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CLIENT CASE STUDY

Apache Energy: SAP implementation in Australia

One of the world’s top independent oil and gas exploration and production companies sought help with the roll out of an SAP readiness program.

Overview

Working together, Apache and Accenture set up a change management office that worked to deliver a change impact assessment and action plan, a training curriculum and suite of training solutions, and a detailed training transition program.

As a result of their close collaboration on the engagement, Apache and Accenture delivered significant benefits in the areas of change management and training, ultimately supporting Apache’s significant growth plans.

Established in 1954, Apache Corporation has grown to become one of the world’s top independent oil and gas exploration and production companies, with US$52 billion in total assets at year-end 2011.

Apache has an asset portfolio that reaches from the United States—where its operations are focused on the Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, the Anadarko Basin and the Permian Basin—to Canada, Egypt’s Western Desert, the North Sea, Australia and Argentina.



Opportunity

Apache had already deployed SAP in the United States, Canada, the North Sea, and Argentina. They began the roll out of an SAP readiness program in the Australia region, followed by the start of a full implementation.

The objective of the project was to deploy the current SAP footprint into Apache’s Australian operations, with localization requirements developed and integrated into the existing solution, effectively replacing the current legacy systems.

Solution
Apache engaged Accenture to lead the implementation of SAP in the Australia region. A change management office was set up, comprising a dedicated training team, communications specialists and change management consultants. This team worked to deliver the following:

  • A change impact assessment and action plan (based on business process re-engineering).
  • Internal and external communications and an SAP awareness program.
  • A detailed training handover and transition program to ensure learning sustainability.
  • A training curriculum and a suite of training solutions comprising 40 courses, 500 online simulations, 96 reference guides, a training environment and data.

The training team facilitated and delivered training to over 1000 participants, while the change consultants set up a successful SAP awareness campaign that reached over 250 employees.

 Results

The outcomes of the SAP Implementation in the Australia region were from a change management and training perspective:

  • Support for Apache’s significant growth plans, which are helping to maintain increased levels of automation, data volumes, numbers of users and performance needs.

  • Improved processes and common business practices enabling standardization across the organization.

  • A structured training program and curriculum across the Apache business.

  • A pool of Apache trainers fully skilled and able to deliver SAP training to their colleagues.

  • A business-wide awareness campaign to prepare the business for significant change, ensuring a smooth transition to SAP.

  • A greater appreciation of the importance and need for a structured training and change management program

Industry & topics highlighted

Technology