Fletcher upgrades SAP

By ADAM GIFFORD

Fletcher Challenge Forests has become the first New Zealand company to upgrade to SAP Enterprise, the "locked-down" version of the German software giant's business enterprise management software.

The release freezes development of the core R/3 software and promises cheaper maintenance and easier addition of new applications.

Carter Holt's IT services subsidiary, Oxygen Business Solutions, has launched a consulting service aimed at helping SAP customers in the region to make the leap.

Fletcher Forests last upgraded two years ago, and had a large amount of customised code that needed to be checked before going live, said IT applications manager John Goddard.

The company uses SAP for its timber processing and manufacturing, with modules for financials, sales and distribution, material management, production planning and plant maintenance.

It has 650 users and annual turnover of more than $650 million, making it one of the top five SAP sites in the country.

"SAP Enterprise locks down the core of SAP's R/3 software and means you no longer have to go through periodic upgrades, with the associated cost and business disruption," Goddard said.

Extension sets allowed customers to simply switch on any additional applications, "and you don't pay for them until you turn them on".