Nestlé completes first phase of world’s largest SAP upgrade to accelerate digital transformation
The company expects to roll out the system to the rest of its global operations within two years.
SWITZERLAND – Nestlé has completed the first phase of a major digital transformation with what it describes as the world’s largest-ever upgrade to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition.
The upgrade forms a key part of Nestlé’s strategy to enhance business agility through advanced technology and data integration.
By adopting the next-generation SAP system, the company aims to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) at scale, improve automation, and gain deeper business insights across all operations.
The system embeds SAP’s AI Copilot directly into Nestlé’s core business processes, enabling employees to access real-time insights, automate repetitive tasks, and make faster, more data-driven decisions.
According to Nestlé, the upgrade will help it better anticipate consumer and retailer needs while boosting efficiency in areas such as supply chain management, procurement, order fulfillment, and investment prioritization.
These improvements will also free up resources that can be reinvested into the company’s portfolio of global brands.
Nestlé Chief Financial Officer Anna Manz, who also oversees Integrated Business Services, said the upgrade supports the company’s goal of driving innovation and scaling new opportunities.
“Driving growth through innovation is a top priority,” she said. “We are transforming our business to invest more boldly in the best opportunities. This upgrade will help us build multi-year innovation pipelines, more agile production, and digital-first marketing and sales platforms for areas like cold coffee, therapeutic pet food, and modern cooking aids.”
The transformation is already live for more than 50,000 Nestlé users across 112 countries in the Asia, Oceania, and Africa regions.
The company expects to roll out the system to the rest of its global operations within two years, a pace it says is significantly faster than that of similarly sized peers.
Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, said the rollout demonstrates how large-scale innovation can drive strategic advantage.
“Nestlé’s go-live on SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition exemplifies how cutting-edge technology empowers global brands to anticipate consumer trends, optimize operations, and deliver exceptional experiences at scale,” he said.
Chris Wright, Head of Nestlé IT and Chief Information Officer, emphasized the strategic value of the transformation.
“Having a unified ERP backbone provides a common platform and data foundation that enhances visibility across the company. With AI and automation, we can bring new products to market faster and operate more efficiently across our entire value chain,” he said.
The upgraded SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system integrates Nestlé’s core business functions, from manufacturing and sales to finance, human resources, and logistics, into a single digital framework, forming the backbone of its global digital transformation.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
