Pulkovo Airport removed SAP software and launched an ERP system based on 1C, on which it spent ₽600 million

2025

Complete transition of Pulkovo airport to domestic software

St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport has completed a complete transition from the SAP S4/HANA ERP system to the domestic 1C:ERP Enterprise Management solution with an additional module for automating equipment maintenance and repair. The project was implemented by IBS, its IBS press service said on July 16, 2025.

Pulkovo is one of the largest air transport hubs in Russia with a passenger traffic of 20.9 million people per year. The Northern Capital Air Gate company, the airport operator, decided to switch to domestic software to reduce dependence on foreign vendors. The implementation of a joint project with IBS was Pulkovo's final step towards complete technological independence from foreign vendors.

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Фото: Freepik

IBS became the winner in competitive procurement and successfully implemented a project to implement an integrated ERP system. The system was put into commercial operation on January 1, 2025 after the start of development in October 2023

The new system covers more than 70 divisions of the airport and optimizes the processes of financial and accounting, resource planning, real estate management. The solution also makes it easier to work with tenants and airlines.

The implemented information system based on 1C includes functional subsystems of real estate management, sales accounting, financial management, logistics, contract management and equipment maintenance and repair.

For MRO management, its own IBS solution was chosen - "Industrial Asset Management System" based on the 1C:Enterprise 8 platform. The module was finalized during the project, taking into account the specifics of the equipment of various airport services.

Completion of the project for the transition to the Russian ERP system

Petersburg Pulkovo Airport has completed the replacement of the German SAP system with a Russian ERP platform based on 1C. The new solution combines the key production, administrative and financial processes of the aircraft harbor on a single platform. The company "Air Gate of the Northern Capital" announced this on June 27, 2025.

According to TASS, the implemented system allows you to control a number of airport processes on one platform. Additionally, an airport management system and artificial intelligence for working with data and business analysis are being introduced. Pulkovo Airport acted as an industry partner and co-developer of some solutions for the aviation industry.

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Фото: Alexander Baranov/Kommersant

In September 2024, the Northern Capital Air Gate Company and the IBS Group joined forces to achieve technological independence in the air transport industry. As part of the strategic partnership agreement, the parties agreed to work together in the field of import substitution and the creation of domestic ERP solutions.

The airport has also developed a platform for managing mobile resources when servicing MRMS aircraft. The system covers the period from the moment the aircraft lands to takeoff and tracks more than 5,000 technological tasks per day with a load of more than 300 flights per day.

The infrastructure of the check-in counters and boarding gates has been completely transferred to domestic software. A solution for baggage handling and baggage picking management has been launched from the register of Russian software. These measures are included in the general strategy of technological independence of the enterprise.

The transition to Russian IT solutions allowed the airport to reduce dependence on foreign technology platforms. Import substitution in the field of aviation infrastructure has become a priority for the development of the industry. Own developments provide greater flexibility in adapting systems to the specific needs of the airport complex.

Earlier it was reported that Pulkovo is switching to the Russian ERP system as part of the rejection of SAP software. The initial tender price exceeded ₽600 million.^[1]

Vendor Selection

At the end of September 2023, the Air Gate of the Northern Capital, the management company of Pulkovo Airport, held competitive negotiations with the determination of the results by the commission to select a service provider for the development and implementation of an ERP solution on the 1C:Enterprise 8^[2] platform.

The purchase was placed for the third time, the previous two - from June and August - were previously canceled.

As follows from the published minutes of the meeting of the customer's commission, a total of 6 applications were received for competitive negotiations. They were submitted by Wone IT, Omega, X-Igrek-Zet Automation, Navigator, IBS Expertise and TS Digital Technologies (a subsidiary of T1).

IBS Expertise made the most profitable offer to Pulkovo Airport to switch from SAP to 1C "(photo: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)"

The applications of the first three applicants were rejected as non-compliant. Of the remaining three companies, the commercial proposal of IBS Expertise was chosen as the most suitable for the needs and economic interests of the Northern Capital Air Gate.

With an initial purchase price of about 601.7 million rubles, IBS Expertise offered the largest discount - it is ready to perform work for 539 million rubles.

The project was initiated due to the need for import substitution of the ERP solution used on the platform, SAP S4/HANA according to the published terms of reference. For more information on what solutions "" Pulkovo 1C Airport plans to implement, see the blocks below.

Purchase with a new price - 601.7 million rubles

In mid-September 2023, the Northern Capital Air Gate, the management company of Pulkovo Airport, published for the third time the purchase of services for the development and implementation of an ERP solution on the 1C:Enterprise 8 platform ^[3]. The previous two purchases placed in June and August were canceled.

As before, the tender is held through competitive negotiations with the determination of the results of the commission. At the same time, compared to the two previous tenders, the maximum price of services increased by one and a half times: now it is about 601.7 million rubles, while earlier it was about 386.3 million rubles.

In the published justification of the maximum purchase price, it is indicated that it was defined as the minimum among the received quotations from suppliers. In total, offers, as before, came from three suppliers, two of them - with the same prices as before.

What is the reason for this, one of the suppliers has now offered the price higher, the procurement documentation does not specify.

