The EY Intelligent Chemicals solution (ICS) is a comprehensive, pre-built, chemicals-specific, business and technology solution that is augmented with EY differentiators to support chemical companies in their digitally-enabled, SAP transformation journey. It combines a rich industry reference model, key performance indicators and benchmarks, risks and controls, test scripts, and demos – mapped to SAP cross-industry and SAP chemicals best practices. These can be used to accelerate transformation for chemicals clients.
The rapidly changing chemicals industry is a supplier to all other industries. Globally, digitization and evolving demands from end-user industries have forced chemical companies to develop new offerings and applications in more efficient, effective and sustainable ways. To be successful, organizations are having to drive transformations faster, at larger scale, and in ways that ensure end-to-end connectivity across their enterprises and partners.
Addressing client challenge areas and trends
EY developed ICS to help chemicals clients make the best of SAP solutions across the value chain while preparing their businesses for the future. Based on the latest version of SAP S/4HANA, the solution covers key chemical processes such as: Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling; Sales and Service; Finance; Procurement; Enterprise Asset Management; Multi-resource Scheduling; and Environment, Health and Safety Management.
ICS allows companies to drive digital enablement and improve processes seamlessly. The unique ICS value proposition offers the ability to map a company’s business and operating models to a technical model, built in the EY environment, test it and port it to a customer’s environment.
According to the latest EYDigiChem survey of sector leaders, more than 80% of chemical players are placing as much importance on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability as on revenue growth. Digital solutions are expected to be at the forefront of this effort. The biggest challenge respondents outlined is access to a robust technical infrastructure (40%), followed by investment requirements (38%) and then need to develop secure systems (38%).
How ICS can speed up transformation
The EY approach to business transformation with SAP solutions clearly identifies the strategic intent and framework needed to help maximize the value of SAP S/4HANA while gaining organization alignment. ICS is designed to accelerate critical business transformations, bringing industry-relevant solutions and leading practice processes to clients to optimize costs and enhance revenues. It also improves program design by taking an experience-led approach to workshops utilizing the EY industry model. A value-focused delivery approach aims to maximize adherence to SAP standards, allowing the reuse of selected components of legacy systems. This will help us focus SAP delivery for the most impactful aspects of the transformation.
ICS is complemented by an extensive suite of chemical-specific innovations, such as real-time inventory management and material valuation, effective order management and billing, accelerated material requirements planning, embedded extended warehouse management, integrated quality management and consistent SAP Fiori user experience (UX) for SAP S/4HANA, delivering additional value for clients.
ICS brings substantial advantage to our clients. The benefits from our approach include supply chain efficiency, production planning and detailed scheduling, product and regulation compliance and intelligent innovation.