Successful SAP integration for CEMEX

Global integration of new advanced enterprise business platform and strategic agreement with IBM

CEMEX have successfully completed the global integration of an advanced enterprise platform, based on SAP, in record time and cost across all of the company’s operations in more than 50 countries.

With an increasingly complex operating environment in the building materials industry, CEMEX say they have made a quantum leap from their previous platform by adopting the best technology available, which is scalable, customizable and rapidly adaptable to the ever-changing market conditions.

Based on a SAP-Centric model, the company has incorporated a robust platform that integrates more efficiently all internal core processes and enhances its ability to operate consistently across all of its operations, which will translate into a faster and better response to customers’ requirements and expectations.

‘This new platform provides real-time data from all critical processes and functions, helping us to integrate our core cement, ready-mixed concrete and aggregates businesses into a single solution that serves our customers with greater speed, precision and quality,’ said CEMEX’s chairman and chief executive officer, Lorenzo H. Zambrano.

With an open IT architecture and a radical simplification mindset, CEMEX can tailor customer solutions to meet their specific business needs, using cutting-edge technology such as mobile interfaces, fluid collaboration schemes and business-oriented social networking models.

‘Today, CEMEX runs a state-of-the-art, simpler, faster and more flexible business platform that makes our internal processes more efficient, improves our customer service and enhances our competitiveness,’ said Fernando González, executive vice-president of finance and administration. ‘Achieving a global migration of this size in just 18 months is a significant milestone that shows our commitment to constant improvement.’

Meanwhile, CEMEX have also announced a 10-year strategic agreement with IBM aimed at delivering world-class business process and information technology services to enhance business agility and scalability, maximize internal efficiencies and allow the company to better serve its customers. CEMEX say the agreement is expected to generate savings of close to US$1 billion during the life of the contract.

‘Through this agreement, we have reinforced our commitment to transform CEMEX into an increasingly flexible, agile, and competitive global company,’ commented Mr Zambrano. ‘Moreover, the agreement will allow the company to focus on its core businesses of cement, ready-mixed concrete and aggregates; improve its financial position; and respond more quickly to changing market needs.’