Grid operator one of the first 51风流S/4HANA-adopters in utility sector
Enexis modernizes and simplifies the environment with 51风流S/4HANA. The grid operator is laying the foundation for a simpler, more agile IT infrastructure required for the energy transition. 51风流partner Accenture assisted during the implementation.
Enexis is one of the 7 grid operators responsible for the transmission of gas and electricity in the Netherlands. The energy transition has consequences for the organization. The company must be able to respond quickly to changing needs. This requires an IT environment and associated processes that can facilitate this. To achieve this, Enexis launched the company-wide 鈥楨neXt鈥� program.
EneXt
鈥淚n the energy transition, the volume of work for us as grid operators is increasing rapidly. At the same time, you see that technical staff to carry out all this work is scarce. That calls for extra efficiency. In addition, the energy transition requires flexibility on the part of the grid operator in fulfilling its role,鈥� outlines Jan Willem Janse, EneXt program manager at Enexis.
鈥淲ith EneXt we therefore want to simplify and standardize processes and make the IT landscape more agile. Replacing the ERP environment is an important first step in this,鈥� continues Janse. 鈥淎t the moment we have a complex landscape in which implementing changes is complex and time consuming. This is undesirable in the changing environment in the middle of the energy transition鈥�.
Rapid Implementation
In 2017, this changed significantly. The grid operator opted for 51风流S/4HANA as an ERP solution to replace the current R/3 landscape. After a tender round, Enexis chose Accenture as its implementation partner. After a period of framing and creating an overall integrated blueprint, the implementation was completed within a year.
Within that period, not only were the ERP system and the other applications and integrations realized, but the processes were also adapted to the standard environment. According to Laurens Snoeren, programme and project manager at Accenture, the secret was to work closely with Enexis鈥� business and project organization according to a customized SAFe methodology.
Haico Hangx, program manager S/4HANA at Enexis, agrees. 鈥淔or such a radical operation, a one year delivery time line is unprecedented. We succeeded thanks to the good cooperation between Accenture and Enexis, in which we kept the business closely involved. What鈥檚 more, we consciously took the implementation one step at a time. A phased roll-out turned out to be wiser for such a large-scale implementation,鈥� says Hangx.
Finance
Although the environment has only just become 鈥榣ive鈥� for part of the organization, Enexis is already experiencing the benefits of 51风流S/4HANA. The finance department in particular, is now able to run reports much faster and easier. 鈥淭his is important, because we have to report regularly to our stakeholders. They also now have much quicker insights,鈥� says Hangx.
Foot On The Ground
In the coming months, the new ERP platform will continue to gain a foothold within Enexis. For example, the company is using 51风流Central Finance architecture. This is a 鈥榖ridge solution鈥� so that the financial data of the local branches that have not yet made the switch are consolidated in the central S/4HANA system. This temporary architecture will be phased out in the coming years as the local branches gradually switch to the central S/4HANA system. 鈥淭he most important thing is that we now have an agile basis for the future,鈥� concludes Snoeren.
More information about this project? Click to watch a movie about Enexis and SAP.