We assisted on the integrated reporting to improve gross margin variance analysis through systems integration. Due to the scale and complexity of the business, two steps were needed to get good quality data into the new system:

• Step 1. Cleanse all their 40,000 product SKUs. Agreeing on a format to accurately categorise precisely each one in terms of brand, region and product. So, everyone would follow a consistent formula to clean the data.

• Step 2. Check the data for the last three years – anything related to the p&l balance sheet, expenses, marketing expenses – alongside the current data to reconcile and quality check to ensure the accurate migration of data from the old to the new system.

• Coordinate workshops, presentations, webinars and training sessions to teach every market how to consistently data cleanse. Bringing together people from the supply chain, finance and commercial teams in each country.

• Build positive relationships and adapt to cultural sensitivities, customising communication to deliver in a neutral, clear and concise style, so everyone knew what was needed.

• Apply a project management approach that sold the system’s benefits, so every employee understood their exact role and the project’s impact to deliver to challenging timelines.

• Over nine months, we were able to support the client to go live with the new system.

• Data for 40,000 SKUs were accurately categorised, cleansed and migrated.

• Global functional teams across 85 countries were kept on track to deliver.