We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • ::COVID-19 COVERAGE::
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • Upload your video
  • BLOGS & MORE
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • SCQ Forum
      • Reflections
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • Upload your video
  • BLOGS & MORE
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • SCQ Forum
      • Reflections
    • Mobile Apps
Home » How Unilever funds supply chain innovation
Forward Thinking

How Unilever funds supply chain innovation

June 4, 2018
Susan Lacefield
No Comments

Many traditional supply chains organizations are feeling the pressure to be more innovative and adopt new technologies and processes that will help them evolve into a digital supply chain. But it can be hard to know how to translate this desire for innovation into being a business that actually implements innovations.

One small way that consumer packaged goods giant Unilever is encouraging its employees to be more innovative is through its "Digifund" microfunding program. Unilever challenged its employees to submit supply chain innovation requests that could be accomplished for a small amount of money—10,000 euros or less. Employees had to submit a four-minute video that answered three questions. The requests were either approved or denied and received funding within 48 hours.

Speaking about the program at the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference in mid-May, Ana Dzura, vice president of planning, analytics, and customer service excellence at Unilever, called the effort "a crazy experiment." "We felt we had to create a digital culture that was more experimental and had more of an external focus," she said.

Seventy percent of those ideas have been implemented and went live in under eight months. Many of the projects were small experimental efforts that provide the company a way to learn about new technologies. For example, one project focused on using machine learning and advanced analytics to take data from one customer in one country to improve product availability on the shelf. The effort looked at 2,000 stock keeping units across 500 stores. The effort improved product availability and saved time and money through automating the data analysis.

  • Related Articles

    How to better prepare your supply chain for the next extreme event

    How Ford is collaborating with suppliers to green its supply chain

    Modex keynote provides a how-to guide to "disrupting yourself"

Susan Lacefield is Executive Editor of CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly.

Recent Articles by Susan Lacefield

New charitable organization looks to provide funding for pursuing a career in supply chain management

Riders on the storm

The master supply chain builder

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • The 3PL industry: time to reset

  • Supply chain resiliency starts with supplier mapping

  • Freight market growth expected to slow in 2021

  • Seizing the helm

  • The Top Supply Chain Pains That You Should Address For a Healthier 2021

Featured Video

Be8de8b1 9bd3 48d6 9400 0bf476fd1f5d

Optimization Through Lean Management 

Viewer Contributed
Uncertain times can put a tremendous strain on your business’s people, processes and supply chains. However, operations can mitigate some of these factors by adopting lean management principles and instilling a culture of continuous improvement. Raymond Lean Management Manager of Solutions and Support Centers Keith...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • The Top Supply Chain Pains That You Should Address For a Healthier 2021

  • Research Report: New Rules for Supply Chain Insights, Collaboration and Overall Resiliency

  • Logistics 2030 – Navigating a Disruptive Decade (Year 2 Report)

View More

Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

Get Your Subscription
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • E-NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2021. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing