Artem Natrusov: Economy of UST and reduction of staff which is required for accounting provided profitability of the project at once

TAdviser: What were the most important incentives which induced the enterprise to begin so labor-consuming project? Whether some other HR system was installed in the company to SAP HCM? Artem Natrusov: Basic reasons of system implementation of SAP HCM (the Molga company acted as the main integrator) consisted in need of operational obtaining reliable information on personnel. Accounting centralization, more effective use of personnel on personnel records and payroll with a possibility of creation of the center of services in these functions was required for our company. Also centralization of accounting gives economy on a unified social tax as the effect of a descending scale is lost upon transition of employees from one base in another within a year. When using of the centralized single system of these losses it is possible to avoid. Before SAP implementation the HR company used several bases which were conducted in systems from 1C.

Artem Natrusov: Eldorado uses SAP as the main transaction system. Therefore the choice of SAP HR as the solution for accounting of personnel and payroll became natural continuation of IT strategy of the company. The cost of ownership and scalability were the main selection terms. By these parameters a system completely suited us. The fact that SAP has many successful implementations of this module in Russia that significantly reduces project risks is also important.

TAdviser: What tasks were mentioned as HR systems, priority by preparation of an implementation project? What purposes were set at project planning: "automate everything that is possible" or to use basic functionality?

Artem Natrusov: We set a task to use basic functionality. It brings main advantages. The additional functionality requiring separate licenses such as remote training, can be used from other producer which will give the best combination of the price and quality. We are also going to develop additional elements of advanced functionality of SAP.

TAdviser: How important for the project was the choice of integrator? What were the main selection terms of the contractor?

Artem Natrusov: The choice of integrator is always a key step of the project. In our case it was process of the tender, standard for Eldorado company, which provided the optimal choice.

TAdviser: The project was implemented in very short time. Whether there were at the same time problems of fast adaptation of personnel to a new solution? How they were solved?

Artem Natrusov: The problem of adaptation of personnel to a new solution, of course, stood. It was solved both using training, and due to expanded testing which included payroll on real data. Permanent consultations and rapid response to problems in initial stage of commercial operation were also necessary.

TAdviser: What features exist when implementing projects of automation of HR service of large networks of hypermarkets, in your opinion?

Artem Natrusov: It is necessary to rank specifics of time keeping in shops as features and the motivational schemes which are used in shops. In case of Eldorado initial data formed in an information system of shop which is own development

TAdviser: What results of system implementation of personnel management? Whether the assessment of cost efficiency from implementation of a HRM system was carried out?

Artem Natrusov: Economy of UST was counted. Also there was a reduction of staff, required for accounting. These two indicators already provided profitability of the project.

TAdviser: What further plans of the enterprise concerning complex automation? Whether are implemented or other modules of SAP are planned to implementation?

Artem Natrusov: Now in El Dorado all main modules are implemented: IS-Retail, FI, FI-AA, MM, SD, LE, CO, CO-PA, PS, BI, PI, PIPE, MAP. We began the project on ensuring all types of accounting (managerial, accounting, tax and IFRS) with means of SAP. In parallel we work on improvement of quality of data, the system of access. We analyze additional elements of functionality of SAP (for example, Business Objects). We approach plans for implementation carefully. Optimization of the existing system has higher priority.

TAdviser: What could you recommend to the companies which are only going to implement a HRM system? Perhaps, there were some errors which braked the project course, or, on the contrary, successful solutions which helped to implement the project in time and within the budget?

Artem Natrusov: There is no wonderful council. The care in planning and necessary resources for implementation is necessary. Would strongly recommend to have the selected project manager from business (HR), in advance to plan the HR resources for testing. Important also for some time before implementation to freeze business processes to avoid changes at the last moment. In addition work on quality of historical data can begin even before start of the project. And it is necessary to come to an end of the project with qualitative data and the fulfilled procedures of unloading/loading.

Project management should include regular control of the status by managing committee which should include the sponsor of the project, accurate determination of rules of maintaining the project, its framework in the charter. The discipline of execution of solutions from business in the project of Eldorado was provided with the involvement and an active position of the vice president for HR Ruslan Ilyasov.