Red Stripe makes digital investment to modernise brewery operations

Red Stripe has launched a new operational platform designed to modernise its brewery operations, improve productivity and strengthen competitiveness. 

The company did not disclose the size of the investment, up to print. 

The platform, called Digital Backbone, integrates production, inventory, warehousing, logistics and order management into one connected system, giving teams greater visibility across the operation and improving the speed and quality of decision-making.

Managing Director Daaf Van Tilburg said the investment reflects the growing importance of digitisation in helping businesses adapt, compete and grow.

"In today's environment, where businesses are facing rising costs, changing consumer demand and increasing pressure to move faster and operate more efficiently, having the right systems in place is critical," Van Tilburg said in a release. "This investment allows us to connect our operations more effectively, improve visibility across the value chain and make faster, better decisions."

The platform is expected to reduce manual processes, improve stock accuracy, streamline warehouse activity and strengthen order fulfilment, helping Red Stripe respond faster to market demand and improve product availability across Jamaica.

Red Stripe spent more than a year preparing for the implementation, working alongside regional and global teams to build, test and transition to the new system, replacing several legacy processes with more efficient and integrated digital workflows.

The company became the first brewery in the Heineken Americas region to implement the Digital Backbone platform.

Local Transition Manager Dr Cavell Francis said the system would bring immediate improvements to how teams work across the business.

"Many of the processes will now be more automated, reducing paperwork and improving turnaround times," Francis said. "Teams will also have access to more real-time information, which means faster responses, stronger coordination and better service delivery."

The Digital Backbone investment forms part of Red Stripe's continued modernisation programme at its Spanish Town Road brewery, building on recent investments to expand brewing capacity, strengthen returnable packaging operations, and upgrade fermentation and storage systems.

business@gleanerjm.com