SAP Public Cloud implementation at Ocilion
From the pinboard to the public cloud - the Ocilion success story
Within six months, we have gone from a custom-made merchandise management system and BMD to a modern cloud ERP system - together with Ocilion IPTV Technologies GmbH, we are delighted with the successful go-live and would like to share a little of the story.
One pinboard, two pieces of paper, three clear rules - that was the initial setting at Ocilion in April 2023.
- Rule no. 1: We define WHAT, not HOW
- Rule no. 2: ERP process before own process
- Rule No. 3: We define what is NOT scope
We already reported on the differences between on-premise, private and public cloud in the last "SAPspots" magazine (No. 20 - Dec. 2023) and can therefore state that the guiding principles formulated by Ocilion are perfect for a public cloud implementation. After many years with an ERP system programmed in-house and BMD as a financial system, Ocilion decided to introduce a new ERP system. As a provider of its own cloud solutions, it quickly became clear that on-premise was no longer an option, and in the pre-selection process, the SAP Public Cloud was able to impress with a customized demo. "We deliberately wanted to stick to the standard. With the public cloud, we don't have to spend much on our own operations and we remain future-proof," says Hermann Grabner.
The project was launched in July 2023 and the fully configured starter system with delivered test data was available just a few days later. "The starter system is essential to ensure that everyone speaks the same language. Using 'Show & Tell' in the fit-to-standard workshops, we go through the processes directly on the system. With a small team of consultants and specialist departments, we were able to work very efficiently across modules and departments and translate the requirements into SAP. However, the standardization of the public cloud also meant that we had to accept one or two workarounds. For example, SAP only allows percentage-based and not value-based partial invoices for orders," says Wolfgang Wiesmayr. The solution here was to switch to service contracts or sales contracts. This allowed the actual processes to be mapped even more accurately.
As a result of the workshops, the originally estimated costs were re-evaluated and the development and test system was set up at the end of August. The relevant best practice items, which are used to deliver customizing, among other things, were activated and the processes were set up and tested.
"Without the highly motivated project team at Ocilion, we would not have been able to complete the project so successfully - from the very beginning, a large number of cases were run through on the starter system and later on the test system. The familiarity with the system was also demonstrated by the fact that the specialist department proposed its own solutions for handling more complex business processes, which were subsequently implemented," says Wolfgang Wiesmayr. After two successful integration tests, the time had come - the go-live at the turn of the year went smoothly and the first invoices could already be billed on the second day.
When asked what the whole thing looks like after a few months on the system, Hermann Grabner replies: "Super, the analyses alone are a dream. What used to take days to prepare is now available in a minute, and the seamless integration is just great. However, you should always make sure that you don't fall back into old patterns when introducing new processes. What good is a modern fleet if I end up just hitching up the ox and not using the system's performance?"
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