02 February 2005 00:00 Central Networks celebrates SAP success after business integration

Central Networks, the electricity distributor for the Central England region, is celebrating after it successfully integrated two businesses onto a consolidated SAP system at the start of the year.

Central Networks, a company of E.ON UK, started the project back in Spring 2004 as part of the integration process of Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity, which, combined, deliver electricity to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands.

E.ON UK, which already owned East Midlands Electricity, purchased Midlands Electricity in October 2003 and launched its new integrated business in April 2004.

To deliver efficiencies and best practice, Central Networks embarked on the programme that would lead to a single instance of SAP and a single set of business processes.

The project has successfully decommissioned nine major systems and has aligned the business processes and ensured all key business information is stored and managed in one place.

Roger Hey, Applications Manager, said: “SAP was originally implemented by East Midlands Electricity in 1998 and now, through the team’s hard work, the whole of Central Networks uses SAP for a range of data processes integral to the company’s operation and efficiency.

“The project proved a huge challenge and throughout we’ve ensured that we identified and implemented best practice processes from both of the former businesses.”

As part of the project over 800 new users of SAP have been fully trained and the system rolled out to over 2000 PCs.

The new system is used for such things as buying materials and services, financial accounting, project management and costing the construction of overhead lines, cables and substations. It can also be used for the management of, the electricity network, sales quotations and orders for new connections.

Roger said: “The new SAP consolidated system has delivered huge cash savings for the business and ensured we work as one integrated company to help deliver our goal to be know as the best electricity distribution company in the country.”

Following the success of the integration project, Central Networks is now looking to build on the SAP platform to further consolidate its suite of business applications and software.

Ends.

Notes to editors:
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information call:
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779