What does Hana bring to the midmarket?

In spring 2014, the machine and plant manufacturer Rösler decided to tackle the first stage on its Road to Hana: the introduction of a Hana sidecar solution as the central instance for reporting. In the sidecar approach, a Hana system is placed next to the previous SAP system, e.g., as in the case of Rösler, an SAP ERP, into which selected tables are replicated in near real time. In the process, the SAP System Landscape Transformation Server takes over replication from the source system to the Hana system on the basis of database triggers. The reports on the replicated data are created and consumed using tools from Business Objects.

Business Objects in the Hana Sidecar Scenario

"Using Hana, we can prepare live data much faster and present it better in the analytics tools than was previously the case. In addition, the chosen side-by-side scenario gives us the opportunity to learn more about Hana as a database and gain experience.

In the long run, this will help us to operate the ERP suite on Hana in order to take even better advantage of the new database technology," says Marcus Henkel, Head of Central Organization at Rösler.

In the past, Rösler worked with its own programming from Controlling, created standard reports with the SAP ERP system or classically with Excel tables.

The processes from data extraction to data evaluation and reporting to visualization were complex. For the innovative machine builder, setting up a central reporting platform with standardized reporting and ad hoc reporting in conjunction with automated replication was an exciting first step into the Hana world.

The powerful Hana database enables Rösler to make fast and informed decisions: Analysis results can be accessed interactively and in seconds, costs and workload can be reduced, and performance losses can be avoided. Near real-time synchronization keeps the company up to date.

Rapid implementation thanks to coaching approach

In close cooperation with the Itelligence team, the machine manufacturer implemented the new SAP solution within a very short time and already produced the first report in summer 2014.

Itelligence's coaching approach in particular contributed to the rapid implementation. This ensured a comprehensive transfer of knowledge to the machine manufacturer's employees at an early stage through user training:

Since then, they have been able to use the new solution quite simply on their own.

"The use of Hana at Rösler impressively demonstrates how an innovative and high-performance IT team from a medium-sized company can, under its own steam and in a short time, represent remarkable benefits for the business departments from Hana and at the same time strategically position the company on the Road to Hana."

describes Hana expert Lorenz Beckmann, Itelligence, the successful Hana project.

In the first step, Rösler opted for Hana-based reporting in the sales area. Self-service access to the required data enables sales staff to make fact-based decisions quickly - thanks to flexible and user-friendly reporting and analysis processes, they can independently create their reports on incoming orders and invoiced sales.

For this purpose, only the data required for reporting is replicated from the ERP system and prepared in Hana Studio to be visualized in self-service.

This means that even less tech-savvy employees can easily analyze their data based on a unified truth and prepare it graphically to get answers to business-relevant questions quickly and easily - without having to rely on support from the IT department.

True to the motto "appetite comes with eating", other departments, e.g. production, will soon be able to enjoy reports based on Hana or the connection of data for the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system will follow.

At the same time, the next stages on the Road to Hana are being tackled for Rösler. For example, the company is actively considering the introduction of a Hana Rapid Deployment Solution (Accelerated Finance and Controlling), which will simplify and accelerate processes in finance.

With the Hana solution, Rösler will also be able to carry out business analyses in the future in great detail, quickly, efficiently and in high quality, while at the same time already making central processes in the ERP more efficient and agile.

Employees are thus relieved of previously time-consuming routine tasks - leaving more time for the implementation of further innovative topics.

Business Objects in the Hana Sidecar Scenario

• Supports timely, targeted, and efficient decision making with a high-performance database that provides near real-time information
• Replication of the data required for reporting directly from the ERP in full width
• Easy modeling and management of data in Hana and consumption through self-service in the business department - in each case with the most modern and innovative tools
• The approach already shows potential for ERP processes to benefit from Hana without having to lift the entire ERP onto Hana.

"Rösler, fit for the future"

As part of a restructuring program, the international market leader for vibratory finishing and blasting systems as well as painting and preservation systems mastered the comprehensive complete introduction of the SAP ERP-based industry solution it.manufacturing with the support of the Itelligence consulting team in 2010.

The result was a consolidation of different systems and applications in one ERP system. The transparency of uniform processes in all areas of the company has optimized business processes and simplified them internationally. Since then, Rösler has benefited from an integrated system landscape that can be used worldwide.

Rösler Surface Technology

Branch: Mechanical and plant engineering in the field of surface treatment
Company size: 1500 employees, thereof 990 in Germany
Headquarters: Bad Staffelstein
Branches: 15 subsidiaries and over 60 agencies worldwide

Facts & Figures

Solution: Hana in sidecar scenario with coaching approach
Project start: April 2014
Infrastructure: Hana Integration Platform 1.0 SP8, ECC 6.0 EHP7, SLT (SAP Landscape Transformation Server), Business Objects 4.1 SP4