In a strategic move to strengthen its operations and harness the benefits of Industry 4.0, GRP, one of Indonesia’s leading steel manufacturers, has partnered with Rimini Street. This collaboration aims to enhance SAP S/4HANA support, a critical component for GRP’s digital transformation initiatives.
With the rise of digital technologies and automation, the manufacturing sector is undergoing substantial changes. Companies must pivot towards more efficient operations to remain competitive. GRP recognizes this need, and by teaming up with Rimini Street, it can redirect resources to vital projects like its smart factory initiative.
Rimini Street, known for its global enterprise software support services, will provide ongoing assistance for GRP’s SAP systems. This decision enables the manufacturing giant to focus its energy on innovation without the constant worry of software malfunctions or inadequate support—a crucial advantage in an industry where operational efficiency and quick decision-making can significantly impact success.
Ivan Widjaksono, Head of Digital Transformation at GRP, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “With Rimini Street fully supporting our SAP systems, my team can focus 100% on realizing our Industry 4.0 vision. The cost savings achieved through this partnership are substantial and allow us to fund our forward-looking projects.”
One of the most compelling aspects of Rimini Street’s support is the access it provides to dedicated and experienced SAP professionals. Companies leveraging this service can rest assured that top-tier experts are available to address any issues that may arise. This plays a crucial role in enabling GRP to concentrate on projects that keep it at the forefront of competitive manufacturing.
The partnership also signifies a broader trend in the manufacturing industry, where companies are increasingly viewing Industry 4.0 not just as an operational necessity but as an opportunity to optimize efficiency and gain market advantage. Michael Cortesio, Rimini Street’s Vice President of Manufacturing and Industry Solutions, mentioned the challenge of turning operational expenditure (OPEX) savings into capital expenditure (CAPEX), a necessary step to invest in transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA).
For GRP, the S/4HANA system serves as a central hub for collecting and managing production data. This data is vital for generating analytical reports through an integrated AI system, ultimately improving data visualization and predictive analysis. Widjaksono pointed out, “Data is everything when it comes to AI. Ensuring that SAP data collection is running efficiently is essential to our operations, as the results can help with rapid and strategic decisions regarding production and profitability.”
The partnership with Rimini Street offers GRP numerous benefits. An immediate advantage is direct access to a Primary Support Engineer alongside a network of global experts. The service level agreements provided by Rimini ensure quick response times, which is critical for a manufacturer operating around the clock.
“Running a manufacturing operation 24 hours a day means our SAP systems must also function continuously,” noted Widjaksono. “Rimini Street makes that possible.”
As GRP embarks on its journey toward cost reduction and operational efficiency, the significance of having streamlined access to vital information cannot be understated. This not only enhances decision-making agility but also fosters an environment conducive to growth and profitability.
Widjaksono pointedly remarked on the nature of savings achieved through this cooperation, describing Rimini Street as a “snowball of savings and innovation.” These savings create opportunities for GRP to reinvest in further innovative projects, potentially leading to even greater financial impacts.
Reflecting on the benefits that have unfolded from this partnership, Widjaksono expressed a sense of missed potential, stating, “If we had engaged with Rimini Street earlier, we could have accelerated our digital transformation initiatives sooner.” His message to other business leaders is clear: “Connect with Rimini Street as soon as possible to explore how a partnership can help achieve your strategic objectives.”
As digital transformation reshapes the landscape of manufacturing, partnerships like that of GRP and Rimini Street hold promising potential. They signify a proactive approach in leveraging technology to not just survive but thrive in a competitive marketplace.
Industry 4.0 is here, and companies that recognize its importance and act swiftly will be the ones leading the way in manufacturing excellence.
