Achieving Agricultural Excellence:
El Cerezo's Transformative Success

● To foster consistency and efficiency, a homogeneous structure was introduced across business units, introducing the role of Branch Manager.

● The microstructure of each area was carefully defined and implemented, working in conjunction with designated leaders for optimal operational integration.

● To enhance crop management, the concept of clustering was introduced, categorizing crops based on shared characteristics. A Power BI tool was devised to generate crop maps, enabling formalization of clusters and providing vital support for nutritional and irrigation plans.

● The implementation of an annual plan of critical activities and specific nutritional plans were tailored to each location, aimed to ensure compliance with different phenological stages, culminating in higher yields per hectare. Additionally, an annual plan of pulses was developed, employing defined variables to strategize irrigation pulses for optimal crop growth.

● Defining critical irrigation variables (PH, conductivity, pressures, humidity, etc.) and monitoring them through typical weeks and checklists streamlined operations, ensuring the best possible crop health. A proposal was implemented to establish optimal monitoring routes for comprehensive coverage of surface areas and homogeneous sampling in different sectors.

● Digital tools were harnessed to measure pests and diseases by crop, enabling efficient data compilation for accurate reports and indicators.

● To boost personnel productivity, a comprehensive catalog of cultural tasks was developed, along with a performance-based measurement system. Objectives and productivity standards were defined for each activity and systematically recorded and monitored using applications like Monday.

● To empower data-driven decision-making, dashboards were created to monitor weekly planning compliance for each crop, providing detailed insights on varieties, ranches and personnel.

● The generation, analysis and feedback model were established, creating production projection boards to optimize volume production in the best market window. The TVC indicator was designed to gauge packaging production efficiency through time, speed and quality metrics.

● Data entry processes were streamlined, capturing operating times, downtime, quality sampling and production queries in real-time.
A Power BI tool was designed to facilitate market price consultation by zone, size and variety, providing crucial insights for negotiating closing prices with customers. 

● Striving for better supplier conditions, the Annual Negotiation Plan was devised to foster favorable outcomes. Leveraging Power BI, technical data sheets were generated, assessing consumption patterns and average prices per SKU, providing valuable insights for negotiation discussions.

● To streamline procurement, the purchase replenishment tool was developed, offering greater certainty by identifying needs based on minimum, maximum, reorder points and inventory days. Integration with SAP ERP and Power BI dashboards ensured seamless data synchronization.

● To combat cost overruns, a price variability tool was introduced, validating unit prices prior to each purchase, thus reducing unnecessary expenses.

● Additionally, a Cost-Consumption Matrix and an inventory purification indicator were created, contributing to inventory optimization in key warehouses, achieving quick wins in inventory management.

● To further optimize warehouse operations, layouts were meticulously designed and maximum volumetry calculations were performed to maximize space utilization.

● In a concerted effort to drive successful organizational change, a robust Change Management strategy was initiated. A meticulous analysis identified employees and positions affected by the implementation of the designed solutions, gauging the degree of impact. To ensure a smooth transition, a comprehensive plan encompassing Awareness, Desire, Training, Empowerment and Reinforcement was crafted, empowering leaders to spearhead the transformation.

● Recognizing the pivotal role of leaders, an Agile Leadership Program was launched for the first and second-line leadership teams. This program fostered strategic thinking, agility in methodologies, leadership coaching, emotional intelligence, OKR (Objectives and Key Results) establishment, impactful communication and time management balance. Empowering leaders with these crucial skills facilitated effective execution of initiatives and facilitated the adoption of the company's new culture.

As a part of the change management and leadership development programs, the Innovation Hub played a pivotal role in fostering employee adoption and utilization. During the Agile Leadership and Leadership Accelerators programs, participants engaged in two-month improvement projects, proposing their own ideas and implementing learned tools and methodologies. The Innovation Hub served as a platform for teams to apply agile methodologies like Design Sprint, Design Thinking and Scrum, highlighting key project concepts. Over 130 collaborators participated in 16 innovation projects, including the development of 4 apps enhancing internal user experience and 13 projects aimed at improving service levels and driving cost savings.

● To establish a robust Competency Architecture, competencies were meticulously defined, providing a solid foundation for position profiling. Talent acquisition was streamlined through the creation of models, tools and dashboards in Power BI, ensuring optimal staffing levels and effective candidate search channels. The induction process was revamped, fostering engagement and alignment with company values.

● Talent development strategies were implemented, incorporating evaluations and Individual Development Plans (IDP) to nurture employee growth. Additionally, knowledge management was enhanced, evaluating and selecting an appropriate Learning Management System (LMS) while curating a wealth of supportive content. Through these initiatives, Grupo El Cerezo forged a path towards organizational excellence and continuous development.

● Through the design and implementation of a sophisticated management dashboard, the company gained real-time insights into income, expenses and profitability across cost centers and ranches. This digitization was a culmination of efforts that began with the digitization of the field and accurate consideration of cost centers per crop. With this powerful tool, executive management can now make strategic decisions backed by concrete data, enabling informed investments, expansions, contractions and ultimately driving increased profitability.

● Financial statements were seamlessly digitized and integrated into Power BI, allowing for quick and intuitive visualization, thus empowering informed decision-making and strategic planning.

● Nutritional plan compliance achieved a 42% increase.

●Hydroponic crops witnessed a 43% improvement in drainage percentage.

●Confidence in pest & disease sampling experienced a rise of 24%.

● IAgrochemicals and fertilizers price variability reduced, yielding an $800K benefit.

● Supplier service level increased by 29% through strategic management.

● Achieved a 31% improvement in compliance with 5S audits, promoting efficiency and safety.

● Fully profiled all first, second and third-line positions.

● Achieved a 51% reduction in personnel recruitment time.

● Boosted employee satisfaction by 71% within their first 30 days of employment.