Africa's largest retailer, Shoprite Checkers, is making an investment to meet current South African legislative requirements, manage its ever-increasing staff complement, and take advantage of the functionality offered by human resources software from SAP, the world's leading supplier of inter-enterprise software.
"Our major concern was that our currently interfaced systems needed to be fully integrated," says Callie Burger, Group HR Manager at Shoprite Checkers. "Our choice was SAP, and our project gained impetus when the financial side of the business accepted SAP as their partner.
"Of great importance to us was the criteria of an HR software vendor that would support us in our African and international expansions.
"In order to streamline the implementation of our Employment Equity plan and the Skills Act reporting requirements, the company evaluated that the SAP HR system provided accurate information and ease of reporting," says Burger.
"We took a broad view and decided to invest in a system which improves functionality and flexibility," he says.
"The prospect to activate further automation of our ability to handle interviews and training and training management in one package in future when we need it, is appealing," adds Burger.
While the flow of information throughout the organisation has not changed as a result of the implementation, Shoprite Checkers has re-engineered its HR work processes. The integrated sharing of key information and organisational structure management assisted the retailer to reduce from 23 payrolls to 3 payrolls through the SAP project.
"The objective is for Stores to have less of an administration load and, as a result, concentrate on business," says Burger.
Implementation of SAP HR began in April this year, and will be completed in 2001. The HR system will integrate into, and complement, its recently implemented SAP financial systems.
Although SAP Africa is handling the implementation, Shoprite Checkers was determined to use in-house resources wherever possible.
"We want to retain ownership, and skills. SAP is involved, but the people working on the project on a day-to-day basis are Shoprite staff," concludes Burger.
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