In a world of fast-changing tastes and instant gratification, my can of favorite beverage had better be on the shelf. If not, the retailer and supplier will have lost a loyal customer. Direct Store Delivery (DSD) is a vital process that brings foods and beverages to the shelf. Mobilizing the DSD process makes the supply chain much more efficient, and ensures that the shopping experience is a pleasant one. In the world of enterprise mobility, mobile DSD is not a luxury—it is a must-have.

While SAP and other companies have solutions for DSD, the Mobile DSD (MDSD) area remains ripe for innovation. During our implementations of DSD and MDSD Solutions, customers have shared with us valuable feedback. The usability of MDSD solutions can be improved to enhance the sales and productivity of the delivery drivers. The User Interface can be simplified for data entry and screen navigation. In many cases, there is a need to re-engineer the process flow to meet our clients’ needs.

One area to improve is in Sales Order creation. Immediate Sales Order replication to SAP can trigger the follow up leading to faster order fulfillment. Another area to improve is Customer Surveys. During the store visit, the supplier personnel collects customer data via surveys. This survey data can be integrated with CRM systems like SAP CRM, which can be fed into BW, and analytics can be utilized to make better decisions.

Another insight from our customers is that it would be good to integrate the MDSD application with Asset Maintenance/Plant Maintenance systems to create and access Notifications. Many times, the drivers are doing multiple things —taking orders, merchandising as well as conducting maintenance and repairs on a variety of assets the supplier has deployed at the retailers – think of refrigerators as an example.

Some customers have unique requirements for mobilizing DSD, and only a custom MDSD solution will work. In these cases, we utilize our domain expertise and deliver a custom MDSD solution. We also give our customers the option of either an on-premise or in the cloud solution.

Read more: 5 Things To Consider For A Mobile Direct Store Delivery Implementation

Mobile DSD in conjunction with DSD has benefits for both the CP (consumer products) manufacturer and the retailer. The supplier can better monitor demand on the shelf, be more responsive, and better control merchandising and promotions. New products can be introduced better and innovations increase. The retailer in turn benefits from lower capital outlays and always having fast-moving items in stock.

So the next time you grab that beverage, thank the process that enables you to quench your thirst – Mobile DSD.

Note: This blog also appeared as a guest blog on Enterprise Mobile Strategies.