AMAG Uses Enterprise Architecture to Support Agile Transformation

architecture-4097265_1920

Learn how AMAG uses Enterprise Architecture management to transform the SAP landscape for the digital age.

AMAG Fast Facts:

Industry: Automotive
Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
Revenue: €4.0 Billion

Results with LeanIX:

Full transparency on SAP landscape based on SAP Solution Manager integration
Reconciliation of SAP and nonSAP application landscape
Collaboratively maintained, high-quality EA data platform
Preparation for transformation towards next-generation SAP architecture (e.g., HANA)
Basis for innovative, fast-paced IT besides the SAP core

THE CHALLENGE

AMAG has been shaping the Swiss Automotive Industry since 1948. Today, they are responsible for 30% of the country’s car imports and are one of Switzerland’s best-known brands. To facilitate an efficient management of the entire supply chain from car supplier to car dealer they operate an extensive, complicated SAP-based IT landscape with multiple SAP instances and clients, SAP industry solutions as well as self-developed and third-party add-ons.

This complex landscape helps them to handle 85,000 cars imported annually, 100,000 leasing contracts and 120,000 different spare parts. But it also ties up resources and imposes serious technology risks as well as detracting attention from the vital challenge of getting ready for the digital age.

THE SOLUTION

Creating transparency in the SAP landscape

The CIO was convinced that a major change was required and decided to introduce a lean Enterprise Architecture Management. Andreas Puke was established as Enterprise Architect, reporting directly to the CIO. It became clear very quickly that transparency and a joint language were a prerequisite to transforming the IT landscape. Especially in the SAP landscape, misunderstandings of concepts like instances, clients, add-ons, industry solutions and enhancement packs had led to tedious and unnecessary discussions in the past.

Generating quick wins

LeanIX was the perfect fit, due to its lean approach with a focus on usability and fast results. Rather than capturing the SAP information manually in LeanIX, the team decided to load the data via the SAP Solution Manager. Mapping onto the LeanIX Fact Sheet model was developed, not only to ensure a clear definition of the technical integration but also to support a joint consistent understanding. First, a common understanding of SAP terms was established. Then, the integration was carried out semi-automatically with the help of file imports. Finally, the feedback of stakeholders was evaluated, before a fully automated integration was established. To demonstrate the value of the project to the business, they focused on achieving high quality for the most important IT data, making uncompleted projects transparent and shutting down obsolete systems. Once the new approach had proven its value, they hoped to extend it beyond IT to the business.

Andreas Puke, IT Architecture Manager

“Everyone agreed that transparency was the key. LeanIX helped us on our way to get an overview of our SAP landscape and a shared understanding of where to head within a couple of weeks."

-Andreas Puke, IT Architecture Manager

Heading towards transformation

After some initial quick wins, the EA team needs to support AMAG on the way to successfully transform the SAP landscape. Based on the valid information in LeanIX, AMAG can now make a decision about the future of their SAP landscape, which is changing with the introduction of HANA and new flexible hosting models. Digitization is bringing new challenges such as digital show rooms and spare part tracking with it that will reshape AMAG’s whole business model. A level of experimentation and openness to new IT operating models like DevOps is required as is the capability to reconcile these activities with the existing SAP landscape. LeanIX gives AMAG up-to-date information on the IT landscape, which is supporting them with the progress of their digitization activities.

THE SUCCESS

AMAG has achieved transparency on their SAP landscape based on a semi-automatic import from SAP Solution Manager. The created transparency in SAP immediately helped to realize several quick wins. On the basis of the completed information, they have been able to start the move to next generation SAP landscape and the development of innovative IT services on top of it.

Which tools does your company use to carry out agile transformation?