Emirates Global Aluminium Boosts Efficiency With SAP S/4HANA Upgrade

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a leading aluminium producer, has recently entered into a strategic partnership with SAP, a global software corporation, to upgrade its core enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution to the advanced S/4HANA software. This move is set to significantly enhance EGA's data processing capabilities, increasing speeds by up to 30 times. The upgrade is a key component of EGA's broader digital transformation initiative launched in 2021, aimed at revolutionizing every facet of its operations and business model.

EGA's decision to transition to SAP’s S/4HANA software is driven by the need for more efficient and faster data processing capabilities that can support its extensive monthly transaction volume, which exceeds 150,000 business transactions. The new system will be hosted on a private cloud in Microsoft Azure, ensuring that EGA benefits from continuous technological advancements and updates from SAP. This strategic upgrade is expected to unlock new digital capabilities for EGA, including artificial intelligence and real-time data analytics, thereby future-proofing its computing needs across various functions such as marketing, sales, supply chain, finance, and more.

EGA's ambitious digital transformation journey began in 2021 with the objective of enhancing operational efficiency, customer and employee experiences, and creating new revenue streams. Abdulnasser bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, emphasized that embracing Industry 4.0 technologies is crucial for leading the aluminium production sector towards innovation. The integration of S/4HANA into EGA’s digital infrastructure is expected to significantly improve the employee experience by offering real-time, mobile-friendly solutions that integrate seamlessly with state-of-the-art data platforms.

Industry 4.0 at the Forefront

Carlo K Nizam, EGA’s Chief Digital Officer, highlighted that the adoption of S/4HANA is foundational to their new digital strategy. This strategy not only enhances operational capabilities but also integrates a wide range of Industry 4.0 technologies. Manos Raptopoulos, President of SAP’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region, praised EGA for its progressive vision in leveraging Industry 4.0 to boost competitiveness and improve overall operations.

As part of its digital overhaul, EGA has implemented over 60 Industry 4.0 use cases to date. These include employing artificial intelligence for real-time quality checks in carbon anode production and developing predictive tools for market movements in key commodities. This transformation has not only upskilled nearly 2,000 EGA employees in digital technologies but has also delivered a significant financial impact estimated at $90 million.

The partnership between EGA and SAP marks a significant milestone in EGA’s journey towards becoming a digitally advanced enterprise. By harnessing the power of SAP’s S/4HANA software on RISE, EGA is set to achieve enhanced visibility across its operations, improved flexibility, reduced total cost of ownership, and an overall enhanced user experience. This strategic move underscores EGA’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the aluminium production industry.

With inputs from WAM