In the spirit of Women’s Month, it’s only fitting that we reflect on the remarkable journey of BD-Nav, a company that began with a simple yet powerful vision and grew into a beacon of innovation in the FMCG sector.
Founded in 1993 by Franita Bosman and supported by her husband, Philip, BDS/now BD-Nav has thrived under Franita’s leadership.
From Humble Beginnings to Industry Pioneers
The story of what is now known as BD-Nav began with just an idea, a piece of paper, and a pen. Franita, armed with knowledge and experience in national product listings, initially helped local manufacturers to enter the formal retail market, through a consolidated business, focusing on the supply of house brands/private label brands. This initial success quickly escalated, earning national awards and setting the stage for what BD-Nav would eventually become.
A Focus on Sustainable Growth and Strategic Insights
In 2001, BD-Nav evolved into a consulting role, providing strategic insights and system structures that fostered sustainable growth for its clients. We ventured deeper into formal retail environments, focusing on core services like Key Accounts Management and In-store Stock Management.
Leading the Way in Data-Driven Decisions
The year 2009 marked a significant milestone when BD-Nav became the first outsourced Demand & Supply service provider for a major South African retailer. This period also saw the company receive SAP accreditation and develop an in-house reporting system tailored for the South African retail landscape. This system enabled Key Account Managers (KAMs) to access accurate, real-time data, empowering them with insights into stock health, potential issues, and the root causes of problems. Most importantly, to pre-empt stock issues and to change negative trends.
Innovating Through Challenges
By 2018, our demand and supply planning services received recognition from a global retailer with one of our major clients, consistently achieving best-in-class stock availability - even through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This period also marked the beginning of development for our KwikView® system, enhancing our focus on optimising stock availability and maximising sales opportunities.
A Vision Realised and Recognised
2019 was a transformative year for BD-Nav as our in-house system received Patent and Copyright status, leading to the fruition of the D-Nav® toolkit. This innovation has since partnered us with major retailers, providing a platform where vendor performance is meticulously measured and utilised for continuous improvement.
A Legacy of Excellence and a Future of Innovation
By 2022, BD-Nav had received accolades from international retailers for outstanding stock availability and supply chain efficiency. Today, we stand proud of our service to a diverse client base that includes industry giants like Coca-Cola and McCain Foods.
Reflecting on 30 Years of Growth
“We started with a vision to revolutionise the FMCG industry to enable key stakeholders to know in an easy, measurable format to know where to put focus for maximum reward through user-friendly software that is aligned to the retailer’s insight. Today, I’m proud to affirm that not only have we achieved this, but we've also created a legacy of trust and innovation,” Franita concludes.
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