Company KSB
Branch Pumps & fittings
Number of employees 15,100
Turnover 2,21 bn. Euro
Headquarters Frankenthal, Germany
Challenges
Challenges
  • Timely replacement of the existing SAP SRM system with a globally implementable solution, with a modern user interface and simple system handling
  • Simultaneous Go-Lives in Germany, France and Spain
  • Creation of a new global demand approval workflow
  • Tactical Sourcing for End Users
  • Modifying the process for the shared-service-center-department with different views
Solutions
Solutions
  • SAP Ariba Buying
Advantages
Advantages
  • Intuitive shopping-interface for more than 1,400 end users
  • Improved Compliance and control over the procurement process
  • Higher level of transparency across the entire process chain
  • Establishing a globally uniform approval workflow
Why apsolut?
Why apsolut
  • Convincing representation of the implementation know-how
  • Team-oriented, open communication approach

Simultaneous Go-Lives and Onboarding in Three Countries

Breaking down and converting existing processes in a concern is no easy undertaking. Considering that the SAP SRM system at KSB SE & Co. KGaA has been continuously adapted to the concern’s own needs over the past few years, the question arises why such a landscape, which has grown for good reasons, should be transferred to a cloud solution such as SAP Ariba. According to the responsible person at KSB, this question is easy to answer:

“For the new Ariba system, wewere able to onboard more than 1,400 users in three national subsidiaries with only little training effort. With regard to our Procurement processes, we have gained significant transparency and control.“

reports Jane Wanger, Global Procurement Systems & Support at KSB.

In the first step, the core project team, consisting of employees from apsolut and KSB, set about evaluating and scrutinizing the existing structures and processes in purchasing and transferring them into best practice standards. In the second step, the highly motivated project team led by Jane Wanger tackled the eight-month Ariba implementation in Germany, France and Spain. Following the simultaneous go-lives in the three countries, roll-outs will take place in additional countries in the coming months.

Using SAP Ariba, KSB was able to define global and standardized processes, such as Tactical Sourcing. This enables demanders to independently request requirements from selected suppliers via Ariba. Subsequently, they will receive an offer from the suppliers and can transfer them into an order directly. The result is an enormously reduced free text order rate. Tactical Sourcing is one of many examples of how the introduction of Ariba can significantly reduce the workload of a purchasing department.

Maximum visibility with just a few clicks: Requesters can add products into the approval workflow and can always see in which approval step the shopping cart is in.

Suppliers can report back order confirmations and shipping notifications via the Ariba Network.

Implemented tools

SAP Ariba Buying
SAP Ariba Buying

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apsolut Procurement Convention

The apsolut Procurement Convention 2025 will take place at the Pyramide Mainz, Germany – an exciting location whose shape is symbolic of a perfectly structured organisation. Under the motto ‘Let’s build it to the top’, we want to work out with you how you can move your procurement towards such a structure. You can expect a customer keynote, a panel discussion, a dynamic combination of elevator pitches and breakout sessions, an exhibitor area with solutions from our ecosystem and plenty of time and space for networking!

Language: English

2025-02-18 Mainz, Germany

apsolut Procurement Convention

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