Downer: Achieved up to 50% faster supply chain cycles and 20% higher productivity across key functions with Cloud ERP
Downer achieved significant productivity gains and faster supply chain cycles by migrating to SAP S/4HANA, overcoming inefficiencies and compliance challenges from outdated systems. This transformation enabled real-time insights, streamlined operations, and positioned Downer for future growth and innovation. Download the DocumentDowner: Achieved up to 50% faster
supply chain cycles and 20% higher
productivity across key functions
Downer operated four separate business units using a patchwork of outdated and
fragmented systems, resulting in inefficiency, lack of standardization, and integration
challenges that hindered unified operations and compliance. Aging technology and heavy
system customization led to high costs, manual workarounds, and an inability to leverage
innovations like AI, while specific pain points in HR and Finance—such as error-prone
payroll and manual financial processes—further disrupted business operations. These
challenges threatened contract retention, compliance with government obligations, and
the company’s future growth, making transformation to a unified, modern IT platform
critical to support operational efficiency and digital ambitions. Featured Partner
supply chain cycles and 20% higher
productivity across key functions
Downer operated four separate business units using a patchwork of outdated and
fragmented systems, resulting in inefficiency, lack of standardization, and integration
challenges that hindered unified operations and compliance. Aging technology and heavy
system customization led to high costs, manual workarounds, and an inability to leverage
innovations like AI, while specific pain points in HR and Finance—such as error-prone
payroll and manual financial processes—further disrupted business operations. These
challenges threatened contract retention, compliance with government obligations, and
the company’s future growth, making transformation to a unified, modern IT platform
critical to support operational efficiency and digital ambitions. Featured Partner
“The SAP S/4HANA uplift was a critical initiative for
Downer, driven initially by the need to remain compliant
with our critical government contract obligations. At the
same time, it provided an opportunity to take a strategic
step forward, aligning with our long-term ERP roadmap
and strengthening the foundations for future digital
transformation.”
Nicola Dorling, Chief Information Officer, Downer Group
Downer Group
Sydney, Australia
https://www.downergroup.com
Industry
Professional Services
Employees
33,000+
Revenue
$12 Billion AUD
Products and services
Transport & Infrastructure,
Utilities, Social Infrastructure
& Citizen Services, Rail &
Transit Systems and
Industrial & Energy services
Featured solutions
SAP Enterprise Cloud Services
SAP Cloud ERP, Private,
SAP Business Technology Platform,
SAP Analytics Cloud
30-50%
Retained at-risk
revenue
50%
Reduced payroll
report runtimes
Before: Challenges and opportunities
Downer faced significant challenges due to a fragmented and outdated technology landscape, with
multiple disconnected systems supporting four separate business entities, resulting in complexity,
inefficiency, and difficulty integrating processes across the organization. The aging, heavily customized
SAP environment exacerbated operational inefficiencies, compliance concerns, high maintenance costs,
and limited innovation, making it essential to move to a unified, modern platform to meet business,
compliance, and digital transformation objectives.
Why SAP
• Consolidated disparate systems onto a unified, integrated business platform.
• Enabled real-time insights and process efficiency with embedded analytics.
• Enhanced security and infrastructure management from Enterprise Cloud Services
• Reduced costs and improved productivity through streamlined digital operations.
After: Value-driven results
• Achieved 15–20% productivity gain across all business functions.
• Realized 30–50% reduction in Purchase Order approval cycle times.
• Reduced HR support calls by 20–30% post-implementation.
• Completed transformation on-time and under budget with minimal disruption.
Transformational growth enabled by SAP S/4HANA migration
delivers real-time business insights
Featured Partner
(25/9) © 20xx SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. sap.com/terms-of-use
Downer, driven initially by the need to remain compliant
with our critical government contract obligations. At the
same time, it provided an opportunity to take a strategic
step forward, aligning with our long-term ERP roadmap
and strengthening the foundations for future digital
transformation.”
Nicola Dorling, Chief Information Officer, Downer Group
Downer Group
Sydney, Australia
https://www.downergroup.com
Industry
Professional Services
Employees
33,000+
Revenue
$12 Billion AUD
Products and services
Transport & Infrastructure,
Utilities, Social Infrastructure
& Citizen Services, Rail &
Transit Systems and
Industrial & Energy services
Featured solutions
SAP Enterprise Cloud Services
SAP Cloud ERP, Private,
SAP Business Technology Platform,
SAP Analytics Cloud
30-50%
Retained at-risk
revenue
50%
Reduced payroll
report runtimes
Before: Challenges and opportunities
Downer faced significant challenges due to a fragmented and outdated technology landscape, with
multiple disconnected systems supporting four separate business entities, resulting in complexity,
inefficiency, and difficulty integrating processes across the organization. The aging, heavily customized
SAP environment exacerbated operational inefficiencies, compliance concerns, high maintenance costs,
and limited innovation, making it essential to move to a unified, modern platform to meet business,
compliance, and digital transformation objectives.
