Accenture opens service center
Valor Econômico
The British Mark Pearson, global leader of the supply chain area of the multinational Accenture, is excited with the business perspectives in Brazil and in the Latin-American market. "There is more innovation and development underway in the ‘supply chain' in Latin America than everywhere else in the world", says Pearson. The "supply chain" involves activities that go from the purchase of inputs to the delivery of the product to the client, including the after sale services. It is a form of planning and control of the financial flow, and of the flow of goods and services.
Considered by Accenture a priority market among the emerging countries, Brazil has been chosen by the company to receive a center of excellence in planning in the supply chain area for Latin America. Accenture, a company operating in the segments of consulting, technology and outsourcing, already has a center like this in operation in Barcelona, Spain, since the beginning of the decade. More than 100 people work at the unit. The company develops the same concept of centers of the excellence located in India and China.
The centers of excellence of Accenture gather professionals who share knowledge in different areas in order to develop products specially made for the clients. The centers allow reducing risks and terms in the implementation of projects in the supply chain area, says Pearson. The centers combine the professionals' experience with information technology tools. The Brazilian center is located in São Paulo and it employs 50 persons. Part of the professionals works in the center and another part works on the field, with the clients. They are people with experience in industry, technology and supply chain. The company has informed that the center, in São Paulo, officially started operating this month.
Pearson affirms the centers of excellence of Accenture have the purpose of accelerating the way the company can aggregate value to its clients. "With the centers, we are able to increase between 35% and 40% the speed of implementation of projects in the supply chain", says Pearson. According to him, in large European multinational companies, the cost to implement a global supply chain system varies from US$ 10 million to US$ 20 million. If the project is be concluded 35% to 40% faster, there is a 15% to 20% reduction in the cost. It is means potentially saving between US$ 4 million and US$ 5 million, taking into consideration a US$ 20 million project.
Eduardo Cunha, in charge of the Accenture supply chain area in Latin America, says the planning is one of the stages of the supply chain. The other activities involved are purchases, product creation, manufacture, distribution and management of services (after sale services). Cunha affirms in the moment there are already five projects being developed simultaneously at the Accenture center in São Paulo in the areas of cars and retail, consumption products and natural resources. According to him, the creation of the center shows Brazil is a mature and competitive market. He foresees the Brazilian center may become, in the near future, an export base for services. At a first moment, the center should cater to clients from Brazil and Latin America.