Russian cigarette manufacturer ITMS removed SAP software and switched to 1C

2025: Transition from SAP Software to 1C Systems

The Russian ITMS group of companies completed a large-scale migration from the German SAP system to the domestic 1C platform with the creation of its own Competence Center. Consulting company Axenix helped implement a project to improve the operational efficiency of the IT function, which was completed in two months. The transition to Russian software allowed the company to reduce dependence on foreign contractors, the press service of Axenix said on July 1, 2025.

Axenix analyzed the ITMS IT infrastructure, developed a model of the 1C Competence Center and proposed solutions to improve operational efficiency by reorganizing processes and introducing new management models.

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Фото: Freepik

Within the framework of the project, experts have worked in detail on several key initiatives aimed at optimizing total cost of ownership. The first stage was the creation of the 1C Competence Center from scratch. The Axenix team conducted a series of interviews with key employees and analyzed the company's current processes.

Consultants have prepared three approaches to the organization of the 1C Competence Center: full outsourcing, hybrid model and full insourcing. After careful calculations, a hybrid option was chosen, which allowed to reduce dependence on contractors, while maintaining the necessary flexibility in management.

Axenix experts have developed the organizational structure of the Center, detailed key roles, including architects, developers and administrators of 1C practice. The specialists calculated the team size and total cost of ownership for a three-year perspective.

In parallel, work was carried out to analyze the IT infrastructure. The ITMS Group considered three placement options: the existing cloud model, colocation and the construction of its own data center. Axenix conducted a detailed calculation for each option.^[1]

2023: IT Infrastructure Localization Complete

The ITMS group of companies (Kent, Lucky Strike, Dunhill, glo, etc.) has completed the localization of IT infrastructure in Russia and Belarus. During the work, the necessary project structure was built, business systems and services were mainly replaced with similar local solutions, and data was migrated . Within the framework of the project, it was possible to achieve a decrease in the number of software used by 42%, which ensured a decrease in the IT TCO (total cost of ownership of IT infrastructure) by 2.5 times. The technological partner of the project was Axenix, which announced this on November 9, 2023.

In connection with the restructuring of the business and the restructuring of processes in 2022, the company was faced with the task of localizing the systems and services used in Russia and Belarus, transferring data, as well as finding new service providers for marketing, product development and common service centers. ITMS needed not only to build a new IT landscape mainly based on local solutions, but also to optimize it, preserving the functionality and quality of service. The task was complicated by the tight timing of the project.

Axenix took over the management of the sub-project portfolio in Russia and the implementation of the ERP system in Belarus. In addition, after analyzing the state of the IT infrastructure, the Axenix team participated in the formation of an approach to new integrations and the approval of a list of analogues to replace the previous software.

Before the start of the project, about 50% of our IT services were abroad, and the necessary services were provided by global suppliers from different countries. In 2022, we decided to localize the IT landscape. We did not have a built project structure and needed a coordinator who was ready to fully control all activities. The Axenix team took over project management, architectural supervision, consulting in the selection of systems, quickly allocated the necessary resources and thanks to this everything was done at the highest level. Over 18 months, we implemented 36 sub-projects, carried out migration in 15 different directions. At different stages, the project team included more than 650 specialists from both our team and contractors, who simultaneously worked on localization tasks. And already in the fall of this year, we completed the final stage of the project, - said Igor Krivosheev, Chief information officer of the ITMS group of companies in Russia and Belarus.

ITMS faced an extremely difficult and large-scale task: it was necessary to localize the set of systems (ERP, financial, production) as soon as possible, without losing the pace and quality of production. The team from ITMS showed maximum efficiency and high professionalism in working on the project. Localization of IT systems and services in Russia and Belarus will ensure the stability and reliability of the IT infrastructure for business, - commented Dmitry Ivanov, project manager, Axenix.

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