Client Problem

When a newly acquired business had to be integrated, the acquiring organisation recognised an opportunity to completely overhaul its ERP system.

The company owns two mining operations, as well as corporate and exploration offices and operations around Australia and in Asia. Upon acquiring a new mine, the company engaged SMS to project manage the IT and administration transition of the acquired mine, to develop an IT strategy and to evaluate and recommend an ERP solution.

SMS Approach

SMS employed a consultative approach in the management of the project, encouraging active participation of the key stakeholders in weekly Working Group Meetings.

In addition to the IT and administration transition, SMS: 

• evaluated and compared the client’s ERP system with that inherited as part of the acquired business
• ran an ‘IT alignment with business’ review to identify what IT projects and initiatives needed to be put in place for the business to achieve its goals and objectives (the SMS ‘Business Technology Planning Framework’ was used)
• conducted consultations in multiple client and supplier locations

Recommendation

SMS delivered the strategies and plans required for the company to consolidate and update their existing ERP systems.

The SMS team delivered:

• an IT strategy and recommended a roadmap for the company to move to a more mature and scalable IT environment
• an IT and Administration Migration Management Plan
• a Business Case, including qualitative, functional and quantitative evaluations and a risk assessment of two ERP systems and their service providers
• an IT Alignment with Business Report

Outcome

SMS's recommendations led to the successful deployment of a new IT network and an informed decision on an ERP system.

SMS delivered the project on time and on budget. The client expressed high satisfaction with the SMS deliverables and recommendations since they led to: 

• successful deployment of a new IT network in Australia
• successful migration of staff to the new network 
• an informed decision on the preferred ERP system
• the establishment of an appropriate IT function and structure

Additionally, the client benefited significantly from the risk minimisation strategies developed and applied by SMS.