Energy company ACEN deployed the intelligent SAP ERP software, SAP S/4HANA, on Microsoft Azure to build a multi-entity financial, supply chain, inventory, and asset management system.
As awareness of the importance of a sustainable future grows, more and more people and organizations are taking concerted action to make it a reality. Companies are increasingly embracing sustainability initiatives like achieving net zero, for example, as they recognize the need to do their part in protecting the planet. One such company that is working toward a sustainable future is ACEN — the Ayala Group’s listed energy platform — as it pledges to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by the year 2050.
When it comes to energy, ACEN has a combined 4,000 MW of attributable capacity across Australia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The percentage of the firm’s total capacity that comes from renewable sources is currently at 87%, making it one of the leaders in the area. Recently, ACEN unveiled its revised business vision and plan, which includes a target of 20 gigawatts (GW) of renewables capacity attributable to the company by 2030.
Adapting to resource efficiency, biodiversity, and climate change are the three pillars upon which ACEN’s environmental responsibility relies. However, the company acknowledges that its green journey had to begin within the organization itself, so it made significant investments in the equipment and software department. That is also why ACEN intends to be at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution and the push to embrace technology.
In order to help recognize some of these issues, ACEN deployed SAP S/4HANA on Microsoft Azure to create a single digital platform for all of its businesses’ financial, procurement, logistics, and asset maintenance requirements. Thanks to the intelligent SAP ERP software, ACEN’s management now has a holistic view of all of the company’s operations. With the huge importance of maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of solar and wind power plants, its teams understand that they must work together to develop and implement effective strategies.
Miguel de Jesus, Executive Director, Head of Commercial Operations and Information Technology at ACEN, explained:
“Without a digital business platform, running a day-to-day business can be challenging. Entities were set up differently, so teams needed more effort to collaborate. When people and processes are misaligned, work often must be redone, leading to wasted time, effort, energy, and materials.”
ACEN reduced the time it takes to complete financial statements from the industry standard of 12 days to only one week. The inaccuracy rate for audit adjustments fell drastically from 8% to 5%. With SAP S/4 HANA, ACEN was able to implement it in 15 entities in less than a year.
Leveraging the Intelligent SAP ERP Software
ACEN is well on its way toward its objective of operational efficiency due to the platform’s improved digital processes. As part of the SAP implementation project, the company focused on a few specific goals, such as enhancing corporate governance, decreasing cybersecurity risks, and cutting down paper waste.
According to ACEN’s implementation partner, Delaware Managed Services and IT Consulting Inc., ACEN has created meaningful work for its investors, employees, and the greater community. The Financials, Materials Management, and Plant Maintenance areas of SAP S/4HANA were implemented by ACEN from the ground up.
The SAP project’s first stage involved developing a benchmark document. Stage 2 saw a deployment of the blueprint to 11 entities, with an emphasis on renewable solar and wind power facilities. As of this year, 25 additional businesses are expected to do the same.
Hannie Tucay, Vice President for Finance at ACEN, mentioned that the company is able to implement sustainable practices, such as the reduction of wasted time, effort, and resources by leveraging automation and digitization. When it comes to its partnership with the German enterprise software company, Tucay said:
“Having SAP helps us to focus on our long-term goal: Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. As we commit to net zero, we are confident that the way we run our business will also have sustainability at its core: efficient internal processes, alignment towards business objectives, scalability, and expansion.”
In terms of sustainability, Rudy Abrahams, Managing Director at SAP Philippines, acknowledged SAP as a “enabler” and “exemplar,” highlighting the company’s well-articulated “Chasing Zero” vision. He went on to say that the tech giant values its partnerships with companies like ACEN that have an emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives that work for a better future for the world.
“Indeed, it is time for us to consider technology as a tool for capturing, managing, analyzing, and using sustainability data more efficiently so we can ensure a future that is greener, cleaner, and more equal than the world we live in today,” the SAP MD shared.
