May 19, 2011, 7:05 AM — Pub chain JD Wetherspoon is implementing an enterprise resource planning system from SAP.
The company said the ERP system was crucial to improving and simplifying its procurement and financial systems.
JD Wetherspoon runs over 800 pubs in the UK, but plans to double this number in the next few years. Kirk Davis, financial director at JD Wetherspoon, said it was important the company reviewed its underlying technology and business processes to assist with this.
The rollout begins this month, and is intended to be complete in July next year. The chain previously had disparate systems in place for finance, HR and procurement.
Davis said JD Wetherspoon "must be agile", adding: "Procurement is key to this - everything from bar products to contract cleaners goes through these systems, usually not from the same suppliers, so we must ensure processes are as efficient as possible, whilst integrating into the financial system."
Although the separate systems in place had "supported us so far", Davis said, "the management team is fully aware that we cannot continue in this way if we are to continue growing".
