With multiple complex supply chains to manage, the firm has adopted new ERP tools to automate, streamline and sustain business objectives

Headquartered in Singapore, Olam Agri sources, trades, processes, and distributes essential food and agriculture products globally. It has a strong presence in high-growth emerging markets through its sales of grains and oilseeds; feed and protein; rice; cotton; wood and rubber products.

Given its broad business interests, the firm has to manage a complex supply chain. Its ability to monitor and optimize every link in the chain is crucial. Already running on cloud computing infrastructure, the firm has been continually digitalizing systems and eyeing more AI, business intelligence and automation technologies to improve quality control, productivity and customer service.

Said its Chief Digital and Information Officer, Shivram Ramakrishnan: “Our goal with the implementation of this new technology is to drive greater agility and innovation within our organization and ensure that we are well placed to meet the evolving needs of our customers and all other stakeholders.”

Ramakrishnan was referring to the firm’s recent cloud transformation program (announced on 16 Sep) to include “business AI” to boost progress on key business imperatives such as sustainability; process automation and streamlining — to build a more resilient, secure, and sustainable global food supply chain. Their enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform now even includes a feature called “business integrity screening” to sniff out anomalous supply chain activities; as well as predictive maintenance functions for critical equipment.

According to Verena Siow, President and Managing Director, SAP (Southeast Asia), Olam Agri’s ERP partner, the firm’s transition marks a pivotal step in its digital transformation journey, enabling it to “accelerate to innovate, and improve its operational efficiency and sustainability. By embracing the cloud, Olam Agri is not only future-proofing its processes with the seamless adoption of advanced technologies like AI, but it is also enhancing its ability to support farmers and farming communities, while driving greater sustainability across its global operations.”