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CIO■
Information technology is so essential to SerCom Solutions that the head of IT
sits on the board of directors and the systems running the company are openly
revealed on the corporate website. GORDON SMITH hears why
OPEN FOR
>
business
FEW businesses tend to declare consolidated ERP applications. began in the print and packaging
what IT systems they use in full Henry feels this trend validates sector in the late Seventies and has
public view on their company SerCom’s decision almost a decade since diversified across a range of
website, but SerCom Solutions has ago to run its business on SAP. commodities and services. It man-
done just that. In the competitive “The entire IT strategy invested in ages everything from technology
supply chain and logistics sector – by the organisation is around the components, marketing communi-
not to mention in a tougher principles of ERP, real-time visibil- cations materials, electronic com-
economic climate – technology is ity,” he explains. “We’ve been run- ponents and finished goods to
key to giving providers a strategic ning SAP since the year 2000. We furniture, building materials and
advantage and differentiating implemented SAP 4.6c at that time even clothing.
themselves from rivals. Declaring and just last year we upgraded to Not surprisingly, the company
your IT affiliation is a badge of MySAP ERP, which futureproofs has a global footprint, with a sourc-
honour, a statement of intent. us for the next number of years.” ing and quality engineering office
From his vantage point as director To all intents and purposes, in Shenzen, China, a hub facility in
of IT, Padraig Henry has seen a lot MySAP ERP is SerCom Solutions Neuss, Germany and two locations
of technology-driven change among – the software covers all functions in Poland at Lodz and Mzcnzonow.
SerCom’s clients and its rivals. across the company’s financials, The firm’s network also extends to
“We’re seeing a consolidation materials, sales order processing, the US with facilities in Winston-
among our customer base and com- inventory control, supply chain Salem, North Carolina; Austin,
petitors towards a small number of automation and systems integra- Texas; Nashville, Tennessee;
ERP [enterprise resource plan- tion between companies, as well as Bowlingbrook, Illinois; and Reno,
ning] platforms. Companies have warehouse management, including Nevada. The company headquar-
begun to eliminate the plethora of radio frequency scanning technology ters remain in Dublin, with an
IT applications they were running and shop-floor control systems. operational hub in Limerick. All of
internally and move to ERP, and SerCom Solutions, part of the its IT – and there’s plenty of that –
I think the pace of that change DCC group, provides a range of is managed centrally from the
has quickened,” Henry remarks. services from procurement and Dublin office.
Organisations that are looking to planning to quality inspection and Henry points to the board’s
outsource their supply chains control, receiving and warehousing, “tremendous enlightenment” in
to companies like SerCom now inventory management, distribu- making such a significant state-
expect those providers to offer tion and fulfilment. The company ment with its IT, when SerCom’s
September 2008 Knowledge Ireland 23
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