DS Smith eliminates Excel dependency with IBM Planning Analytics, achieving scalable planning for global packaging operations.
Significantly reduced dependency on massive spreadsheets with limited scalability
Improved operational cost tracking, especially energy spending across business units
Platform readiness for structural changes including International Paper acquisition
Multi-source integration connecting HFM, SAP, and custom templates seamlessly
DS Smith transforms from Excel dependency to scalable financial planning—supporting €8+ billion operations across 30+ countries through acquisition integration.
DS Smith has built a reputation as a leading global provider of sustainable packaging solutions, operating across 30+ countries with over 30,000 employees in their packaging and paper divisions. With €8+ billion in annual revenue following their recent integration into International Paper, they're at the forefront of sustainable packaging innovation.
But behind their impressive scale, their financial planning processes were struggling to keep up with their operational complexity.
DS Smith faced mounting pressure to modernize their financial planning landscape while maintaining alignment with their corporate systems:
Massive Excel dependency: Overreliance on enormous spreadsheets with limited scalability that couldn't handle their operational complexity
Fragmented data sources: Disconnected systems including HFM, SAP, and countless Excel files lacking proper integration
Operational blind spots: Lack of detailed visibility for operational teams, particularly around critical energy cost tracking
Consolidation pressure: Need to maintain tight alignment with their group consolidation tool (Hyperion Financial Management) while serving as a day-to-day working tool for controllers
Structural change challenges: Difficulty adapting to business changes like fiscal year transitions and major acquisitions
The goal was clear: create a collaborative forecasting system that could provide content for budgets and forecasts to the group while integrating seamlessly with their consolidation engine.
DS Smith partnered with IBM and Keyrus consultants to implement IBM Planning Analytics, designing a solution specifically built for scalability and structural adaptability.
The implementation addressed their complex requirements systematically:
Comprehensive Model Development: Full design and build of planning models covering packaging, paper, and group operations with operational detail controllers needed
Multi-source Integration: Seamless connection of HFM, SAP, and custom Excel templates into one unified planning environment
Advanced Capabilities
Change Readiness: Built-in flexibility to accommodate major business changes including fiscal year transitions and the International Paper integration
The solution was designed from the ground up to handle future needs without requiring major system redesigns when structural changes occurred.
The transformation has delivered significant improvements across DS Smith's financial planning operations:
Streamlined Financial Planning: Unified planning processes across multiple business units eliminating fragmented approaches
Enhanced Operational Visibility: Improved granularity and traceability across business lines with detailed energy spending tracking that operational teams desperately needed
Reduced Excel Dependency: Significant reduction in reliance on massive spreadsheets, moving to a scalable, integrated approach
Acquisition Readiness: Platform prepared for group-level integration post-acquisition by International Paper, proving its structural adaptability
Future-proof Foundation: Scalable model ready for additional calculations, CapEx modeling, and other planning requirements
Long-term Partnership: Renewed IBM partnership ensuring continued platform viability and support
With their core financial planning transformation complete, DS Smith is positioned to expand their Planning Analytics capabilities:
The successful implementation demonstrates how traditional manufacturing companies can modernize their planning processes while maintaining the integration and control they need for complex global operations.
Because when you're providing sustainable packaging solutions across 30+ countries, your financial planning needs to be just as sustainable and scalable.
About DS Smith
DS Smith is a leading global provider of sustainable packaging solutions, operating across 30+ countries with over 30,000 employees across packaging and paper divisions. With €8+ billion in annual revenue following their recent integration into International Paper, the company continues to lead in sustainable packaging innovation and operational excellence.
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Access the full details of this customer story and see the results up close, available as a PDF and a video.
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