Case Study: BSkyB achieves streamlined supply chain and real-time inventory control with IFS Applications

Satellite TV broadcaster BSkyB improves Supply Chain Management with IFS Applications

BSkyB, the UK’s leading satellite TV and growing broadband provider, faced a complex logistics challenge: managing more than 350 SKUs and half a million products (worth over £25m) across 100+ bulk locations and 1,800 engineer vans, moving some 40,000 items a day. Legacy systems, spreadsheets and monthly stock audits could not support rapid product introductions, serial-number tracking or the company’s service promises, so BSkyB needed a future-proof inventory control solution to deliver full stock visibility and faster response to market demand.

BSkyB implemented IFS’s modular Inventory Control System, integrating it with the national distribution centre, field job-management tools and partner systems (including Ariba and ClickSoftware) to provide serial-number tracking, demand and materials planning, returns management and automated administration. The two-year project delivered complete stock visibility, integrated partner stock controls, automated processes and a reduced audit burden (monthly audits moved to quarterly), with 14 million serial records migrated and ongoing rollouts (PDA-enabled job management) planned to further streamline engineer workflows.

BSkyB

Marion Scott

Head of Supply Chain Development