ASK: Blending trusted solutions in the cloud to build a foundation for global success
A much-needed ERP makeover
K-beauty distributor ASK wants to capitalize on the worldwide popularity of South Korean skin care and cosmetics products. By integrating SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, the SAP Multi-Bank Connectivity solution, and other SAP software, it has built an IT environment fit for an enterprise with global ambitions.
| Industry | Region | Company Size | Partner |
| Consumer products | Seoul, South Korea | 257 employees | EY |
faster creation of inventory ledger report.
faster creation of raw-material and product inventory ledgers.
ERP Operations Team Manager, ASK Company Limited
Modernizing ERP to support growth
Skin care and cosmetics products from South Korea, collectively known as K-beauty, are having a moment. Social media platforms and influencers are abuzz with news of South Korean companies known for their high-quality products and continuous innovation. One of these is ASK Company Limited, which sources its unique formulations of ingredients from South Korea’s Jeju Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an abundance of plants producing antioxidant-rich oils and active ingredients.
ASK uses a multilevel marketing approach supported by a network of sales representatives to distribute its products. In addition to six affiliates in South Korea, the company has four international hubs in the United States, Taiwan, Canada, and Hong Kong, which it wants to expand.
A growth-oriented firm needs a robust ERP system to support its evolution. ASK’s locally provided software, which it used mainly for finance processes, did not provide the functionality it needed to expand quickly. For instance, it didn’t provide integrated support for procurement activities.
ASK set out to adopt a future-ready ERP system, and it knew moving to the cloud was the logical next step.
Speedily implementing integrated solutions with expert guidance
ASK realized that migrating to cloud solutions from SAP could help its business operate efficiently in diverse target markets. For instance, it knew that accounting organizations across the world used SAP solutions for their settlement-closing financial systems. On this basis, ASK decided to use SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition as the foundation on which to deploy a range of SAP software. The solution’s production planning functionality would help the company manage its unique recipe of raw materials, while materials management functionality would enhance procurement and purchasing operations. Also of interest were sales and distribution, treasury and risk management, and finance functionality.
Another important part of the project involved deploying the SAP Multi-Bank Connectivity solution. This would help the company connect more securely with banks and other financial institutions through a business network to support payroll processes and other services. Meanwhile, SAP Business Technology Platform and SAP Integration Suite would allow ASK to expand and integrate these solutions smoothly and efficiently.
Robust guidance from partner EY, which applied the SAP Activate methodology, contributed to a smooth implementation that took just five months. SAP Preferred Success services were also key to the project’s success. New to SAP software and the first company in South Korea to implement SAP Multi-Bank Connectivity, ASK found navigating to the public cloud a challenge.
Experts for SAP Preferred Success provided comprehensive guidance spanning onboarding, system implementation, and integration strategies. Through designated sessions, including on embedded analytics and advanced financial closing, ASK gained insights into how to enhance functionality and optimize financial processes. A designated contact from the Customer Success organization acted as a key facilitator, providing expert communication, escalating requests for nonstandard functionality, and helping ensure quick resolutions to project-related issues. This collaborative and proactive approach enabled the project to remain on track and finish promptly.
After go-live, the team for SAP Preferred Success continued its critical role in driving smooth solution adoption. It assisted ASK with topics such as approvals for temporary journal entries and workflow integration between purchase orders and groupware. Additionally, customer-specific impact reports and release highlights simplified software upgrade preparations, while swift escalation guidance minimized risks and operational disruptions. This ongoing guidance enabled ASK to maximize the benefits of SAP solutions while maintaining business continuity.
Embracing agile and efficient IT operations
Having implemented its integrated suite of SAP solutions, ASK has crafted a high-performing, flexible, and unified IT landscape that supports the company’s global expansion plans.
Disparate systems are now more stable and connected. Integrated solutions underpin enhanced, comprehensive processes from production to financial and cost management, eliminating the need to collect data manually from different sources. ASK can monitor inventory quantities and values as well as sales volumes and amounts by product in real time. It can also reconcile sales and payment-gateway data more accurately.
The impact of these new solutions and the best practices introduced through SAP Preferred Success services are especially evident on the finance side, where manual work has been eliminated, efficiency enhanced, and closing processes simplified. ASK has slashed financial reporting times and increased transparency thanks to a centralized financial settlement process for both domestic and overseas entities. Not surprisingly, accounting teams report very high levels of satisfaction with the new software.
Growing the IT landscape and company in tandem
ASK is already extending its new SAP software landscape. For instance, it plans to connect SAP Multi-Bank Connectivity with the production planning functionality of SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition for use in the payment of sales representatives’ incentives.
ASK is also embarking on a three-month project to connect a new sales system with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, which will help accelerate its overseas expansion.
Having already opened four overseas hubs, ASK intends to open three additional entities in the near term, with plans to expand to at least 20 countries in the longer term. These endeavors will be supported by the flexibility, stability, and global reputation of SAP solutions.
Featured partner
Through four integrated service lines and deep sector knowledge, EY helps clients capitalize on new opportunities and deliver responsible growth. Multidisciplinary teams enable clients to fulfill regulatory requirements, keep investors informed, and meet stakeholder needs. In this project, EY helped ASK deploy best practices and meet its business needs with standard cloud ERP functionality.