, a leading national food and beverage distributor with a network of over 6,000 distribution points, is embracing digital transformation to support its aggressive growth. Founded over 80 years ago, the company initially catered to Canadian consumers returning from WWII and European immigrants seeking authentic foods. Over the decades, Tree of Life has expanded significantly, both organically and through acquisitions.

Recognizing the need to modernize its aging IT systems, Tree of Life adopted a cloud-first approach to streamline operations and support future growth. Their top priority is migrating to a best-of-breed system that consolidates their existing legacy tools, simplifies their processes, while providing the scalability to support an agile business need for future growth.

One challenge they were facing was spending too much time pulling and cleansing data, leaving little time for timely, data-driven decisions. With real-time data, Tree of Life can better control inventory by accurately predicting demand fluctuations, ensuring they have the right products available at the right time. Tree of Life also needed to see efficiencies in route planning, optimized delivery scheduled and reduced transportation costs, one of their highest costs in the business.

Tree of Life turned to and to drive their digital transformation. A critical aspect of the partnership was the focus on streamlining integration. With many disparate systems that did not communicate with each other and mature internal processes, Tree of Life needed a solution that would support and amplify their processes, provide seamless integration, and have a robust ecosystem.

SAP, a leader in enterprise applications and business AI known for its innovation, provided Tree of Life with the tools and expertise to improve their wholesale distribution business.ĚýNTT DATA, an innovator of IT and business services, played a crucial role in implementation including bolstering the Tree of Life board’s confidence and facilitating open conversations between all partners. With Private Cloud edition, and NTT DATA’s expertise in the CPG, distribution and logistics industries, this collaboration is properly primed to navigate the complexities of implementing the digital platform and processes that will touch every aspect of Tree of Life’s business.

“We’re not just reacting to market changes – we’re anticipating them. By leveraging data and analytics, we’re building a more proactive and responsive supply chain. This means greater efficiency, improved forecasting, and a stronger ability to meet the evolving needs of our customers and suppliers.” said Christopher Parker, Senior Vice President, Information Technology and Operations, Tree of Life Canada. “Partnering with NTT DATA and SAP, our commitment to continuous improvement means more than just better numbers for our business. It translates directly to value for our customers and suppliers.

NTT DATA strongly believes that a successful digital transformation is a combination of the best technology coupled with the right people. “Transformation starts with a leading technology platform like SAP, paired with industry experts from NTT DATA, working together for a customer who is willing to change,” said Jason Mausberg, Managing Director, NTT DATA Business Solutions. “The Tree of Life team, from IT to senior leadership and Board of Directors, were ready and willing to change, and took a collaborative approach with their team and partners which will unleash new opportunities for their business and customers.”

Tree of Life is showcasing the power of technology in transforming wholesale distribution businesses. By leveraging AI and advanced ERP systems, companies like Tree of Life can optimize their operations, offer high-value services to their customers, and differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace. With the support of innovative technology partners, wholesale distributors can navigate industry challenges and achieve profitable growth in today’s fast-paced business environment.

Investing in the right technology and collaboration, wholesale companies can optimize their operations, differentiate their brand, and remain competitive in the industry. Parker’s advice to other mid-sized businesses looking to grow their operations, he said, “Businesses need to invest in the technology that will support their future selves and not be limited to who they are today. Our approach serves as a model for other companies looking to leverage technology for transformative growth.”

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“SAP’s ERP offering has long enabled end-to-end transparency across the businesses for the world’s leading companies. With GROW with SAP, we’re taking this to the next level for midsize companies with a tailored offering that helps them grow their business,” said Christian Klein, CEO and Member of the Executive Board of 51·çÁ÷SE. “GROW with 51·çÁ÷provides the agility and innovation midsize companies need not just today, but for their success in years to come.”

For 50 years, 51·çÁ÷has been working hand in hand with customers across every industry and using this expertise to benchmark and define best-in-class, industry-specific processes. GROW with 51·çÁ÷provides these preconfigured best practices that midsized companies can immediately adopt. Embedded artificial intelligence (AI) and automation capabilities mean customers see rapid results. The GROW with 51·çÁ÷offering also brings together 51·çÁ÷S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, with accelerated adoption services, a global community of experts, and free learning resources, helping customers go live in as little as four weeks.

Almost 70 per cent of 51·çÁ÷Canada’s ERP customers are midsized companies includingĚýĚýandĚý. “With the introduction of GROW with 51·çÁ÷we will further enableĚýCanadian high growth organizations to adopt cloud ERP and innovate in new ways,” said Gina Izumi, Senior Vice President, Growth Markets, 51·çÁ÷Canada.ĚýĚý“We are providing a platform for growth that will allow midsize businesses to meet today’s operational priorities while laying a scalable foundation for their future business needs.”

GROW with 51·çÁ÷also includes 51·çÁ÷Business Technology Platform, so customers can define their own processes in a cloud-native way using 51·çÁ÷Build. With 51·çÁ÷Build solutions, business users can create enterprise apps, automate processes, and design business sites without writing code, an important asset for those closest to the business who can create the solutions they need.

51·çÁ÷Canada’s partner ecosystem will also engage with customers around GROW with SAP.ĚýPartners such as a division of Syntax, and share the public cloud opportunity in Canada.

“51·çÁ÷S/4HANA Cloud public edition will be a game changer for midsized companies in Canada because it delivers the same powerful functionality 51·çÁ÷is known for at a cost competitive price. The public edition is largely preconfigured and that reduces our implementation effort and timeline. We’ve already had great success implementing public edition in Europe and now have projects in flight in Canada and the U.S.,” said Jamie Fryer, Chief Revenue Officer, Illumiti.

“Ask 100 customers what they need to move to the cloud and 90 per cent will say a predictable scope and timeframe,” said Jason Mausberg, Managing Director, NTT Data Business Solutions Inc., Canada. “It’s often fear of the unknown that holds a company back from reaching its potential. We can help them level-up by delivering a proven deployment process with a platform that’s cost effective and scalable.”

IDC research shows that many midmarket businesses find themselves growing rapidly and need their technology to grow with their business as they encounter the same issues related to global complexity as larger enterprise businesses.

“With GROW with SAP, 51·çÁ÷recognized they need to better fit the business and technology requirements of midsize companies looking for a cloud ERP solution,” said IDC enterprise software group vice president Mickey North Rizza. “This offering reengages the market with a refreshingly new opportunity to unlock the proven strength of SAP’s longtime understanding and leadership in the ERP space in the cloud.”

“When we develop a new product and we have it on 51·çÁ÷S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, with one push of the button, everyone sees the exact same prices, the localized naming, product data, sales for today and the expected sales next week. 51·çÁ÷S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, helps us get a complete picture of the stock, capacity and the delivery times, ensuring a more efficient business for RIHO and a better experience for our customers all over the world,” said Guy Claesen, CEO of RIHO.

Press ContactĚý

Natalie.Sauve@sap.com

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