One of the sessions I sat in at UKISUG Connect 2024 covered a real-world example of data management using a solution from Bluestonex Consulting, based on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP).
The session by Liz Cotter, Data Manager for Water Wipes, and Richard Henry, Commercial Director of BluestoneX Consulting, was called “From Challenges to Triumph: WaterWipes’ Data Management Revolution with Maextro.”
The presentation offered a rare glimpse into how an agile and forward-thinking organization like WaterWipes tackled the critical issue of data governance during a time of significant digital transformation.
The Journey of WaterWipes: Challenges and Aspirations
WaterWipes, with the slogan “the world’s purest baby wipes,” has built its reputation on the principles of purity and trust. Founded to provide safe, chemical-free baby wipes, WaterWipes carries a commitment to high safety standards. This dedication extends to their internal operations, where poor data quality was identified as a significant potential risk to product quality, and hence their brand reputation.
After transitioning from a bespoke ERP system to S/4HANA, the company faced several challenges:
- Lack of Governance: Data governance was not included in the initial scope of the transformation, leaving the organization exposed to risks from poor-quality data.
- Impact of Errors: Erroneous data posed immediate risks to operations and long-term damage to customer trust.
- Need for Agility: As a rapidly growing organization, WaterWipes required a solution that could adapt to their dynamic business environment and support future growth.
Recognizing these gaps, WaterWipes sought a solution that would address these challenges while maintaining their “clean core” strategy—a commitment to keeping their ERP streamlined and efficient.
Introducing Maextro: The Solution
Enter Maextro, an SAP-certified data management and governance solution developed by Bluestonex. Built on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), Maextro is designed to simplify data processes while ensuring transparency and control.
Key features of Maextro include:
- Data Health and Cleansing: Tools for cleaning and managing critical data.
- Data Onboarding: Streamlined processes for introducing new data objects.
- Economic Adaptability: A modular, pre-built solution with low-code/no-code capabilities, enabling rapid deployment and customization.
- Modular Approach: Address immediate pain points while retaining scalability for future needs.
For WaterWipes, Maextro provided an ideal solution to manage their data processes efficiently while adhering to their operational and regulatory requirements.
Rapid Deployment with Bluestonex
The partnership with Bluestonex proved pivotal in driving WaterWipes’ success. By adopting a modular, agile approach, WaterWipes rapidly deployed Maextro using pre-built templates, reducing costs and accelerating time-to-value. This strategic decision allowed them to realize business benefits quickly without compromising on quality or user satisfaction.
One standout moment was their decision to segment the Business Partner object implementation into a separate phase based on user feedback. This flexibility underscored the collaborative nature of the project and ensured alignment with user needs.
Lessons Learned
The project wasn’t without its share of insights and takeaways. WaterWipes shared several key lessons:
- Granular Mapping of Workflows: Thoroughly map workflows before finalizing requirements.
- Regulatory Priorities: Design key controls around regulatory requirements early.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Identify product owners and engage them in data harmonization and cataloging efforts.
- Clarity on Master Data: Clearly define what constitutes master data to avoid confusion.
- Seamless Deployment: Ensure close collaboration with Basis teams for smooth implementation and testing.
A New Era of Data Management
With Maextro in place, WaterWipes is well on its way to becoming self-sufficient in managing and scaling their data governance framework. The success of this project has not only addressed immediate challenges but also laid the foundation for further innovation on the SAP Business Technology Platform.
Looking ahead, WaterWipes plans to expand their use of BTP to explore additional use cases, ensuring their data processes continue to evolve alongside their business.
The success of WaterWipes’ partnership with Maextro and Bluestonex is just the beginning. Looking forward, the company has a clear vision for extending and enhancing their data management capabilities to support continued innovation and scalability.
Next Steps in Data Management & Governance
WaterWipes now has a robust framework to build upon. Upcoming project phases will include:
- Phase 2 and Phase 3 Rollouts: Extending Maextro to finance and customer objects to ensure comprehensive governance across all critical data domains.
- Extensibility with Business Partner (BP): Integration Suite will enable seamless third-party data connectivity, while Datasphere connections will empower enhanced reporting and analysis. Teams integration will further streamline collaboration across the organization.
Driving Innovation with Pre-Built and Clean Core Solutions
WaterWipes is committed to adopting more pre-built, innovative solutions to support their clean core strategy. By leveraging no-code/low-code configurations, they aim to continue transforming business operations, ensuring agility and scalability without adding complexity to their ERP system.
Laying the Foundation for AI Readiness
With high-quality data and a cutting-edge platform like Maextro, WaterWipes has set a strong foundation for AI-driven innovations. As they explore the potential of artificial intelligence, the clean and governed data environment will ensure they can extract meaningful insights and drive intelligent decision-making in the future.
WaterWipes’ journey demonstrates the power of aligning technology with strategic goals, all while maintaining the integrity and values that define their brand.