Elida Beauty builds tech foundation after Unilever split

Elida Beauty has partnered with SnapLogic to build a new technology foundation following its separation from Unilever. The project was delivered with implementation partner Pace Integration.

The beauty brand's owner needed an IT and operations environment that could support a standalone business across multiple markets without the delays often associated with large corporate separations.

Elida Beauty, whose portfolio includes St. Ives, VO5, TIGI and Q-tips, operates through a partner-led model spanning manufacturing, logistics and order-to-cash processes. That meant connecting a wide range of external systems and data formats while maintaining consistent operations across regions.

SnapLogic was selected to provide a single integration layer linking multiple ERP instances, third-party and fourth-party logistics providers, supply chain planning tools and data platforms. Pace Integration led the implementation.

The setup now handles thousands of sales orders and runs more than 400 integration pipelines, with 30 scheduled tasks managing workflows across ERP, supply chain planning and finance systems. Orders, shipments, invoices and planning data move through the same integration layer, which Elida Beauty uses as a core part of its global supply chain operations.

Tim Bates, Head of IT Strategy and Applications at Elida Beauty, said the company needed a platform that could be deployed quickly and used across different markets from the outset.

"We were building a new business from the ground up while continuing to operate at global scale," Bates said. "Coming from large enterprise CPG environments, I was used to integration programmes that could take months before delivering real value. To achieve separation, we needed a complete, scalable platform from day one, one that could be rolled out across multiple markets. With SnapLogic and Pace, a lean team was able to design, test and evolve integrations at speed, delivering in weeks what would traditionally take quarters. That acceleration proved truly transformative for the business."

Distributed Model

Elida Beauty used reusable integration patterns to standardise interactions with external partners while retaining flexibility as operations expanded. The approach is intended to reduce the need to rebuild links for each market or partner relationship.

Beyond the initial separation work, the company is using the system to enable integration changes to be made more quickly as business requirements shift. Business and IT teams can alter integrations within hours rather than reworking larger parts of the underlying systems.

SnapLogic is also supporting Elida Beauty's data and analytics structure by moving operational data into cloud platforms in near real time. The data is used for forecasting, inventory visibility, trade promotions management and executive reporting.

Thomas Peach, co-founder of Pace Integration, said the timeline and pace of change required a flexible delivery approach.

"In a programme with tight timelines and a lot changing as we went, SnapLogic and Pace enabled Elida's teams to move quickly, adapt in real time and reuse integrations across regions," Peach said. "That collaborative way of working was key to hitting the separation milestones and has left Elida with a strong foundation from which it can continue to scale."

Next Phase

With the core systems now in place, Elida Beauty is turning its attention to simplification and automation, emphasising the reduction of manual processes while maintaining a low-code architecture. The company is also exploring how software agents could be used for exception handling and supplier onboarding.

The separation from Unilever required Elida Beauty to establish independent digital operations while continuing to serve a large international customer base. According to SnapLogic, the business reaches more than 300 million consumers each year.

Nick Pike, Vice President EMEA at SnapLogic, said the project shows how a separation can be combined with broader systems modernisation.

"Elida Beauty demonstrates that organisations do not have to choose between separating, modernising and scaling; they can do all three simultaneously," Pike said. "By making integration the foundation of their digital core, they have transformed what could have been a complex disentanglement into a streamlined, future-ready architecture. That unified, governed data layer now gives them the agility to adapt quickly and the foundation to scale intelligent automation as the business evolves."