Introduction of S/4HANA at Trading Hub Europe (THE)
Due to the amendment of the Gas Network Access Ordinance (GasNZV) in 2017, the two market areas that existed at the time had to be merged into a single Germany-wide market area. The two market area managers NetConnect Germany GmbH & Co KG, Ratingen (NCG) and GASPOOL Balancing Services GmbH, Berlin (GPL) agreed to implement this market area merger by merging the two companies to form Trading Hub Europe GmbH on 1 June 2021.
A merger is also associated with major challenges in the IT area; among other things, a joint IT infrastructure had to be created first.
Another main task was the implementation of the application portfolio to support the business processes and the IT infrastructure required for this.
This task became more complex as the implementation had to be carried out during day-to-day business. A task for which the companies chose DATAGROUP as their partner.
Rapid prototyping with the greenfield approach
Challenge: turning two into one
The special feature of this project was to create a uniform IT landscape from two previously separate SAP systems, even though the merger of the two companies GASPOOL Balancing Services GmbH and NetConnect Germany GmbH & Co KG had not yet taken place at that time. Both companies had their own processes, which first had to be analyzed, standardized and then merged.
In addition, the interface connection in both companies was very complex. Furthermore, the actual value creation does not take place in the SAP system, but in upstream and specialized third-party systems. The documents are created and managed in these systems and then transferred to SAP, where the entire commercial processing and reporting takes place.
The task for DATAGROUP was therefore to merge two complex, previously separate infrastructures in such a way that the newly founded THE could carry out the new standardized processes digitally and efficiently in SAP, while at the same time seamlessly connecting the numerous third-party systems via interfaces.
The project: greenfield approach and rapid prototyping
DATAGROUP impressed THE with the methodical approach of rapid prototyping as a greenfield approach. With this approach, old processes are not adopted in the new S/4HANA system , but the processes are rethought on the so-called "greenfield". The aim was to use S/4HANA on the basis of SAP best practices in the standard, i.e. to replace so-called Z programs, meaning in-house developments outside the SAP standard, as far as possible. This was successful and THE benefits from the resulting advantages:
- During upgrades, not every individual program has to be adapted, which means that releases can be implemented more quickly and testing efforts are reduced
- Governance guidelines are fully complied with, so that the processes reflect the dual control principle at all times
- Rethinking processes has resulted in lean, digital processes with less complexity
- Intuitive Fiori interfaces make work easier
- A digital customer file enables proactive receivables management
- A solid basis for further digitalization and growth steps
"Turning two companies into one is an exciting but also challenging task. We are glad to have had DATAGROUP at our side as an experienced partner who provided us with expert support in consolidating our IT infrastructure."
About THE
Trading Hub Europe GmbH is one of the most attractive and, in future, most liquid gas trading centers in Europe. The merger of the two market area managers GASPOOL Balancing Services GmbH and NetConnect Germany GmbH & Co KG benefits transport and end customers, network operators and balancing group managers.
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