It’s likely that you use a product distributed by Reyes Holdings every day. Many people may not realize it, but Reyes Holdings is responsible for the distribution of Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. It is also the largest beer distributor in the United States.
At Stibo Systems' recent Connect event, Brian Lee, Director of Data Management at Reyes Holdings, took the stage for a fireside chat to share the company’s journey with master data management (MDM). The discussion provided valuable insights for anyone exploring MDM – whether you're just getting started or looking to enhance your current approach.
Why centralized data matters
Reyes Holdings faced a common challenge: data silos. With 15 different ERP systems, getting a single view of its customers was nearly impossible. Imagine having to update 115,000 customer records across 15 systems every time a change occurred.
This isn't just inefficient; it hinders your growth and impacts decision making. But when you centralize data and establish a single source of truth, you have the perfect foundation for real:
- Data quality
- Data consistency
- Data efficiency
Tackling Reyes Holdings' data challenges
The company's data challenges extended beyond customers. Legacy tools and systems within Reyes Holdings were unable to handle the demands of automation that were needed to position the business as a leader in American commerce.
Frequent acquisitions of businesses and maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly developing market further compounded Reyes Holdings’ need for an MDM system that would accommodate such tasks.
Inconsistent people data across its global HR operations added another layer of complexity. If you’re in a large organization, you’re probably not a stranger to these types of issues.
Implementing Stibo Systems' MDM solution
Reyes Holdings chose Stibo Systems Platform to tackle these challenges head-on. The company started with customer data, then expanded to product and people data, ultimately setting the benchmark for multidomain deployment of Stibo Systems’ MDM capabilities. Reyes Holdings now has a streamlined MDM platform and has taken massive steps forward in areas of efficiency and streamlined, governed processes.
“We are constantly evolving: We have our product, our customer and our people data in one environment, and it's helping us drive and meet all of our business goals.”Brian Lee, Director, Data Management Organization, Reyes Holdings
Key learnings from Reyes Holdings' MDM journey
Reyes Holdings' experience offers valuable lessons for any sizeable organization setting out on an implementation journey like this. Let’s zoom in on a couple of them.
Data cleanup is crucial
Reyes Holdings initially underestimated the time needed for data cleanup, a common pitfall in MDM implementations. Brian's advice? Double your estimated cleanup time. This ensures a smoother rollout and better long-term results.
“My advice to anybody that is just starting out with their implementation is to take a few minutes, look at your project plan, look at what you've allocated for data cleanup... and then just double it.” Brian Lee, Director, Data Management Organization, Reyes Holdings
Invest in training
Reyes Holdings leveraged the education team here at Stibo Systems to upskill its staff, so it could become self-sufficient with the MDM platform. There’s no way around it: To get the most out of any MDM investment, you need to empower your team with training.
What the future holds for Reyes Holdings' MDM
Reyes Holdings' MDM journey is ongoing. The company plans to expand its product golden record to also include digital asset information, further consolidating systems and maximizing the value it gets from its MDM implementation.
That’s exactly the right approach and the advantage of Stibo Systems Platform. The more you use its flexible and scalable MDM capabilities; the more value you get from it. A golden ticket for large organizations.
Reyes Holdings’ story shows us the transformative power of MDM. By centralizing and mastering its data, the company improved efficiency, reduced costs and empowered its data stewards.
Whether you're in the beverage industry or any other sector, Reyes Holdings’ journey should give you valuable takeaways for your own MDM initiatives. Remember: Prioritize data cleanup, invest in training and embrace the journey toward data mastery.
