This partner insight is brought to you by NovioQ.
Today’s enterprises need ERP systems that can both standardize core processes and support unique business requirements. SAP excels at providing a solid foundation, but organizations frequently discover that maintaining competitive advantages requires more flexibility than what ERP customizations can provide.
Recent ASUG research reflects a growing recognition that success with SAP requires striking a balance between preserving differentiated processes and upholding system integrity. The path forward lies in creating an agile layer around the ERP core by using complementary technologies that can adapt quickly to changing needs without compromising system integrity.
Low-code platforms have emerged as an effective approach in this respect, enabling organizations to build custom applications that work alongside their core ERP, or in many cases, multiple ERPs. These agile applications can address specific business needs without compromising system stability or scalability.
One use case of this Agile ERP strategy in action addresses the unique challenge of Master Data Management (MDM) and Governance. Surveyed members in ASUG’s annual Pulse of the SAP Customer Research recently ranked MDM and Governance as the second-most significant challenge, just above moving to SAP S/4HANA and just below budget.
In manufacturing environments, the specific domain of Materials MDM drives everything from procurement to production to shipping. Creating a new material in SAP typically requires populating up to 200 supporting data fields — whether it’s for raw materials, finished products, or packaging components. No single person holds all this knowledge — creating and enriching materials data demands coordinated input from stakeholders across accounting, warehouse management, production, and other departments.
This coordination challenge exists regardless of where organizations are in their ERP journey. Whether running traditional SAP, migrating to S/4HANA, or already operating on a new platform, companies need solutions that can integrate into their environment and maintain system integrity while supporting their unique business requirements.
Traditional ERP interfaces require MDM specialists to navigate complex screens and manual processes. Without system-driven governance processes, materials data quickly becomes outdated or duplicated, creating compliance risks and operational bottlenecks.
NovioQ works with clients to deliver an agile workflow solution that supports their unique processes, integrates with existing systems, and directly addresses these materials data challenges:
- Configurable rules enforce data requirements specific to each department
- Simplified screens replace complex ERP interfaces for data entry
- Automated notifications route tasks to the right subject matter experts
- Team collaboration tools track handoffs between departments
- Multi-system integration maintains data accuracy
This combination of automation and governance helps organizations maintain data integrity while significantly reducing the time required for materials management tasks. Most importantly, it maintains the core ERP as the single source of truth while providing the flexibility needed to adapt to changing business requirements.
From Concept to Reality: Syngenta’s Experience
Syngenta, a global leader in agriculture providing seeds, crop protection, and farming technology, faced this exact challenge: its product production cycle was hampered by manual, long-running materials data updates and enrichment processes spanning multiple countries, product lines, and production sites.
“Managing material master data at Syngenta is a critical part of our ability to deliver quality products across our global operating environment,” said Ruth Montgomery, Master Data Manager at Syngenta. “The process must integrate with our current ERP and MDM systems, ensuring seamless data transfer from the single point of truth while also easily adapting to the unique needs of our regional business operations.”
Working with NovioQ, Syngenta implemented “Enrich,” a modern Materials Master Data Creation workflow platform. The results demonstrated the power of this approach:
- Materials management processes that once took weeks or months were reduced to days or even hours
- Automated governance significantly reduced compliance risks
- Data entry quality increased through streamlined, consistent processes
- The MDM business team gained the ability to independently make workflow and rule changes in near real-time
- A centralized global platform provided increased control while accommodating regional variations
“Working with NovioQ, we were able to quickly and efficiently deploy a new Material Master Data Creation workflow solution that is easy to work with, automates much of the create and enrich process, and engages the right people at the right time to make sure the material is ready to produce, stock, ship and sell,” explained Montgomery.
The impact on Syngenta’s operations has been substantial. “With this solution in place, our business is now able to create and enrich material data records much faster with lower errors and less human interaction,” noted Montgomery. “In addition, the flexible platform allows us to make business rules and process changes quickly to ensure the process keeps up with the demands of our business.” This ability to rapidly adapt to changing business requirements while maintaining data integrity represents a key advantage of the low-code approach.
The Path Forward
Typically, a small team of two NovioQ low-code experts can deliver an initial solution from concept to production launch in just 2-3 months — a timeline that would typically require three-to-five-times more resources and time using traditional methods.
For companies that have already chosen their SAP path but struggle with how to address their custom use cases, such as managing Materials and other MDM domains, NovioQ’s approach shows how a focused low-code solution can solve a specific business challenge while preserving core system integrity.
To learn more about bringing agility into your ERP strategy and/or implementing this Materials MDM solution in your environment, contact Willy Fox at w.fox@novioq.com.
Willy Fox is Managing Director at NovioQ North America, where he helps enterprise clients evaluate and apply technology to solve complex business problems. Connect with him on LinkedIn.