Namibia`s largest diversified business enterprise, the Ohlthaver & List Group, has chosen the internationally recognised SAP system to link the Group`s wide-ranging business processes and functions in order to enhance customer service and productivity.
Outlining the Group`s SAP implementation programme in Windhoek, Pieter du Toit Oosthuizen, Ohlthaver & List Executive: Information and Communication Technology, says the SAP solution is already in place at the Group`s head office and its main subsidiary, Namibia Breweries Limited. The other ten companies or divisions are to follow soon.
"The O & L Group identified the need, in preparation for the demands in the millennium markets, for all its members to innovate their value chain by linking, extending and streamlining processes in order to provide better customer service.
"The Group`s search for such an integrated business applications software solution did not take long. In our view the SAP solution was clearly superior to its competitors in terms of functionality, flexibility and technical environment," says Oosthuizen.
"The sales and distribution, materials management (for finished goods/stock), financial management (sales related transactions), controlling modules (including profitability analysis) and production planning modules are in place to regulate business activities at the O&L Group`s head office and at Namibia Breweries, where the implementation of the plant maintenance module has been planned for the very near future."
Oosthuizen says that as part of the distribution channel, the SAP solution has also been deployed in the South African operation of Namibia Breweries. "Although the SAP implementations have been fairly recent, we have already experienced the benefits of standardisation, centralisation, control, best-of-breed business processes and procedures, cost savings, an integrated business solution, manageability and system ownership.
"SAP has already helped Group Management overall and Namibia Breweries specifically to run our business processes more smoothly and effectively, thus enhancing productivity and return on information.
"Because information is more readily accessible on all business operations, processes and procedures, it is now possible to monitor and evaluate performance, make in-depth analyses of the market and of the customer profile and geographical distribution of products.
"With SAP, costs are reduced and turn-around time and productivity improved. At Namibia Breweries, SAP saves time in terms of sales and distribution data and the immediate integration of that into the financial system," says Oosthuizen.
Oosthuizen added that buy-in on the user level has influenced the success of the system to such an extent that users have taken full ownership. Five hundred user value agreements were selected for the implementation of all the SAP modules at Namibia Breweries and at the Ohlthaver & List head office. Thus far there are 250 users on the system, with the number increasing all the time.
A SAP competency centre has also been developed in-house, allowing the O&L Group to have an on-site SAP support team for the daily maintenance of the system, as well as for the management and implementation of SAP within the Group overall.
Prior to implementing the SAP system, the Ohlthaver & List Group used a diverse range of systems for functions such as financial management, personnel management, operational information and plant maintenance.
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