The journey to unify multiple SAP systems with SAP S/4HANA in the cloud for a Danish utility company

A leading Danish utility company

With a rich history and a key role in Denmark’s energy landscape, the client is a leading utility company serving over 2.8 million customers that provides electricity and maintenance services. As they went through an important merger, the client was faced with 2 SAP ECC systems, the source of these issues was having to work with the 2 old SAP systems that were being integrated during the fusion between the client and another entity.

The challenges that come with a merger at a technical level

Once the merger was complete, the client was left operating with different SAP ERP systems across its divisions. This resulted in inconsistent business processes and complications in the new cross-division communication flows, which led to limitations not only in the company’s ability to function efficiently but also in its ability to innovate and adapt to new technologies.

The client needed an external team of experts to unify the systems and migrate their operations to a cloud-based infrastructure that would enhance their scalability and agility. The migration was highly complex and cleaning the master data added an extra layer of difficulty, due to the industry complexity and the different setups in the 2 companies. Additionally, non-intuitive user interfaces made an already complicated process even more layered and affected aspects like collaboration among teams and employee satisfaction.

To address these challenges, the client organized a tender and invited NTT DATA, among other providers, to propose a comprehensive solution capable of meeting their complex requirements.

Among the client’s main objectives were the following:

• Consolidate SAP ERP systems: Merge existing systems into a single, unified platform to eliminate data silos and streamline operations.
• Standardize business processes: Unify procedures across all divisions for greater efficiency and consistency.
• Upgrade to a more advanced platform: Leverage the latest SAP technologies to enable innovation and maintain a competitive edge.
• Migrate to the cloud: Transition to a cloud-based infrastructure to enhance scalability, flexibility, and reduce maintenance costs.
• Enhance user experience: Implement a modern, intuitive interface to boost employee productivity and satisfaction.
• Ensure data integrity: Accurately migrate and clean extensive master data during the consolidation process.

The solution NTT DATA designed and developed

As a forward-thinking organization that views innovation as a key driver for efficiency and competitiveness, the client recognized the immense benefits of partnering with NTT DATA for this project. With extensive expertise in SAP system consolidation and modernization, NTT DATA was able to offer an advanced solution that was scalable, and tailored to the client’s unique needs.

Among its many advantages, the solution provided the seamless consolidation of the 2 SAP ERP systems the client was using after the merger, into a single SAP S/4HANA platform. This unification eliminated data silos and standardized business processes across all divisions, improving efficiency and the way teams collaborated. By leveraging the latest SAP technologies, NTT DATA was able to modernize the client’s operations and place them in an even more competitive position in a rapidly evolving utility sector.

The implementation required a methodical approach:

1. Collaborative way of working – A robust project team of approximately 200 professionals was formed, half of which were client personnel. This close collaboration ensured effective knowledge transfer and alignment with the client’s objectives.

2. System consolidation – Merging the existing systems into a unified SAP S/4HANA system helped standardize business processes across all divisions, improving operational efficiency. 

3. Data migration and cleanup – Our team used advanced techniques to clean and accurately transfer extensive master data while ensuring the integrity and reliability of critical business information.

4. Cloud migration – The transition to the cloud (Microsoft Azure) improved scalability and agility while reducing infrastructure costs. It also ensured that the client could easily adopt emerging technologies and scale operations whenever needed.

5. Enhanced user experience –
   • Implementation of SAP Fiori Apps: Over 800 SAP Fiori apps were deployed, providing employees with a modern, intuitive interface equipped with embedded analytics for better decision-making.
   • User training: Comprehensive training programs were provided to ensure employees could effectively utilize the new tools and features.

The results

Implementing our comprehensive solution brought immediate and significant benefits to the client:

• Operational efficiency: The unified SAP S/4HANA platform streamlined operations, eliminated redundancies, and enhanced collaboration across all divisions.
• Improved data accuracy: Clean and consistent master data improved reporting capabilities, enabling more informed and timely business decisions.
• Increased employee satisfaction: The modern, intuitive SAP Fiori interface boosted productivity and morale.
• Cost savings: Migrating to a cloud-based infrastructure and standardizing processes significantly reduced maintenance and operational costs.

NTT DATA, the right partner for a complex project

The client chose NTT DATA for this complex project due to several reasons: our deep industry expertise and a partnership spanning over a decade with both the client and SAP as a key technological partner. NTT DATA’s proven track record in consolidating complex systems and executing large-scale SAP implementations was proof that our team would be equipped with the right capabilities to meet the client’s demands. Our capacity to seamlessly collaborate with the client’s large team of over 100 people was another key factor in the decision-making process.