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Workflow Automation Enhances New Belgium Brewing Co.'s Beer Release Processes
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
- Networks & Connectivity - 5G
Applicable Industries
- Packaging
Applicable Functions
- Procurement
Use Cases
- Leasing Finance Automation
- Material Handling Automation
The Challenge
New Belgium Brewing Co., a leading craft brewer in the United States, faced significant challenges as it expanded from producing five beers a year to over 30. The company's existing communication and planning methods, which relied heavily on email, meetings, and SharePoint, were proving inadequate for the increased scale of operations. The brewery was concerned about potential communication gaps and missed details that could hinder its success. The process of launching a new beer involved multiple departments, dozens of employees, and several processes, making it a complex task. The company's reliance on email communication and SharePoint to track tasks was slowing down the launch schedule, a risk the company could not afford in a competitive market with new breweries opening every year.
About The Customer
New Belgium Brewing Co., founded in 1991, has grown to become the fourth largest craft brewer in the United States. The company, known for popular brews like Ranger IPA and Fat Tire amber ale, generated $190 million in revenue in 2013. The company is a 100% employee-owned B-Corporation, with 570 employees. When the company was founded, there were German lagers and English ale, but very few breweries in the United States specialized in Belgian beers. The company's growth from producing five beers a year to over 30 a year presented significant challenges in terms of communication and planning for new product releases.
The Solution
New Belgium Brewing Co. identified workflow automation as the solution to its challenges. After researching various options, the company chose Nintex Workflow for SharePoint. The company implemented over 20 workflows for the coordination and scheduling of new brew releases, ensuring that no details were missed. This allowed New Belgium Brewing to respond quickly to market trends. The automation of processes for new beers and new packaging was made possible with Nintex Workflow. The ease of automating other brewery processes with Nintex Workflow allowed the company to handle a majority of it in-house, providing another significant advantage.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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