Results
US dollars saved on building mobile apps
US dollars reduction in accounting costs
faster invoice processing
“ We decided to deploy SAP S/4HANA because the solution enabled us to deploy best-practice processes for areas like logistics and inventory out-of-the-box. To ensure a successful implementation, we wanted a partner with experience in SAP S/4HANA deployments and specifically logistics, and IBM ticked both of those boxes. ”
— CIO, Shared services provider
Challenge
This company supplies shared services for a large conglomerate with operations in multiple industries. Historically, the shared services provider focused on the services sector, but realized there were tremendous opportunities to expand within the agriculture, fishing and manufacturing sectors. To win these new clients, the company needed to provide better support for areas such as logistics, inventory, plant maintenance and materials management.
Solution
The shared services provider chose to engage IBM due to the IBM team’s wealth of experience in SAP S/4HANA deployments. By harnessing best-practice business processes around logistics, inventory and more from IBM and SAP S/4HANA, the company is transforming productivity. Additionally, IBM introduced approximately 20 new SAP Fiori applications for the company’s existing SAP S/4HANA finance solution. As a result, employees enjoy much greater capabilities for mobile working using their chosen device, such as tracking turnover and reporting issues involving plant maintenance.
Execution
Step One
The company abandoned piecemeal development and opted for an integrated strategy. It selected the SAP S/4HANA Enterprise Management solution, a core application including mission-critical out-of-the-box processes to support enterprises. Specifically, the company set out to deploy the SAP S/4HANA Supply Chain, SAP S/4HANA for Customer Management, and SAP S/4HANA Sourcing and Procurement parts of the SAP S/4HANA Enterprise Management solution. Users access the SAP S/4HANA solution via a powerful SAP Fiori interface.
Step Two
For help with the SAP S/4HANA deployment, the shared services provider enlisted IBM Services. The IBM team helped the company deploy SAP S/4HANA within an extremely tight timeframe and with minimal disruption to the business. As part of the implementation, IBM ran several Design Thinking workshops. These helped the shared services provider focus on how the new solution and processes would affect its business and end users. The sessions also helped the team define an approach that would work well for the company. In addition to the implementation, IBM also helped the company simplify and standardize its key business processes around sales, customers and more to boost efficiency.
Step Three
The shared services provider’s SAP landscape has been hosted by IBM Services in an IBM data center for several years. The SAP environment is being migrated to IBM Power System S824L and IBM Power System S822L servers, which are respectively 48 percent and 16 percent faster per core than the current x86 servers. The servers are virtualized using IBM PowerVM® software and run the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications operating system.
Data is stored on IBM Storwize® V7000 devices virtualized using IBM Spectrum Virtualize™ software. The IBM Storwize V7000 storage features the IBM Easy Tier® function, which automatically moves frequently accessed data to ultra-fast solid-state drives (SSDs) for optimal performance.
Client stories
Leading European baker
“We are very excited to finally be able to introduce our delicacies to a significantly larger number of customers, thanks to IBM and SAP.”
— Spokesperson, Leading European baker
Granules India
“We are a company with big ambitions, and IBM Services and SAP S/4HANA are helping us transform them into reality. We have achieved huge success in a short period of time, and we are excited to take our business to the next level.”
— Ganesh Karuppannan, Chief Financial Officer, Granules India
Leading US-based truck manufacturer achieves 30% productivity increase
IBM Services helped the manufacturer implement SAP S/ 4HANA running on IBM Power Systems™. The solution delivers real-time insight into the actual cost of production, empowering the company to act fast to defend its profit margin. Employees also now enjoy more standardized, intuitive access to reports from their desktop PCs and mobile devices.
Related solutions and services
Building a business case for SAP S/4HANA
Companies are searching for ways to build a seamless, connected and live enterprise — one that works internally across departments, and externally with clients. SAP S/4HANA can empower your organization to run live; find out how IBM can help build your business case.
Migrating to SAP S/4HANA?
IBM can help you understand the impact of moving your current SAP Landscape to S/4HANA.
Run SAP HANA on IBM Power Systems
IBM Power Systems are an ideal choice to meet the demands of SAP HANA's data-intense in-memory workloads.
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