NTT DATA takes the fast track to future-proof technology with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud Edition

NTT DATA takes the fast track to future-proof technology with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud Edition

Business need

A patchwork system
In 2020, NTT DATA Business Solutions decided to practice what it preaches. Like many other companies with on-premise solutions, NTT DATA was challenged by an outdated ERP system. Ulrik Hinke, CFO of the Nordic Region of NTT DATA Business Solution explains: “We had become bogged down by too many customizations across our different functions and countries. This meant that system updates were becoming overly complex, costly, and time-consuming.”

Pilot project in the Nordic region
As a result, in collaboration with valued long-term partner SAP, NTT DATA decided to migrate to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, enabling one standardized platform and better integration across the different SAP business applications and components for HR and Finance operations.
The migration would have been a massive undertaking for the entire global organization all at once. The Nordic division, accounting for approximately 10% of the total business, was therefore selected for a pilot project. The platform launched in the Nordic region in April 2023.

Solution

The freeway to a clean core
Previously, many processes were handled manually due to a siloed system landscape, but today, SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud serves as NTT DATA’s transactional core, gathering and streamlining data flows. Ulrik Hinke elaborates: “In our business, we talk a lot about having a clean core. Now, everything is consolidated into one standardized solution.”

Connecting HR and Finance
As a skills-based organization, having a seamless integration between the employee management system and the transactional system is highly valuable because it allows data synergies across the business. At NTT DATA, HR uses SAP SuccessFactors for supporting its processes and data. This is integrated with the Public Cloud platform, which means that employee data as well as master data flows seamlessly in real time between the two.

Mette Larsson, Head of People Function Nordics at NTT DATA explains how SuccessFactors supports the fact that the employees are the company’s most valuable asset: “SuccessFactors is no longer just a traditional employee data system; it now also feeds into our S/4HANA solution for finance and reporting. We can track the development and skills of our employees more easily, thereby creating even more value for our customers.”

The single cloud setup offers unique flexibility for components to operate independently, while integrating with the transactional system. This ensures that all systems are in sync and leverage the latest technology.

Outcomes

One source of truth
With the new standardized platform, NTT DATA benefits from improved data flows, fewer errors, and enhanced transparency. “We now have a single source of truth for all master data, which is critical for accurate reporting and smooth transactions,” says Ulrik Hinke, and continues: “Also, from a corporate perspective, the beauty of this platform is its scalability and accessibility worldwide due to being cloud-based.”

Alongside the core system, NTT DATA also benefits from SAP BTP – a cloud-based environment allowing the organization to develop and deploy additional applications not supported by the standard platform. For instance, NTT DATA has already developed applications for time-tracking and forecasting.

Always state of the art
After the successful pilot project, the next step is to roll out the solution across the organization. With each new country added, the system’s value will only grow, increasing transparency and efficiency as more entities join the same transactional platform.

Also, when looking ahead, Ulrik Hinke sees a key advantage for future business and innovation as SAP Public Cloud is updated every six months. This means the company no longer has to plan or worry about future implementations or upgrades – everything rolls out automatically: “With SAP Public Cloud Edition, we’re at the forefront of technology – with all the opportunities that entails – and that’s where we’ll stay.”