ABB UK selects TCS for ERP implementation

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has carried out a successful SAP ERP consolidation for ABB UK, in order to reduce complexity, standardize business processes and systems and make better use of data.

ABB UK is part of the ABB Group, a global leader in power and automation technologies that enables utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impacts.

Part of the company’s global simplification and business transformation program, ‘One Simple ABB’, TCS has migrated the company’s Finance, Human Resources and Operations functions onto a single SAP ERP system. Bringing these operations onto a common platform will streamline these business processes, provide a single view of the business, aid compliance to regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley, and allow for central data management and information sharing across the business. Greater transparency will enable a granular view of consolidated information and create, for example, quick access to accurate data about all stock, or all business with one customer or supplier.

ABB UK has operations in over 12 main locations, with around 2,300 employees. Previously, the company’s 14 UK business units used eight different ERP systems, built up through acquisitions and local implementations over a 20-year period. TCS’ successful SAP ECC 6.0 implementation, including configuration, customization, training, post go-live support and program management, will enable ABB UK to deliver better services in a more cost-efficient way. In addition to replacing aging legacy ERP systems, this transformation program will yield substantial reduced costs for the company, due to creation of standardized platforms and common infrastructure, in addition to lower cost of maintenance and integration. ABB has also selected TCS to provide ongoing SAP support services to ensure the continuing smooth running of the system.

“Harmonizing these processes has not only given us faster access to information, but stronger collaboration and sharing of best practice across divisions and business units. Overall this means it has given us greater agility, alongside the obvious cost-savings,” said Bill McLaughlin, Chief Financial Officer, ABB UK and Ireland. “TCS was able to deliver a complex ERP solution with very little disruption to our business. Ultimately this will help us to develop innovative solutions for interfacing with our customers and suppliers which will contribute to improving their own performance.”

Other TCS customers include Volkswagen Group UK, Cummins, Scottish Water, Balfour Beatty Utilities, and National Grid.