The Promasidor Group has launched a new project aptly named NERP (New Enterprise Resource Planning)
What is an ERP system?
An ERP is software that is used to automate and integrate a company's core business processes such as sales, marketing, production, inventory and financial management.
Advantages of an ERP System
Some of the advantages of using an ERP system include the following:
1. Integration of all business processes along the supply chain.
2. Automation of core business processes such as the order-to-fulfillment, and procure-to-pay.
3. Reduction of manual entry of data in numerous applications such as spreadsheets and provision of secure access to a centralized repository of real time business data.
Group ERP
Promasidor has a local presence in numerous African countries, ranging from the mountains of North Africa to the plains of South Africa.
To ensure efficient performance and delivery across countries where Promasidor operates, we have decided to extend these advantages a step further by having a common ERP system within the Promasidor Group.
One of the most important goals of the project is to ensure that we retain our 'multi-local' ethos but also standardize our common processes, an outcome which could fundamentally improve operational efficiencies, and positively impact on the way we function as a group.
Choice of Group ERP
Now the question is, which ERP system is capable of capturing the diverse operations of our African presence? While there are many best in class ERP solutions like SAP, Oracle etc., they are not necessary fit for our purposes. Microsoft Dynamics NAV is primarily geared towards midsize organizations with simple corporate structures and low-to-moderately complex production models. This fits our needs.
Implementation plan
The implementation of Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP system started in March 2015 for two countries, Nigeria and Ghana, and the project was officially kicked off on the 26th of June 2015. Algeria has been running an ERP solution based on this software since August 2014, which will make it easier for them to join the Group ERP platform.
The project has been split into two distinct phases, which are the core and local phases. The core phase of the project is where we analyze and define the common business processes in the Promasidor Group. The local phase of the project is where we define the unique business processes of the individual companies e.g. Nigeria, Ghana, etc.
The vision for NERP is a gradual deployment of a standard ERP over time in the Promasidor Group. With the support of senior management and the various business units we are on track to achieve this goal.