CASE STUDY-Transforming Global Operations Streamlining Application Deployment for a Beverage Titan

Global companies face unique challenges when managing technology across multiple countries. One leading beverage manufacturer in the USA, with operations spanning 50 countries and a workforce of 167,000 employees, confronted this reality head-on. With 260 breweries producing 500 brands, the company needed to unify 14 custom applications to support its global facilities efficiently. This blog explores how the company tackled this complex task, the challenges it faced, and the impressive results achieved through a collaborative, standardized approach.

Global brewery facility showing interconnected production lines

The Challenge of Globalizing Custom Applications

Managing software for a company with such a vast footprint is no small feat. Each of the 14 custom applications was originally designed to meet local needs, resulting in a patchwork of configurations and user experiences. The company’s goal was to globalize these applications, ensuring they complied with international standards and supported multiple languages. This would allow every facility, regardless of location, to operate under a consistent framework.

Key challenges included:

• Core Configuration Changes: Each application needed adjustments to align with global standards, including regulatory compliance and operational consistency.

• Multi-language Support: The applications had to support various languages to serve employees in different countries effectively.

• User Experience Adaptation: The interface and workflows had to be intuitive and adaptable to local preferences and practices, making adoption easier for users worldwide.

  
  

Without addressing these challenges, the company risked inefficiencies, inconsistent data, and slower response times across its global operations.

Building a Collaborative Team for Success

To meet these challenges, the company partnered with BTG, working closely with internal employees and external consultants. This collaboration was crucial for understanding the nuances of each market and ensuring the solutions would be practical and scalable.

The team adopted a phased approach:

• Developing a Digital Template: They created a standardized application template that incorporated global standards and multi-language capabilities.

• Piloting in Select Markets: The team first tested the template in specific countries, often Canada or Brazil, to gather feedback and make necessary refinements.

• Global Rollout: After successful pilots, the refined template was replicated and deployed across other countries.

  
  

This approach allowed the team to learn from real-world use cases and adjust the applications before full-scale deployment, reducing risks and improving user satisfaction.

Reducing Deployment Time Dramatically

Before this initiative, launching a new application in a country took over eight months. The process involved customizing each application from scratch, testing, and training local teams. This long timeline slowed the company’s ability to respond to market changes and expand operations efficiently.

Using the standardized digital template and pilot-refine-replicate method, the team cut deployment time to as few as 10 weeks per country. This improvement brought several benefits:

• Faster Market Adaptation: The company could quickly introduce new applications in emerging markets or update existing ones.

• Consistent User Experience: Employees worldwide accessed applications with familiar interfaces and workflows, reducing training time.

• Cost Savings: Shorter deployment cycles lowered development and support costs.

  
  

This transformation demonstrated how a clear strategy and teamwork could overcome complex global IT challenges.

Practical Lessons from the Project

This case offers valuable insights for other global organizations facing similar challenges:

• Standardize Before Scaling: Developing a reusable template ensures consistency and speeds up future deployments.

• Pilot Early and Often: Testing in real markets helps identify issues and user preferences before full rollout.

• Collaborate Across Teams: Combining internal knowledge with external expertise creates well-rounded solutions.

• Focus on User Experience: Adapting applications to local needs encourages adoption and reduces resistance.

• Measure and Improve: Tracking deployment times and user feedback guides continuous improvement.

  
  

These principles can apply beyond software deployment to other areas of global operations.

Looking Ahead

The success of this beverage manufacturer’s application globalization sets a strong foundation for future digital initiatives. With a proven framework in place, the company can continue to expand its technology footprint efficiently, supporting its vast network of breweries and brands worldwide.

Organizations aiming to improve their global IT operations can learn from this example. By focusing on standardization, collaboration, and user-centric design, companies can reduce complexity and accelerate growth.

The next step for businesses in similar situations is to evaluate their current application landscape and identify opportunities to create reusable templates and pilot programs. This approach can unlock faster deployment, better compliance, and a more unified global workforce.