SAP Business Process Improvements

Description

The SAP ERP upgrade completed in 2007 provides Monash with opportunities to implement business functionality and utilise new technology tools access previously unavailable within the core licensing arrangement. Some of the standard business functions now contained within the SAP licence will deliver greater ROI through administrative efficiencies and enhanced management information. Under the continual business improvement program implemented in the Finance and HR Divisions paper-based processes will be phased out wherever possible in favour of on-line application forms, workflowed approval processes and embedded business rules.

The financial sub-projects aim to reduce reliance on external SAP solution providers for technical support and to implement SAP standard functionality wherever possible. Preparing business case analyses for the project portfolio will continue throughout the first half of 2008. The flagship sub-project is the implementation of the SAP Travel Management module. In parallel there will be assessment of the SAP standard modules for Project Systems, Treasury and Risk Management, real estate, Plant Maintenance, e-Procurement, Document Scanning and workflow processing.

Most HR and payroll transactions and processes are paper-based which inherently leads to delays and inaccuracies. There is enormous potential to streamline many processes by creating web-based forms with electronic approval mechanisms. This sub-project will deliver a range of new ESS and MSS functions with the focus being on high volume transactions such as time sheets and the reappointment of casual/sessional and fixed term staff. Other areas to be evaluated include overtime, position and costing changes, voluntary deductions, salary packaging and SAP security/access requests.