For successful multinational companies, the biggest risk is often caused not by an external competitor – but by issues in internal coordination.

When a $32 Billion consumer packaged goods manufacturer saw sales slip from some of its most valued customers, they discovered that important logistics practices had not been followed for several product lines. Specifically, a new global standard for distribution – the GS1 Global Data Synchronization Network – required up to 50 data points be registered for each product to enable faster and easier shipment tracking and logistics. The result of noncompliance: threatened customer relationships and lost sales with exponential consequences on long-term profitability ... including legal exposure of over $600,000.00 in fines and penalties.

The project required expertise in coordinating activities across departments and business divisions, cross-functional communication and project management, and advanced understanding of emerging logistics practices. GO Partners accepted the challenge.

Gathering information from discrete business units and coordinating compliance required more than strong communication skills - it also required determination and detective work, since many managers in this large organization weren't sure who was responsible for identifying missing data, or where to take their concerns. GO Partners identified functional people across the organization and contacted controllers in dozens of different segments to verify product data. Most importantly, we relayed important information on how these small data points that had "fallen through the cracks" had resulted in lost sales and threatened relationships with valuable customers in the distribution channels.

At the conclusion of the project, GO Partners presented our findings to the project's Steering Committee, including a list of valuable action items that would prevent future issues and protect profitability.