Explore Alfrecell’s journey with SAP
Transitioning from being part of a large, multinational group to a smaller stand-alone company meant that Alfrecell Limited needed new ERP software to support its operations. The foam producer deployed SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, enabling it to tailor its IT to fit the needs of the business while providing a springboard for innovation and future growth.
| Industry | Region | Company Size |
| Industrial manufacturing | Alfreton, United Kingdom | 160 employees |
months to implement.
hours saved each week on maintaining servers.
CEO, Alfrecell Limited
Making the transition to a stand-alone company
Producing high-quality polyurethane comfort foam, Alfrecell Limited supplies world-leading manufacturers in the bedding, furniture, and leisure and healthcare equipment sectors. Formally a division of Recticel NV, it became an independent business in 2023.
The transition from being part of a major multinational corporation with 8,400 employees to a much smaller enterprise with 160 employees impacted the running of every aspect of the business. However, one of the most significant impacts was on the IT architecture.
Previously, as a division of Recticel, it used the SAP ERP application as part of a long-established, on-premise implementation that served 5,000 users worldwide. When the business became Alfrecell, it had just 12 months to find and deploy a new ERP solution that would support the company as it started its new chapter.
Meeting a no-miss deadline with a best practice–based implementation
Having decided to implement ready-to-go cloud ERP, Alfrecell chose SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition. And with the clock ticking, the company knew it would need some expert guidance to deploy the solution within a tight time frame.
With a proven track record in implementing SAP software, Birchman Group offered the specialist knowledge and hands-on deployment support that was needed for a time-critical project. The consultancy followed a best practice–based approach to guide Alfrecell through the transition to the new ERP solution while helping ensure there were no unforeseen surprises regarding timing or cost.
Communication was key to success, with the Alfrecell and Birchman teams collaborating closely throughout the project. By chatting through Microsoft Teams, Alfrecell’s IT staff got speedy answers to their questions, while a Microsoft Teams site made the sharing of documentation and ideas straightforward and quick.
Another important success factor for the implementation was the involvement of nontechnical staff from across the company. The project team included representatives from seven different departments, who had the opportunity to give their input on key decisions about the deployment of SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition.
CEO, Alfrecell Limited
Driving efficiency and productivity improvements across the company
Thanks to exemplary teamwork and a tried-and-tested implementation approach, it took just 12 weeks for Alfrecell to migrate from SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition. Across the business, staff have been positive about the change, reporting an intuitive user experience that helps them work efficiently. In addition, the ability to log on to the cloud ERP from any location—whether in the office, at home, or on the go using a mobile device—helps staff stay productive whatever their schedule.
For the IT department, the migration to the cloud is also delivering strong benefits. With SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, IT staff are no longer occupied with time-consuming, routine systems maintenance tasks and can instead focus on looking at ways that IT can be used to strategically support the business.
Alfrecell is also using SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition to monitor CO2 footprints of its products through integration with SAP Sustainability solutions. This will play a crucial role in helping the company meet its net-zero target as well as providing customers with the information they need to support their own sustainability goals.
Supporting a growing company with flexible and scalable IT
With SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition in place, Alfrecell now has a cloud ERP solution that will support the company as it grows. Regular, automatic updates to the solution mean that Alfrecell can take advantage of the latest technologies to enhance processes and fuel innovation. Meanwhile, the ability to switch different capabilities on or off or quickly scale the solution as required will support the company and help it respond to changing markets in an agile way as it evolves.
The company is currently working with Birchman to plan the next phase of its technology transformation. This will include the implementation of manufacturing functionality in SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition to help the company monitor and manage capacity, boosting productivity. In addition, Alfrecell continues to refine tailored KPI dashboards for different job roles, helping staff work more efficiently and make better-informed decisions.
Moving forward, the company is excited about the possibilities offered by AI and process automation. The fact that SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition already supports these technologies means that Alfrecell is ideally positioned to explore the opportunities they can bring to the business.
Featured partner
As a management and IT consulting business with deep SAP software expertise, Birchman Group helps companies become more agile through technology and digital transformation. The SAP partner provided Alfrecell with project guidance and implementation expertise during its deployment of SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition.