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In the world of handcrafted beverages, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks stands as an Australian icon, renowned for its authentic brewing process and premium quality. When faced with the challenge of streamlining operations to meet growing customer demands, the company turned to EDIStech, a trusted partner in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solutions. This partnership has not only optimized Bundaberg’s processes but also reinforced its commitment to delivering exceptional value to its customers.
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Background:
Founded in 1968, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks has been crafting premium, non-alcoholic beverages in Bundaberg, Queensland. With a unique seven-day brewing process and a focus on real ingredients sourced locally, the company has built a reputation for quality and authenticity. Today, Bundaberg’s beverages, including their iconic Ginger Beer, are enjoyed by consumers in over 30 countries.
“We're a family-owned business with over 50 years of tradition, and one of our core values is meeting our customers’ needs,” says Paul Fox, IT Operations Manager at Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.
Background: EDIStech
Since 1985, EDIStech has been a leader in providing secure and scalable EDI solutions to businesses across industries, including retail, manufacturing, and healthcare. Headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, with operations in Brisbane, Australia, EDIStech specializes in simplifying complex business transactions, enhancing productivity, and ensuring seamless integration between trading partners.
“We’re not just a service provider; we act as an extension of our clients’ IT departments,” explains EDIStech. “Our focus is on delivering tailored solutions that reduce manual processes and improve operational efficiency.”
The Challenge: Modernizing Processes to Meet Customer Demands
With over 20 years at Bundaberg, Paul Fox has seen the company evolve in many ways. However, as customer requirements became increasingly sophisticated, it became clear that manual processes and customer-specific portals were no longer sustainable.
“We were doing a full document exchange with a number of customers both locally in Australia and New Zealand and overseas for markets like the US,” Paul explains. “Customer orders, invoices—it was all very manual and time-consuming. Some customers even had their own portals, requiring us to log in and enter data for each one. It wasn’t efficient.”
Moreover, the stakes were high. “For some customers, if we didn’t meet their requirements, they would charge us fees—up to $30 per invoice—or even refuse to do business with us. It was clear we needed to implement a robust EDI solution.”
The Solution: Partnering with EDIStech
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks chose EDIStech as their EDI provider, leveraging their proven expertise and existing templates to expedite the implementation process. The decision was influenced by EDIStech’s partnership with Attura, Bundaberg’s ERP support consultants.
“Basically, it felt like a no-brainer due to their experience and existing templates,” Paul shares. “We just had that known quantity with EDIStech, given who they'd worked with before. They mentioned how good the team was to work with, and we certainly found that.”
The implementation process included weekly and fortnightly meetings to ensure smooth onboarding. “The EDIStech team was always super helpful, providing feedback on what had been done with customers in previous experiences,” Paul says. “They understood our requirements and guided us through each step.”
The Results: Efficiency, Accuracy, and Customer Satisfaction
Streamlined Operations: The implementation of EDI technology eliminated manual data entry and consolidated customer-specific portals. “We can now send and receive documents electronically, reducing errors and speeding up processes,” Paul explains.
Improved Cash Flow: “There have been significant improvements in getting invoices through to customers, which has positively impacted our cash flow,” Paul notes.
Cost Savings: By avoiding penalties for non-compliance with customer requirements, Bundaberg has saved substantial costs.
Scalability: The EDIStech platform now manages up to 70% of Bundaberg’s domestic product transactions. “They’re our partner of choice when it comes to EDI platforms,” Paul affirms. “Their fixed-fee engagement model gives us upfront visibility on costs, so we can onboard new customers quickly and confidently.”
Global Reach: EDI solutions have enabled Bundaberg to seamlessly conduct business with international customers, including those in the US and New Zealand.
Exceptional Support: “The team is quick to resolve issues and very responsive,” Paul highlights. “We haven’t faced any problems with time zones or communication, which is great.”
Looking Ahead: Advanced Shipping Notices
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks isn’t stopping there. The company is gearing up to implement Advanced Shipping Notices (ASNs) to achieve full EDI compliance with major Australian retailers like Woolworths and Coles.
“This will be a game-changer,” Paul says. “We’re aiming to complete the implementation by early next year, which will bring even more efficiency to our operations.”
A Trusted Partnership
Paul reflects on the value of working with EDIStech: “Their experience with our documents means they just need to adjust to the customer requirements, and we know they’ll get it done quickly. When new customers want to go live, EDIStech takes care of the initial discussions and makes it happen. It’s a seamless process.”
For Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, partnering with EDIStech has been instrumental in aligning their operations with their core value: meeting customer needs. Together, they’ve built a foundation for continued growth and success in an increasingly dynamic market.
For Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, partnering with EDIStech has helped align its operations with their core value: meeting customer needs. EDIStech's support has positioned them for continued growth in a competitive market.