Shanghai Clyde Bergemann Machinery: Achieving a worry-free cloud migration to next-generation ERP
Explore Shanghai Clyde Bergemann Machinery’s journey with SAP
Shanghai Clyde Bergemann Machinery Co. Ltd. (SCB) specializes in the production of soot blowers, which are specially designed equipment for boiler cleaning. Recently, SCB successfully migrated to SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition to smooth the transition of variant configuration and make-to-order core business processes.
| Industry | Region | Company Size |
| Industrial manufacturing | Shanghai, China | 150 employees |
reduction in financial closing time (from seven days to one day).
fewer IT expenses.
Digitalization Officer, Shanghai Clyde Bergemann Machinery Co. Ltd.
Blowing the dust off core technology for an upgrade in the cloud era
As a leading player in energy conversion and production, SCB has experienced rapid business growth in recent years. However, using the same ERP software for nearly 20 years has led to problems such as data redundancy, operation complexities, excessive customized development, and high hardware and maintenance costs. SCB wanted to establish a more flexible and robust digital core to keep pace with the cloud era.
Stability posed a major challenge for SCB’s migration to the cloud. Due to the highly customized nature of soot blowers, which require adjusting and optimizing geometric parameters for different boiler models, SCB relies heavily on its software’s variant configuration (VC) functionality. Before migrating, SCB needed to ensure the integrity and stability of VC data after the upgrade.
Building trustworthy cloud migration proactively
SCB planned a successful migration to SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition with guidance and proactive advice from SAP Enterprise Support services. Given the project’s prime target of maintaining VC functionality, consultants from SAP Enterprise Support proactively formed a strong partnership with product experts from SAP Labs China and customer care services for SAP S/4HANA Cloud to offer tailored advice.
Through interactive collaboration with customers and using existing best practices and the SAP Activate methodology, the company hoped to establish a cloud mindset and ensure smooth implementation. Everyone worked together to rapidly apply product knowledge and meet specific requirements, as well as match standard functionalities to minimize information gaps. The efficient resolution of advanced VC functionality issues showcases comprehensive support throughout the entire lifecycle.
By choosing SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, SCB highly values what its experts call the software’s “proactiveness.” Semiannual system upgrade services help ensure that the company can promptly benefit from SAP’s latest products and recommended best practices. Additionally, the user experience is enhanced with the intuitive SAP Fiori user experience offered by SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition.
The continuous innovation of localized solutions for SAP S/4HANA Cloud in China not only helps ensure product flexibility, but it also better assures proactive alignment with business needs. With assistance from the SAP Globalization Services team, SCB uses localized solutions such as Chinese VAT, direct tax connection, invoicing, and financial reporting to support compliance and cost reduction along the digital transformation journey.
Empowering business innovation with professional competence and local expertise
Leveraging SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, SCB has streamlined and further standardized its business processes. For instance, the project system modules SCB used previously have now been replaced by the standard processes of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, significantly enhancing management efficiency.
With the integration of various localized financial solutions, the cost reduction and efficiency improvement capabilities of the SAP software system are further highlighted. Following the implementation of direct tax connection, the three commonly used financial statements in China – balance sheet, cash flow statement, and statement of changes in owner’s equity – can be directly generated from the system.
The smooth operation of the system and more-seamless execution of critical processes are the greatest achievements of SCB’s system upgrade. The professional competence and product understanding of experts from SAP Enterprise Support helps ensure the smooth operation of variant configuration and make-to-order core processes.