) and Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) categories, both catalogue and non-catalogue.
Coca-Cola needed a new approach to this challenge after traditional search methods and analyst firms failed to find a niche solution. That’s where the collaboration with DPW ScoutLab began.
SCOUT
DPW first worked directly with the Coca-Cola team to understand the complexities of the challenge and the failings of the search so far, enabling the ScoutLab team to provide an expert point of view on the scope of work. The scouting process was launched, initially reaching out across DPW’s procure-tech ecosystem and subsequently across other industries. Cross-industry collaboration – reaching startups beyond the procurement sector – is at the heart of ScoutLab’s approach and often where the smartest solutions are found.
Through the ScoutLab selection day, Coca-Cola discovered Elfsquad CPQ. Built for the manufacturing industry, Elfsquad CPQ connects sales and production processes, and enables sellers and buyers to configure complex products without errors.
SUCCESS
Elfsquad’s AI-based technology can be integrated with marketing, sales and operations teams, which has led to significant time savings and error reduction during the complex configure-to-quote process for its bottlers.
Elfsquad’s solution has also enhanced Coca Cola’s operational efficiency through automation and analytics. Eventually, this has resulted in providing bottler users a much more seamless experience in configuring and selecting the right product.
After a successful pilot, Coca-Cola awarded Elfsquad a contract with the goal to scale their solution across the Coca-Cola Company.
Solution or service provider? Register here