Too many disparate systems
Like many other growing companies, SICPA found itself with a large number of geographically dispersed subsidiaries that were locally managed and using a variety of different business systems. However, an increasing awareness of the benefits of a corporate approach to business, combined with the need to streamline processes and better control costs, led company management to look for a solution that would easily integrate subsidiaries of different sizes at remote sites with head office and the major plants. Global solution with standard components
SICPA chose IFS for a number of reasons. SICPA’s IFS program manager explains, “We wanted a company with the ability to execute globally, which understand local languages and cultures, and which offered a product based on standards to support our specific processes. Furthermore, we didn’t want to work via partners or distributors. With KPMG, we set up a scenario that vendors had to fulfill. The best solution came from IFS.” The fact that IFS Applications runs on Oracle and that IFS offered a packaged implementation methodology also helped to tip the scales in IFS’ favor. After conducting an implementation study in Switzerland, SICPA decided to go with IFS. Focused implementation ensures easier rollouts
SICPA went live with IFS Applications at its Finnish site in October 2002. The IFS and SICPA implementation teams built up a “kernel”, i.e. a package of the functionality required at every SICPA subsidiary. Using IFS Business Modeler, standard processes were defined, the database was populated with basic data, and the few customizations that were required were made. This means that subsequent rollouts at other SICPA sites will be easier and faster since they will not have to start from scratch.
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