EC-ONE

ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE COSTMANAGEMENT SYSTEM COMPANY-WIDE

QUICK FACTS
Industry Professional services IT/BPO services Revenue Around US$27 million Employees 158 Headquarters Tokyo Web Site www.ec-one.com SAP Solutions and Services SAP Business One application Implementation Partner NEC Nexsolutions Ltd. Implementation Best Practices Established rapid implementation as primary goal Worked closely with implementation partners Received support and guidance from company president, ensuring prompt decision making Involved key users in each phase of the project, from design to testing through live operation Financial and Strategic Benets Clear view of costs company-wide Ability to cross-check costs across business areas Support for field personnel and less experienced project leaders Accurate project management and invoicing data Ability to create budget/performance comparisons more quickly and share them company-wide Ability to drill down to more detailed data, improving decision making Key Challenges Quickly collect monthly financial data to expedite closings View project costs in real time Streamline invoice processing Enable compliance with Japanese Sarbanes-Oxley Act Why SAP Was Selected The highest point rating in company evaluation Cost management functionality designed specifically for systems integrators Ability to implement software more quickly and at lower cost than an in-house developed solution Transparency of costs for initial implementation Comprehensive accounting functionality, satisfying customers need to strengthen internal controls Low Total Cost of Ownership Calculated costs of initial implementation prior to project kickoff to avoid surprises later Used standard software, reducing additional costs for customizations and add-ons

In the Japanese market, EC-One Inc. is one of the most highly regarded systems integrators for Java-based applications. In order to efficiently manage its projects, the company needed an information system that would help it tightly monitor cost data on a daily basis. EC-One selected the SAP Business One application, in part because it could implement the software in just 6 months and at a relatively low cost.

Operational Benets Faster processes and improved efficiencies, due to automated workflow Strict internal controls, helping to ensure data security Faster monthly closings (3 days faster, with another projected 3-day reduction)

SAP Business Transformation Study Professional services IT/BPO services

With SAP Business One, we now have a transparent view of financial data for each project. Information sharing is better than ever, which helps us make better decisions.
Minoru Muranaga, Executive Director and Planning Manager, EC-One Inc.

www.sap.com /contactsap

At EC-One Inc. one of the most highly regarded systems integrators in the Japanese market for Java-based applications managers must be able to closely monitor project costs to prevent overruns. However, the company was challenged by an ineffective stand-alone accounting system, resulting in inaccurate data and wasted time and effort spent checking for accuracy. This affected the companys ability to close its monthly books in a timely fashion. In addition, all project-related bookkeeping was handled solely by the accounting department; managers had no insight into financial data, nor did they have any involvement in calculating project costs, making it difficult to identify the total costs per project.

example, SAP Business One users can view daily expenditures and drill down into project details including schedulEC-One planned to implement a new solu- ing, contractual information, materials tion in April 2007. The company had sev- and resources used, and so on eral criteria in mind during the selection enabling EC-One to reduce waste and process: First, it wanted a software solu- prevent significant cost overruns. tion that could meet its needs without extensive customizations, allowing it to The company was also able to accelerkeep costs down. EC-One also needed an ate the monthly closing process by application that it could install rapidly three days, with another projected within nine months so it could quickly three-day savings in store as EC-One reach its goals and maintain its competiramps up its use of the software. Mantive edge. agers can now prepare more accurate budgets and generate performanceHidenori Nakamura, EC-Ones IT and plan- comparison reports. And by introducing ning division manager, read about the strict internal controls, the company can SAP Business One application on an help ensure data security. SAP partners Web site and decided to do some research. He liked what he found: EC-One also realized some unexpected To solve these issues, Tokyo-based EC- SAP Business One could be implemented benefits: less experienced managers One needed to introduce an integrated within only four and a half months which now have the tools they need to exercost-management system that would would allow the company to reach its cise leadership on-site. EC-One has allow both internal and external users to goals more quickly than other options also streamlined its HR-related processaccess real-time project cost data. The and it contained cost management funces, which are critical for systems company also needed IT tools that tionality designed specifically for systems integrators. would allow it to strengthen internal integrators. Moreover, the total price for controls and enable accounting person- the initial implementation would be reaFuture Plans nel to automatically generate and prosonable: EC-One could satisfy its needs cess invoices. In addition, as a company using the standard software, precluding With an eye on the future, EC-One listed on the Japanese Securities the need for additional development or plans to expand its use of the SAP Exchange, EC-One needed proper IT costly add-ons. application to introduce further support to help ensure responsible busiefficiencies. ness management as well as compliCost Awareness at the Corporate ance with the Japanese Sarbanes-Oxley Level Act. EC-One went live with the new software Implementation Partner as planned and began reaping benefits Japan-based NEC Nexsolutions Ltd., almost immediately. One of the largest an SAP partner and a wholly owned unit benefits has been cost transparency for of NEC Corp., is a major provider of IT each project, giving employees and man- solutions and networking and outsourcagers the information they need to help ing services to midsized companies. ensure efficient project management. For

SAP Business One Application The Best Fit

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