SSA Global powering up with the big boys

Power and automation giant ABB and the marine business of Rolls-Royce are the largest among a substantial number of manufacturers that have opted for SSA Global’s new consolidated ERP offerings for the discrete and process industries. The deal with ABB is worth more than $3.5m and means an expansion of its system roll-out by 25% now to some 5,500 employees, all of whom will get SSA ERP LN (formerly Baan). The implementation is aimed at streamlining manufacturing operations and enabling further growth. ABB has also outsourced its IT infrastructure to IBM in a 10 year agreement, and is hosting the system on .an IBM eServer pSeries. SSA is already supporting ABB in 16 countries in particular in its High Voltage and Transformers business units within ABB’s Power Technologies Division. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce is getting SSA ERP, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Collaborative Order Management (COM), Integration and tools and application management services to support more than 2,000 users in 22 countries. The firm says it intends to use the system to improve visibility into its internal supply chain and thus manage inventory better, as well as to deliver products more quickly and to improve its after-market opportunities. Among other companies world-wide taking SSA’s new ERP are: Becker-Antriebe, Germany; Telair International, part of US-based Teleflex; Hexagon Metrology, UK; Thrane & Thrane, Denmark; Elopak, Norway; Worldfare, China; and French Maid Foods, New Zealand. “The early market response from the launch of SSA ERP LN, which has been available since August 2004, and SSA ERP LX, since May 2005, has been very positive,” says Graeme Cooksley, executive vice president, SSA Global. “We’re finding that the modern architecture and broad functionality for manufacturing and distribution is a compelling value proposition for customers.” Says Cory Eaves, chief technology officer, SSA Global: “We’ve kept our commitment to develop a modern solution portfolio for the future and we will continue to protect our customers’ IT investments. Going forward, our strategy will be focused on delivering industry-specific integrated solutions that enable customers to leverage demand-driven supply networks, service-orientated architectures and cost effective compliance.” The message appears to be working. SSA is now generally ranked third behind SAP and Oracle/PeopleSoft, although there is dispute over precise positioning in the mid market, following Infor Global’s whirlwind of acquisitions. Third or not, ABB speaks in glowing terms of its suitor. “For our Business Unit, SSA Global is a strategic partner to ABB,” says Tarek ElHadidi, group vice president of IT at its BU Transformers unit. “Their software helps us achieve our competitive position… The program to implement SSA ERP LN is just the latest example of how SSA Global is working with us to improve our global competitiveness.”