Utilising SAP ERP Data in Databricks for Real-Time Analytics
GSK enhances supply chain efficiency with real-time SAP analytics using Fivetran and Databricks
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged.
Background
GSK, a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company headquartered in London, employs over 69,000 people and operates in more than 80 countries. Last year, GSK achieved revenues exceeding £29 billion while serving around 2 billion people globally.
The Challenge
GSK’s Supply Chain Management team faced significant challenges stemming from the complexity of managing 40+ manufacturing sites, some of which were organically grown while others were acquired. The data was siloed across numerous platforms, leading to:
Lack of timely analytics on critical manufacturing metrics such as stock levels, economic order quantities (EOQs), costs, quality control, and logistics.
Inability to perform log-based Change Data Capture (CDC) due to internal policies restricting access to log files.
Delays caused by prolonged decision-making on cloud policies, ruling out the use of traditional SaaS solutions.
These challenges necessitated a solution that ensured compliance with GSK’s stringent data governance policies while enabling real-time analytics capabilities.
The Solution
GSK conducted a comprehensive market evaluation to identify a technology capable of replicating SAP data into Databricks in compliance with their requirements. They found no single solution capable of meeting all their needs. An integrated solution combining a number of technologies was determined to be the best solution.
The solution GSK deployed uses Fivetran HVR for replication of SAP ERP data into Databricks for transformation to analytics ready data for real-time insights. This solution allows GSK to:
Replicate SAP data into Databricks without accessing SAP log files, adhering to internal data governance policies.
Maintain sensitive data entirely within their environment, ensuring compliance with stringent regulatory standards.
Customer Business Outcomes
The implementation of Fivetran and Databricks empowered GSK with near real-time SAP analytics, enabling the following benefits:
Cost Reduction: A 5% reduction in manufacturing costs.
Optimized Logistics: Enabled just-in-time stock delivery and improved stock level accuracy.
Enhanced Efficiency: Improved logistics routing and reduced waste, targeting up to a 30% quality improvement.
Supplier Rationalisation: Streamlined supplier counts based on quality and location metrics.
Faster Time to Market: Targeted a 20% reduction in time to market for new products.
Conclusion
GSK’s journey demonstrates the transformative potential of integrating SAP ERP data into Databricks for real-time analytics. By overcoming technical and regulatory challenges, Fivetran and Databricks delivered measurable business outcomes that optimized GSK’s supply chain operations and positioned them for sustained success.