Why SAP
• Consolidated disparate systems onto a unified, integrated business platform.
• Enabled real-time insights and process efficiency with embedded analytics.
• Enhanced security and infrastructure management from Enterprise Cloud Services
• Reduced costs and improved productivity through streamlined digital operations.
After: Value-driven results
• Achieved 15–20% productivity gain across all business functions.
• Realized 30–50% reduction in Purchase Order approval cycle times.
• Reduced HR support calls by 20–30% post-implementation.
• Completed transformation on-time and under budget with minimal disruption.
Transformational growth enabled by SAP S/4HANA migration
delivers real-time business insights
Featured Partner
(25/9) © 20xx SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. sap.com/terms-of-use
20-30%
Fewer HR support
calls
40 weeks
On-time
transformation
delivery
Downer undertook a comprehensive SAP S/4HANA migration to modernize and unify its Finance, HR,
and Supply Chain operations across the enterprise. By leveraging intuitive Fiori apps, embedded
analytics, and streamlined business processes, the organization significantly improved both user and
employee experience while enhancing operational flexibility and maintainability. This large-scale,
brownfield transformation was executed in just 40 weeks, incorporating a full data center exit to SAP and
Azure, integration upgrades, and a focus on innovation in collaboration with strategic partners.
Throughout the project, Downer faced substantial challenges, including consolidating multiple legacy
systems, managing complex integrations, and migrating critical business functions with minimal
disruption. The need to exit unsupported platforms, decommission on-premises infrastructure, and
deliver change within an aggressive timeline required robust change management, extensive testing, and
strong alignment between business and technology teams. Ensuring compliance, maintaining
uninterrupted service delivery, and retaining high-value contracts also added to the program’s
complexity.
Ultimately, the migration yielded tangible benefits such as 15–20% productivity gains, faster financial
closes, significant reductions in HR support calls, and dramatically improved reporting and process
efficiency. System standardization and automation reduced maintenance burdens, lowered operational
risks, and enabled more secure, compliant operations. The transformation positioned Downer for future
growth, providing a scalable digital foundation to unlock advanced technologies, streamline costs, and
confidently pursue larger business opportunities.
Empowered for future innovation with a unified, secure platform
ready for AI and advanced analytics
Featured Partner
“Our business had an ageing legacy SAP instance that we
had heavily customized to the point that system integrity,
maintenance cost and future upgradability were becoming
an issue that needed addressing. Upgrading to RISE with
SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the business is now in a much better
position from both a cost perspective and a system
security / reliability perspective than where we were.”
Jacob Bonisch, Chief Operating Officer, Social Infrastructure & Citizen
Services, Downer Group
Fewer HR support
calls
40 weeks
On-time
transformation
delivery
Downer undertook a comprehensive SAP S/4HANA migration to modernize and unify its Finance, HR,
and Supply Chain operations across the enterprise. By leveraging intuitive Fiori apps, embedded
analytics, and streamlined business processes, the organization significantly improved both user and
employee experience while enhancing operational flexibility and maintainability. This large-scale,
brownfield transformation was executed in just 40 weeks, incorporating a full data center exit to SAP and
Azure, integration upgrades, and a focus on innovation in collaboration with strategic partners.
Throughout the project, Downer faced substantial challenges, including consolidating multiple legacy
systems, managing complex integrations, and migrating critical business functions with minimal
disruption. The need to exit unsupported platforms, decommission on-premises infrastructure, and
deliver change within an aggressive timeline required robust change management, extensive testing, and
strong alignment between business and technology teams. Ensuring compliance, maintaining
uninterrupted service delivery, and retaining high-value contracts also added to the program’s
complexity.
Ultimately, the migration yielded tangible benefits such as 15–20% productivity gains, faster financial
closes, significant reductions in HR support calls, and dramatically improved reporting and process
efficiency. System standardization and automation reduced maintenance burdens, lowered operational
risks, and enabled more secure, compliant operations. The transformation positioned Downer for future
growth, providing a scalable digital foundation to unlock advanced technologies, streamline costs, and
confidently pursue larger business opportunities.
Empowered for future innovation with a unified, secure platform
ready for AI and advanced analytics
Featured Partner
“Our business had an ageing legacy SAP instance that we
had heavily customized to the point that system integrity,
maintenance cost and future upgradability were becoming
an issue that needed addressing. Upgrading to RISE with
SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the business is now in a much better
position from both a cost perspective and a system
security / reliability perspective than where we were.”
Jacob Bonisch, Chief Operating Officer, Social Infrastructure & Citizen
Services, Downer Group