The ECE Group embarks on an ambitious journey towards complete digitalization, undertaking a strategic SAP transformation that leverages the potential of SAP S/4HANA to magnify the management capabilities for its multitude of shopping centers.
The landscape of Europe’s shopping mall history has been profoundly shaped by the influential presence of the ECE Group. Born out of the innovative mind of Werner Otto in 1965, its inception marked a significant shift towards the acceptance of inner-city shopping centers in Germany during the 1970s. Today, ECE Group enjoys a robust reputation as one of the leading industry players in Europe, managing approximately 200 shopping centers sprawling across an impressive seven million square meters of sales space. Besides its flourishing presence in the retail industry, the ECE Group also boasts an extensive portfolio of properties across a broad spectrum of asset classes.
To be a global industry leader, one needs to remain ahead of emerging trends and technologies. Identifying this, ECE Group started laying the groundwork for a digital transformation several years ago, spearheaded by their Head of IT Corporate Resources, Roland Gartzky. He recognized the pivotal role of SAP S/4HANA in paving the way for ECE Group to evolve into a truly intelligent enterprise. While the company’s recent shift to SAP S/4HANA is a significant milestone, it is just another step in ECE Group’s continuous journey towards digitalization.
SAP Transformation: An Essential Step Towards an Intelligent Enterprise
The smooth transition to SAP S/4HANA, known as the brownfield migration, was executed in record time primarily due to meticulous planning and foresight. When the previous version, SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) software, was introduced, the ECE Group was already setting the stage to embrace SAP S/4HANA. Necessary elements like the general ledger, asset ledger, and central business partner (ZGP) were tweaked to align with SAP S/4HANA’s requirements. (InsideSAP often references articles from websites in other languages to bring you as much information as possible.)
Gartzky and his project team utilized the insights from the SAP Change Impact Analysis by Tricentis application and an SAP S/4HANA migration planning workshop, which provided crucial information for the change. Around 3,000 pointers were identified from a Custom Code Readiness Check to be addressed before the transition. Gartzky asserts that the resolution of these issues, thanks to exhaustive statistical studies, was efficient and timely, leading to a seamless go-live. The project team managed to bring SAP S/4HANA online within just four days without causing any significant disruption to the ongoing operations.
Moving forward, Gartzky and his team focused on fine-tuning the aspects mainly related to the linking and synchronization of the HR mini-master, business partner, and user data, which he admits were more complicated than initially assumed. However, overcoming these complicated aspects was essential for fully utilizing the potential of SAP Fiori apps in maintenance management and managing employee creditors. With SAP’s support, the ECE project team was able to navigate these challenges successfully, thus paving the way for the widespread use of SAP Fiori.
SAP Fiori: A Game Changer in Maintenance Management
One of ECE’s key success factors, especially in the shopping center sector, is efficient and effective maintenance management. Onsite technical teams bear the responsibility of ensuring smooth operations. The rise of SAP Fiori apps has proved immensely beneficial in streamlining these maintenance tasks. These applications assist in monitoring inspection obligations per center, scheduling maintenance appointments, and planning defect rectifications. Gartzky is excited about the potential these apps provide, especially for maintenance management in shopping centers.
Beyond the capable user interface and innovative processes that SAP S/4HANA offers, the ECE Group cherishes the long-term investment security that the ERP software provides. Gartzky highlights that the maintenance guarantee for SAP S/4HANA until 2040 provides them with the necessary confidence to continue their journey towards digitalization without disturbances.
In essence, this transition to SAP S/4HANA is a testament to ECE’s commitment to embracing digital transformation, thereby ensuring the organization stays in step with the dynamic industry landscape. The SAP transformation guided ECE in its strategic digitalization journey towards a future of endless possibilities.
