IBS Pharma supports ambitious new player in Dutch pharmaceutical market

News & Events 2005-05-13

IBS Pharma supports ambitious new player in Dutch pharmaceutical market

VIA Farma has selected IBS to supply it with a new supply chain management solution. The specialised business software, IBS Pharma, will allow VIA Farma to increase efficiency and automate their logistics and distribution, customer services, sales and marketing, financial control and business intelligence processes.

VIA Farma is part of the Dutch VIA Groep purchasing cooperative, and is responsible for strategic procurement, storage, inventory management and the distribution of pharmaceutical products to pharmacists. VIA Farma’s ambition is to become a major player in the pharmaceutical market. “In order to provide optimal support to affiliated pharmacies, we are developing a new distribution structure that will allow us to control the entire chain and optimise returns. This requires a powerful supply chain management solution that IBS can supply us with,” says Ad Deeben, Managing Director of VIA Farma.

The distribution structure of VIA Farma comprises one or more central distribution centres (DCs) that are supported by regional supply points (regional DCs, RDCs). The DCs and these supply points will start supplying one another. Suppliers can deliver to DCs to supplement their stock or to RDCs, but also directly to pharmacies or end users.

VIA Farm's choice of IBS became definite after a look behind the scenes at Galexis - the distribution subsidiary of Swiss pharmaceutical company Galenica - who have used IBS Pharma for many years. Says Ad Deeben, “Following the visit to Galexis, the working group provided an unequivocal recommendation for IBS. Through IBS Pharma, we want to decrease our current stock by approximately 25% and to increase our warehouse capacity and level of service, something that is naturally of vital importance in the pharmaceutical sector. Ultimately, we expect to achieve a turnover of roughly EUR 300 million within two to three years.”

Marc van der Loo, Director of Logistic Solutions at IBS Netherlands, is proud that the IBS Pharma solution will become the new foundation of VIA Farma. “VIA Farma was looking for a supply chain solution that it is rooted in demand-driven distribution. As one of the major players involved in global supply chain execution*, IBS has its origins here. IBS responds to often-precise requirements of specific sectors with specialised solutions that provide added value and measurable return on investment. VIA Farma's selection of our business software is confirmation of this strong strategy employed by IBS in the field of industry-specific supply chain and ERP solutions.”

IBS expects to finish implementing the solution at VIA Farma by the end of 2005.

* AMR Supply Chain Management Report 2004

For further information, please contact:

Suzanne Braaksma, external communications manager IBS Netherlands +31 30 6026876 suzanne.braaksma@ibs.nl

Ad Deeben, managing director VIA Farma +31 342 426659 a.deeben@viafarma.nl

IBS AB, (XSSE: IBS B) International Business Systems, is a leading provider of business software for supply chain management, business intelligence, financial control, and demand-driven manufacturing. IBS' primary focus is mid-sized and large wholesale distributors as well as sales and manufacturing companies in international groups, especially in pharmaceuticals, electrical and electronic parts and equipment, automotive parts and supplies, machinery, industrial supplies food & beverage and consumer durables. For more information about IBS, visit http://www.ibs.net.