Centrient Pharmaceuticals transforms planning with SAP IBP
What major challenges is your organization currently facing? Ask any business, in any sector, and chances are high that they’ll point to the supply chain.
At Centrient Pharmaceuticals, global supply chain planning used to rely heavily on manual work in Excel. With the implementation of SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP), the pharmaceutical producer modernized its approach to meet the demands of today’s fast-moving market.
About Centrient
Centrient Pharmaceuticals is the global business-to-business leader in sustainable, enzymatic antibiotics, next-generation statins and anti-fungals. They produce and sell intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), as well as our own tablets, capsules and other finished dosage forms (FDFs). Headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Centrient has accredited manufacturing sites in six locations and sales offices in eight locations around the Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, India, and China. They employ 2,200 people.
From Excel to SAP IBP
The journey toward intelligent planning didn’t start overnight. Back in 2021, Centrient took its first steps by moving from Excel-based planning to SAP IBP. At that stage, the focus was primarily on digitalization, not yet full optimization. The company introduced a simplified master data model and established a single source of truth across all production locations. SAP IBP provided real-time visibility into stock, production, and sales demand, making global planning more reliable and transparent. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the initial rollout was completed in just six months thanks to strong executive sponsorship and close collaboration with Flexso.
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According to Alica Klösges, "With SAP IBP, we’re finally planning in the 21st century. The automation significantly boosts accuracy and reliability."
Before SAP IBP, planning templates varied by site, and the Excel files were constantly evolving. "You have checks in place, but it’s not the same as a system-based approach. Manual changes built up over the years, creating inconsistencies."
"One of the key advantages now? Planners can generate new plans in just two minutes - almost entirely automated -giving them time to focus on exception management and continuous improvement."
Smarter planning with the optimizer
The first IBP implementation focused on digitalization, but optimization came later. In 2023, Centrient added the Response and Supply module to leverage IBP’s optimizer, a cost-based solver that delivers optimal planning based on priorities and constraints.
SAP ECC, the company’s ERP backbone, was also a key enabler. "The integration between ECC and IBP ensures both systems speak the same language."
"Since we had already built a foundation for supply planning in IBP, it made sense to expand. The optimizer enhances our ability to create smarter, scenario-based plans."
Close collaboration with Flexso
The collaboration with Flexso was central to both phases of the project. The 2021 rollout took place during the pandemic and followed a big-bang approach, which made change management difficult. "We learned the hard way that real change needs more than Teams calls."
The 2023 optimizer rollout followed a different strategy: a one-week proof-of-concept at the Spanish site with a cross-functional team. "This showed the business that it worked, which created buy-in. From that point, the collaboration with Flexso became even tighter," says Klösges. "Flexso brought expertise and challenged us when needed. It felt like one team," she adds.
Eric De Vriendt from Flexso agrees: "The proof-of-concept immediately revealed pain points, which accelerated implementation. We simply built the optimizer on top of the existing supply chain model."
The timeline? November for the POC, January for implementation, and a live pilot by April. "That’s incredibly fast for an optimizer rollout."
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"Flexso’s ability to challenge us was essential," Klösges notes. "As planners, we tend to want more detail. Flexso helped us simplify where possible and reminded us to focus on what really matters. Sometimes you need that helicopter view from a partner."
De Vriendt: "We always strive to find the right balance between complexity and usability. A solution that's too complex reduces adoption. Especially with optimizers, which can feel like a 'black box' to planners, clarity is key."
The human side: change management
One of the biggest hurdles? Change management.
"We’re a global company, and for many planners, Excel was their holy grail, their 'single source of truth'," says Klösges. "We were now asking them to trust a black box. That’s why leadership support was vital in driving adoption."
Real results
According to Klösges, the results speak for themselves:
Efficiency: Planners save time, allowing more focus on exceptions and what-if scenarios.
Accuracy: Plans are more reliable and connected across the supply chain.
Planner satisfaction: Time saved and easier adjustment processes lead to greater user confidence.
What’s next?
Currently, Centrient is rolling out the optimizer to other locations. The next step? Migrating to SAP S/4HANA. Klösges: "This will help us streamline operations, gain real-time insights, and achieve even deeper IBP integration. We’re also looking at expanding with inventory management and exploring AI applications."
De Vriendt adds, "An AI co-pilot based on SAP documentation and planner insights could be the next leap. Eventually, Joule - SAP’s generative AI - will assist in understanding optimizer outcomes."
Final tips
Start small: Focus on quick wins and scale gradually.
Understand your processes: Don’t let IT drive the project in isolation.
Prioritize change management: It’s as critical as the technology.
Choose the right partner: One who understands your business and challenges you to keep it simple.
From Excel chaos to IBP clarity, see what’s possible!
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