Plugging into a next-generation digital finance solution

The solution: a world-class digital technology platform

The solution lay in an ambitious implementation of a new Enterprise Planning (ERP) solution using SAP S/4HANA^[1]. Over three years, the organisation and PwC partnered to create and implement a company-wide digital technology platform (SAP) to capture and report all the group’s financial activity in real time. This included, for example, automating the processing of all intercompany revenue, previously a highly labour-intensive activity, to allow the business to focus on higher-value activity.

From the start, we worked as one team with the client, pairing each client lead with a consulting counterpart. This approach enabled us to build on each other’s ideas and adapt to new information and learning. The team moulded over time to create deep personal bonds that were vital to the programme’s success.

With such a tight timetable, we mobilised at pace and began working together to define the minimum viable ‘core’ platform needed for the first business separation to go live on time. The plan was to build out from that initial rollout, creating the right platform to help the organisation deliver on its ambitions to be a leader in the transition to net zero. This required a complete transformation – not only of the organisation’s technology, but also the underlying ways of working and the accessibility of reporting. This second phase culminated in a single go-live rollout for the whole business.

Throughout the programme, protecting the organisation’s assets would be paramount, so we formed a joint Security, Risk & Controls team to minimise operational and financial risk by embedding controls into the design from the outset. Another important first step was to show what the future S/4HANA world could look like. To do this, we created a ‘Show home’ working model of the new platform, to demonstrate the system, processes and benefits.

The joint programme team brought together 300 of the client’s best people and partners alongside PwC’s expertise covering solution, integration, data migration, roles and controls, change management and programme management. The team also covered functional areas such as regulation, asset management, real estate, finance, procurement, sales, human resources and information technology.  

The outcome: Trusted insights to optimise decision making

The overall solution in two releases was rolled out to over 7,000 users. That solution retained almost all out-of-the-box functionality, to ensure cost effectiveness, rapid deployment and the adoption of improved business processes.

The new digital platform gives all parts of the organisation access to the same, up-to-date data on spending. This allows faster and better decisions across all areas of the business, including capex asset lifecycle management. The platform also enables many standardised and/or new ‘self-service’ processes. These make services more efficient by reducing manual activity, such as expense-tracking. They also help lower compliance costs, ease IT management and reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

With the successful implementation of a digital finance solution, this leading energy business now has the capability to enable effective processes and regulatory reporting, and the trusted insights needed to inform and optimise decision making. Delivery of this significant and complex programme is a critical foundation for the journey to 2050 carbon economy targets.