Smurfit Kappa

Sofon delivers error-free quotation documents in a language of choice

Karin Mertens
MANAGER SHARED SERVICES

Rob Bakkers
SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYST

5 questions for 2 Sofon Users

1 What does Smurfit Kappa do?

Mertens: “We make corrugated cardboard packaging for the vegetable, fruit, flower, fish, chicken and meat markets. Both for consumer and transport packaging. The consumer packaging has real market value. Our vegetable and fruit packaging are, for example, very colourful and eye-catching, so that they are easily recognized in supermarkets. Our transport packaging is used for transport only and therefore looks quite plain.”


2 Which Smurfit Kappa companies use Sofon?

Mertens: “In the time that Smurfit and Kappa were not yet merged, Sofon was already being used by Kappa. Kappa Interbox and Kappa Trimbach started using Sofon at the same time. Kappa GSF followed some time later, but applied Sofon a little differently, resulting in a different calculation method. After the merger – about 2.5 years ago – we felt a need for more uniform work methods. We then decided to use Sofon in the same way at all three locations. The new model went live last September. Now we can calculate prices in the same way in all of the Benelux.”


3 Why was Sofon purchased?

Bakkers: “Before Sofon, we did not have a uniform calculation system in the various companies. Our system was obsolete, not user-friendly and difficult to maintain. Different cost prices would be generated for the same product by this system. This was caused by different calculation methods or because costs were allocated differently. Some clients would ask for prices at two locations and pick the cheapest one. Thanks to Sofon, this is no longer possible as prices are the same at all of our locations. Apart from calculations, we also use Sofon to generate quotations. Our old calculation system could not generate quotation documents. Now these documents – one internal calculation and a quotation for the customer – are error-free and available in a language of choice: Dutch, English, German or French. That’s the good thing about Sofon!


4 How do you like Sofon?

Bakkers: “Sofon is good to work with! Sofon is very customer-friendly and easy to maintain. Producing a quotation is also quick work. It takes only a few minutes to do if the basic data are known, such as the delivery location. Another good thing is that you can organize Sofon to suit your own needs and build a custom-made solution with a standard package.”


5 How does the future look with Sofon?

Mertens: “It is clear to us that we can do much more with Sofon than we do now. In the future, we would like to follow up quotations with Sofon. This will give us insight into the status of quotations and clarity on when we actually score an order. Apart from this, we want to implement Sofon for our English sister company. We expect to go live there in 2009. That will make it possible for that division to profit from the advantages that Sofon offers.”