CASE STUDY | ENGINEERING SERVICES | FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS
Decision Inc. Enhanced Real-Time Asset Management
with SAP Analytics Cloud.
Solution overview
Industry
Engineering Services
Solution
SAP Analytics Cloud
Location
Australia
Client
The client is an end-to-end engineering services and operations provider based primarily in Australia, with operations extending to New Zealand and Asia. It has grown significantly to reach its current position.
Requirement
The client needed to implement an improved approach for delivering Asset Maintenance Information to its internal and external users. The primary requirement was to eliminate the dependency on SAP t-codes, replacing them with a more user-friendly and time-efficient solution.
How One Engineering Services and Operations Provider Streamlined Data Access and Empowered Proactive Decision-Making for Rail Industry Maintenance.
The Client
The client is an end-to-end engineering services and operations provider based primarily in Australia, with operations extending to New Zealand and Asia. It has grown significantly to reach its current position.
As an engineering services and operations provider, the client focuses on the design, construction, asset and facility management, and operations and maintenance of services for clients in the energy, transportation, defense, communication, technology, and resources industries.
The Requirement
The client needed to implement an improved approach for delivering Asset Maintenance Information to its internal and external users. The primary requirement was to eliminate the dependency on SAP t-codes, replacing them with a more user-friendly and time-efficient solution.
It needed to fulfill a contractual obligation to an external client in the rail industry by providing efficient and secure data access for asset maintenance information. Its existing system, hosted on SAP ERP, required internal and external users to rely on transactional codes (SAP t-codes) to access data related to the maintenance of rail and rolling stock assets. While functional, this system presented several inefficiencies that hindered the user experience and delayed key maintenance decisions.
The current process for retrieving asset information involved manual navigation and the use of complex SAP t-codes. This approach not only demandedn substantial time and effort from users but also limited their ability to quickly access and interpret critical data for maintenance purposes. As a result, users faced significant delays in obtaining real-time insights necessary for timely, informed decision-making on asset maintenance.
The manual and time-consuming nature of the t-code-driven retrieval process hindered quick access to relevant data, leading to:
Wasted time and resources on repetitive manual processes.
Delays in decision-making and response times, impacting the maintenance and overall efficiency of the
assets.
Reduced real-time situational awareness, limiting the ability to respond promptly to maintenance needs.
Over time, the cumulative inefficiencies of the current process became unsustainable for us, which required a solution to streamline data retrieval and enhance decisionmaking agility. The need for a more effective method to access Asset Maintenance Information meant we needed to modernise our analytic platform and data warehouse solution.
– Spokesperson at the company
The Solution
The client sought a Business Intelligence (BI) tool that could seamlessly integrate with their SAP ERP system to create intuitive reports providing instant access to critical maintenance data. This solution would empower its client with near real-time insights, enabling a more proactive approach to asset management.
To achieve this, the client partnered with Decision Inc. to implement SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). This implementation was a global effort from Decision Inc., with the client working closely with the South Africa team to successfully deploy the solution.
“As an SAP client, we quickly recognised the advantage of remaining within the SAP ecosystem,” said the spokesperson. “SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) offered seamless compatibility, making it a natural choice for fulfilling our near real-time reporting needs while maintaining secure and efficient data integration.”
SAP Analytics Cloud was selected as the optimal choice for several reasons:
Straightforward Integration:
As part of the SAP ecosystem, SAP Analytics Cloud allowed for seamless connectivity with existing SAP tools, simplifying integration efforts and reducing security risks.
Real-Time Data Access via BW4HANA Connectivity:
With SAP Analytics Cloud’s direct connection to SAP BW4HANA—where ERP source data is stored—the client could provide live, dynamic reports that deliver real-time insights into asset maintenance, enhancing decision-making agility.
Customisable Reporting and Security:
SAP Analytics Cloud supports both standard and custom report development, addressing the client’s
specific reporting needs. Additionally, SAC offers robust security controls, critical for managing sensitive data in the rail industry.
Decision Inc.’s expertise and consultative approach through the implementation helped improve decision making in the client’s business through usable dashboards with key insights.
– Spokesperson at provider
The Outcome
The company engaged Decision Inc. as the ideal implementation partner and advisor for its SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) project. With the client’s intuitive report design and direct connectivity to SAP BW4HANA, SAC provided the functional flexibility and robust security that were essential for the client’s operations. Following the implementation of SAP Analytics Cloud, data retrieval became significantly more efficient, empowering the client with streamlined access to near real-time insights critical for effective asset management.
“Decision Inc.’s expertise and consultative approach through the implementation helped improve decision making in their business through usable dashboards with key insights.” said the spokesperson. “We were extremely confident of a successful implementation with them at the helm.”
“The SAP Analytics Cloud implementation has transformed our client’s decision-making with real-time insights and streamlined asset management,” said Henry Pieters, Engagement Manager from Decision Inc. South Africa. “This project demonstrated the power of collaboration and technology in driving efficiency and smarter business decisions. Our South Africa team was proud to lead this initiative, delivering a secure, data-driven solution that empowers their asset management strategy.”
SAP Analytics Cloud was selected as the optimal choice for several reasons:
Near Real-Time Insights and Historical Data Access:
Users can quickly query real-time data to make informed maintenance decisions. Additionally, access to historical data enables trend analysis, supporting longer-term planning and performance evaluation.
Improved Data Presentation:
The BI tool’s organised reports make information easier to interpret and connect across various maintenance processes, allowing users to see a comprehensive view of asset status and maintenance needs.
Reduced Manual Effort:
Users now access maintenance information through dynamic reports, eliminating the need for timeconsuming manual queries.
The improved workflow now includes:
SAP ERP as the Source System:
Provides the foundational data on assets and maintenance.
SAP BW4HANA as the Data Warehouse:
Stores ERP data and feeds it to SAP Analytics Cloud.
SAP Analytics Cloud for Reporting:
Offers real-time, user-friendly reports, allowing for efficient data retrieval and analysis.
“This transformation has empowered us to make faster, data-driven decisions, ultimately improving asset management and maintenance response times” said the spokesperson.
About Decision Inc.
Decision Inc. is a global digital partner that enables businesses to reinvent themselves to realise their full potential.
We deliver agility, resilience, and intelligence to any enterprise, enabling them to adapt quickly and thrive through innovation and opportunity. Our teams have engaged with more than 400 clients globally over the past 15 years, providing them with the expertise to build, operate, and optimise their digital businesses.
We achieve this by leveraging the world’s best technology to drive our client’s business ambitions forward into tomorrow’s reality. Our success is ultimately driven by our entrepreneurial culture, industry exposure, and the passion of our people. We have three key cross-functional teams – Functional and Specialist Consulting, Development, and Engineering teams.
Based in four global offices, our exceptional consultants focus on delivering value to clients by keeping them at the centre of our service delivery.