'ERP success depends on user and data'

MUMBAI, INDIA: Preference for phased change-over and the ability to view people and culture dynamics around an ERP, make P C Jain, Senior General Manager MIS and System at Indo Count Industries Ltd, more than a typical IT customer. Here, he shares his IT Roadmap and experiences woven around SAP.

What’s your approach been in your journey with SAP? What kind of legacy has it branched our from?

We had several legacy systems earlier in various parts- from Oracle, home-grown-ERP, to Tally and Excel at some points. We are implementing the SAP solution in a phased approach now. April 2012 saw the go-live stage while the next part is due for 2013. We plan to go with basic modules first and later on build up for enhancements.

How did the change to a new environment got triggered?

As the company stepped on a growth phase, we needed good automated systems. We felt the requirement of a system-driven company. That’s when we thought of SAP, and decided it to go phase-wise.

Why phase-wise?

We wanted the cycle to be smooth with a hundred per cent success rate. The finance side also wanted to align well and optimize resources.

Do you incline towards stitching other pieces together? More diversity?

There is a one-vendor approach for implementation and support also. The plan is to stabilize SAP. Our business is in made-to-order genre so we might go for advanced production planning next. Advanced planning is on our consideration next. We might also think of Cloud if it fits well, specially if it can cater to being economical and amenable to customization.

When it comes to judging the success of any ERP is it always about the product or about the quality of data that a customer organization houses?

 

It is about the attention and process that follows after implementation. The customer has to be there throughout. It has to be ensured that problematic users are found and they are corrected. SAP has a dependent transaction base so if previous user in the system is not handling process properly, the next user is bound to get struck.

If you were to pick out the good, bad and grey of SAP, how would distill your experience?

Data control part is very good and so is the toughness of the system. I guess even tax authorities find it apt as it gives transparency. At the same time, at some levels it is not user-friendly specially with people who are switching over from a Tally atmosphere. Also, when the system gets older, it slows down a bit and one can feel change in speed of processing. That said, the best part about SAP is that it instills a cultural change in the organization with a process-mindset injected in employees. No one can hide anything like I said. Nothing can be deleted.

Have you seen SAP adapting enough to what customers want?

Yes. For instance, earlier there were too many versions. Now it’s about enhancements. It can be done without too much dependence on consultants.