For a business operating across more than 60 countries, selling over 20 million products every day under brands like Dettol, Durex, Nurofen and Lysol, performance doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens because the foundations are right.
At Pivot, we know this better than most. Because we’ve been part of building those foundations.
The Numbers Behind the Headlines
The financial press focused on the share price. It’s down more than 6% on results day as analysts picked apart margin guidance and flagged foreign exchange headwinds. That’s their job.
But step back from the short-term noise and the Reckitt story is impressive.
Emerging markets, now 42% of Core Reckitt’s revenue, grew 14.6% on a like-for-like basis for the full year. China delivered its tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. India grew in the high single-digits. Indonesia and Colombia both broke into double-digit territory.
These aren’t markets you can serve from a spreadsheet. They need supply chains that work. Financial processes that can operate across currencies, regulatory environments and tax regimes. Systems that give leadership teams clean, reliable data. Data that allows them to make decisions with confidence rather than guesswork.
That’s what SAP, done properly, makes possible.
“When a global business reports growth that beats expectations, somewhere in the background are systems that work.
What “Done Properly” Means
At Pivot, our philosophy is simple. Standard SAP, first and always. Not because it’s the easy option, but because it’s the right one.
Standard SAP is how you build something future-proof. Something that can grow as your business grows. Adapt as your markets change. Upgrade without turning into a crisis.
Reckitt’s 2025 results reflect a business that has made bold strategic choices. It has divested its Essential Home division. It has doubled down on a focused portfolio of eleven core Powerbrands. It has restructured its operating model. Each of those decisions creates complexity. Each one puts pressure on the systems underneath.
When those systems are built on solid SAP foundations, that complexity becomes manageable. When they’re not, it becomes a crisis.
Why This Matters Right Now
Reckitt’s results land at an interesting moment for the broader SAP community.
SAP ECC support ends in 2027. Thousands of global businesses are facing a critical decision. Migrate to S/4HANA and do it properly, or risk running on unsupported infrastructure. The pressure is building. And where pressure builds, poor decisions follow.
Projects get rushed. Incumbent partners over-engineer solutions to justify their fees. Businesses are told they need months of custom development to solve problems that standard SAP handles out of the box.
The businesses that will come through this period strongest are the ones making smart choices now. Choosing partners who tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Choosing standard SAP over customisation. Choosing smaller teams embedded in the business.
Reckitt is a business that understands this. It’s one of the reasons we’re proud to work with them.
Quiet Confidence
When a global business reports growth that beats expectations, returns billions to shareholders, and looks forward with confidence, there’s a long list of people who made that possible. Brilliant brand teams. Sharp commercial leaders. A CEO with a clear strategy.
And somewhere in the background, systems that work. Processes that run cleanly. Supply chains that cope with global complexity.
That’s where we live. In a month when Reckitt is celebrating a strong year, we’re proud to be part of the story.
