IT infrastructure in the investment process (8/12)
SAP, and in particular, its PM and MM modules, play a central role among the systems supporting current investments activities at GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. The modules were designed by teams composed of IT experts, representatives of the investment and overhaul services of the company, controlling, accounting and procurement services representatives. This system is used to carry out investment planning processes and to supervise the works. Data on all investment projects in the company are entered in the SAP system in line with the GazStep projects methodology in effect, and then included in the investment plan. The next step is the performance of the tasks identified in the schedules entered in the system. The SAP system is also used to initiate contract-awarding processes, which are subsequently carried out in the MarketPlanet system. After selecting the supplier and signing the contract the process returns to the SAP system where the contract is registered and documents connected with its performance created. This solution allows the company to maintain full control over its expenditure processes.
“The aim of implementing the SAP system was, on the one hand, to systematise the processes taking place in the company, but, above all, to gather in one depository all data pertaining to these processes, which is a condition of effective management” – said Grzegorz Stępniak, Director of the IT Division.
For the implementation of the SAP system GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. received the silver award in the „Major Implementations” category of the SAP Quality Awards 2012 competition in Central and Eastern Europe. This project was implemented in co-operation with S&T Services Polska Sp. z o.o.
The implementation of the SAP ERP system at GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. was among the largest and most complex ERP projects carried out in our country in recent years. Bestowing the award, the jury of the SAP Quality Awards competition stressed „very clear definition of the business objectives of the project, closely harmonised with the long-term strategy of GAZ-SYSTEM S.A., as well as perfect project procedures, introduction of the change management processes, passing knowledge using e-learning tools and a coherent quality assurance system".
Attention was also drawn to the excellent co-operation between GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. and the implementation partner, S&T Services Polska. It was also stressed that the SAP solutions implemented constitute the basis supporting further development of the firm, allowing better management of investment projects, optimisation of the use of the enterprise’s resources and systematisation of management information in territorially scattered regional units of GAZ-SYSTEM S.A.
Expert comment - Celestyna Piech, Senior Manager at the PwC Business Consulting Team, expert in IT systems implementation
The ERP class systems are tools supporting comprehensive business management. Implementation of ERP software bring the firm a number of benefits and under current market conditions is a tool allowing companies to improve their competitiveness.
An ERP system allows integration and automation of internal processes at the firm, such as accounting, controlling, assets management, warehouse management, production processes, sales or human resources. For this reason it provides uniform and reliable management information. Apart from management support, ERP systems bring benefits in the area of processes and data. They allow standardisation of processes, leading to their increased effectiveness, control of resources, improvement of data and information quality. This is directly translated into flexibility and speed of the actions taken by the company and its response to the changing conditions.
The decision to implement ERP is always correct, but the final success depends on the objectives set by the business and the manner in which the implementation is performed. Today, we observe a clear tendency of firms to standardise processes and maximise the use of the standard functionalities of the system. In other words, to minimise program changes made in the system. This requires lot of hard work during implementation on the change management side, but brings about very tangible benefits, both business, as the processes are optimised and effective, and IT, as the system is cheaper to maintain and develop.
If the ERP implementation project is conducted according to the aforementioned rules and the implementation partner has been chosen well, then the benefits defined as “achievable” will become “real and measurable” after project implementation.
This Newsletter was prepared in cooperation with PwC
Editorial Board:
The Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S. A.
Communication Team
Małgorzata Polkowska - Press Spokesperson
tel. +48 22 220 15 46, mob. + 48 691 911 217
e-mail: pr@gaz-system.pl
Aneta Szczepańska – PR Coordinator
Tel. +48 22 220 18 79, mob. + 48 607 630 514
e-mail: pr@gaz-system.pl