It follows from the terms of reference for the purchase that the work outline remains the same as in the August purchase. The main configurations applicable to the project are:

• 1C ERP Holding Management.
• "1C Real Estate Management";
• "1C Motor Vehicle Management";
• "1C Maintenance and repairs";
• "1C Occupational Safety and Health";
• "1C Enterprise Accounting";
• 1C Document Flow.

The Northern Capital Air Gate will select a service provider to switch from SAP to 1C (photo: RIA Novosti/Alexander Halperin)

The selection of the Standard, Prof or Corp versions of a specific configuration must be carried out at the functional modeling stage, and such a change should not lead to an increase in the project cost.

All 1C configurations within the project should be used in the mode of maximum use of typical mechanisms - this is one of the requirements in the terms of reference.

According to the work plan, they should start on October 10, 2023, and complete by April 30, 2025.

The project for the implementation of "1C" in Pulkovo was initiated due to the need for import substitution of the solution used by ERP on the SAP S4/HANA platform, the terms of reference says.

The company is switching to 1C from a fairly fresh implementation. SAP Pulkovo launched a digital transformation of Pulkovo Airport based on the products of the German vendor Air Gate of the Northern Capital in June 2019^[4]the first step in the transformation in 2020 was the launch of the SAP S/4HANA enterprise management platform with in-memory technology and capabilities machine learning^[5] covered the work of more than 70 divisions of Pulkovo airport, optimized the processes of financial and accounting, resource planning, including supply, real estate management, maintenance and repair of special equipment and equipment, simplified work with tenants and airlines and "laid the foundation for the formation of more flexible tariffs and new services."

In October of the same year, this project received the SAP Value Award, as one of the leaders in digital transformation^[6].

The representative of the Air Gate of the Northern Capital previously told^[7]which the company switched to SAP from a solution based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Against the background of the growth of passenger traffic and the volume of business of the airport, this ERP no longer allowed to develop and improve business processes.

The new system "Air Gate of the Northern Capital" was chosen based on the results of an open tender procedure, in which, among other things, 1C partners took part. But the SAP solution at that time "met the requirements most fully."

Second accommodation

On August 16, 2023, Pulkovo Airport published for the second time the purchase of services for the development and implementation of an ERP solution on the 1C:Enterprise 8 platform. The organization abandons the software of the German company SAP in favor of 1C solutions. The implementation of the project will cost approximately 386.3 million rubles.

Almost all key Pulkovo information systems will be transferred to the Russian platform. These are, in particular, the Real Estate Management service (rent, electricity, airport water supply, etc.), the Sales Accounting service (aviation and non-aviation revenues), the Logistics service, the system for accounting for the fleet and drivers, etc. The airport intends to use "1C ERP Holding Management," "1C Motor Vehicle Management," "1C Enterprise Accounting" and other domestic solutions to fulfill its daily tasks.

Pulkovo switches to 1C solutions

The purchase was planned to be carried out in the format of "competitive negotiations with the determination of the results of the commission" - these are tenders in which participants fight for the right to conclude an agreement with the customer on the terms put forward in the applications and proposals. The Contractor shall ensure "the possibility of minimizing system downtime for updates for critical subsystems with the requirement of their round-the-clock continuous operation."

Pulkovo already uses Russian software in its separate IT systems. In particular, the infrastructure for passenger service has been completely transferred to domestic solutions. Both Russian and foreign products are used in office systems, but the airport, if necessary, is ready to abandon foreign software.^[8]

First Procurement Placement

The Air Gate of the Northern Capital, the management company of Pulkovo Airport, in June 2023 published the purchase of services for the development and implementation of an ERP solution on the 1C:Enterprise 8 platform. ^[9] 8^[10]. It is planned to choose the contractor through competitive negotiations. The maximum price that the company is ready to pay for these services is about 386.3 million rubles.

As follows from the published technical assignment, the implementation project "1C" was initiated due to the need for import substitution of the solution used by ERP on the SAP S4/HANA platform.

At the beginning of 2025, the Northern Capital Air Gate expects to launch ERP on the basis of 1C:Enterprise 8 into commercial operation (photo: Vedomosti/Evgeny Egorov)

The information system based on 1C should include the following functional subsystems: real estate management, sales accounting, financial management, logistics, contract management, MR, MR _ Transport.

The financial direction includes requirements for the automation of regulated accounting, tax accounting, accounting under IFRS, for the implementation of treasury and budgeting. Logistics implies, among other things, requirements for the organization and conduct of procurement, including corporate 223-FZ, follows from the terms of reference.

Pilot operation of the ERP-solution based on "1C" is planned to begin before the end of 2024, and from January 1, 2025 to put into commercial operation.

The project also provides for monitoring and support services until April 30, 2025 and training employees to work with the system. Key users and at least one substitute should be trained in case a key user is unavailable.

The Northern Capital Air Gate plans to take stock of the purchase on July 4, 2023.

In early June 2023, Pulkovo Airport also opened a vacancy as the head of the 1C implementation project. He will serve as a technical leader in the migration from ERP SAP S4/HANA to 1C^[11].

Notes