Integrity-powered by BanQu Vietnam and Nigeria launches

In our ECOM Christmas message we announced the selection of BanQu as our global First Mile technology partner. Our goal – to continue ECOM’s sustainability journey - with an enterprise traceability block-chain solution that provides auditable, real-time data and provides greater transparency and assurance throughout our multiple complex supply chains. 

Given the EUDR requirements for the end of the year, coffee and cocoa have been the initial focus; however, the scope expands across all of ECOM,  and will support our ESG commitments and new regulatory compliance requirements, for instance CSDDD & digital product passport, as we continue to grow with this partnership.

We are delighted to confirm that we are now live in Nigeria and Vietnam. The First Mile and BanQu teams have been “boots on the ground” to test the solution in the field with our Coffee and Cocoa team, farmers and  suppliers, training users in both online and offline functionality, on mobiles and pcs.

Angus Dunbar, ACOM country head: "Change management, communication and hands-on training have been key throughout this process. Led by our ACOM Superusers, we have been deploying BanQu in Bao Loc and Gai Lai, working with farmers in their homes and fields and suppliers and teams in the factory and warehouse."

Shortly after our coffee launch, our Tulip Nigeria, First Mile and BanQu teams cut the green ribbon, announcing our “official” GO LIVE for cocoa!”

Johan van der Merwe, Tulip Nigeria Country Head: "The benefits go beyond traceability. Some of our areas are very remote, and a simple SMS phone is all our community leaders need to connect into our supply chain. Digitising along our end-to-end business, is allowing us to further simplify and improve our processes from farmer to factory."

Teddy Esteve, ECOM Head of Coffee and Chief Carbon Officer: "A dream come true! We continue to innovate across ECOM and regulatory changes like EUDR spur us on to transform more rapidly, future-proofing our business. We have ambitious ESG goals -  and better connecting all participants in our supply chain, improves access, equity and participation.  Bringing our “love our origins” purpose to life. We need to start imagining all we can do with  Integrity powered by BanQu…"

Photo: Technician team testing offline mode in Vietnam    

Guus de Gruiter, ECOM Cocoa Co-CEO:  "This is a critical global transformation for  ECOM. It takes tenacity to be the early adopters, and to go through all the learnings so that we can all benefit. The block chain technology enables the capture of data from farm gate across our supply chain - which we can apply in future throughout our organisation. A huge well-done to our dedicated teams on the ground - a truly One ECOM initiative."

Photo: Tulip team on the field registering a farmer

As the team reflects on lessons learnt, the project has started the hypercare milestone that focuses on early adoption and transition to support  for the first two countries. The next multi-country rollouts are being scheduled for the second half of 2024. 

I’m truly grateful to the ECOM and BanQu teams, whose dedication, positivity and tenacity have delivered this important milestone, in such a short space of time, as part of our wider journey. Working together, despite many obstacles, is the hallmark of the remarkable One ECOM spirit.

Thank you all for driving change, rather than being driven by it - the future doesn’t just happen, we have to mobilise to make it happen. 

Looking forward to sharing our progress  in the coming weeks!

Paul McNougher