Sky Technologies Case Studies

Mobilizing world business

Sky Technologies
Success Stories

WATER
C O R P O R A T I O N

Success Story

AAPL deploys SkyMobile
to manage inventory and
production processes
Australian Arrow Pty Ltd (AAPL) is the largest
supplier of wire harnesses to the Australian
At a glance:
Manufacturer and supplier of wire
automotive industry. AAPL is an Oceanic affiliate
harnesses to the automotive industry. of the Yazaki Corporation.
Industry:
Manufacture
Solution: Challenge dependencies and queuing are all catered for
Use a common framework for application within the suite without any need for complex
Inventory and production management
development across multiple SAP® modules in programming.
utilizing SkyMobile
both real-time and stand-alone modes.
Results:
A flexible application development framework
– Enables a variety of RF devices to be Solution AAPL required a solution for Radio Frequency (RF)
deployed throughout the business, AAPL has developed the solution using SkyMobile. applications across a number of SAP® transac-
across a variety of business The implementation comprised stand-alone tions / modules. Additionally, they needed a
processes. warehouse systems and real time inventory and framework that provided real-time transaction
– Gives flexibility which means that production recording systems in both Australia processing with store and forward / stand alone
AAPL IT staff can readily ‘DIY’ to and Samoa. capability.
include new applications in the system
Benefits Solution detail
The solution enables a variety of RF devices to be The final solution was delivered using SkyMobile,
deployed throughout the business, across a which enabled the RF applications to be
variety of business processes. The common developed inside SAP®, without the need for any
application development framework gives flexibil- middleware. The Samoan operations (where
ity which means that AAPL IT staff can readily connectivity to the SAP® system is unreliable)
‘DIY’ to include new applications in the system. have store-and-forward capability, so if, or when,
SkyMobile provides complete visibility to all the connection is down, production recording
subsequent updates in SAP®. can continue with no impact to the shop floor
staff.
AAPL utilize SkyMobile for all of their SAP® mobility
needs. All updates are monitored and managed Phase I enhancements included a complete
by the business using the highly visible and easy- stand-alone warehousing application which was
to-use tool. The high volume nature of the integra- developed for the new distribution facility in
tion is easily catered for by SkyMobile. Intelligent Adelaide, Australia. All inventory and despatch
processing of transactions reduces the load on functionality can be processed ‘locally’ without a
SAP®. Further, more complex connection to SAP®.

SAP® updates are subsequently synchronized Information such as logs, configuration, database About Sky Technologies
back to the SAP® system when the connection is definitions and data can all be easily displayed Sky Technologies specialize in Enterprise
available. from the server’s administration web page via the Mobility Solutions for SAP® software.
Local Area Network.
AAPL have also undertaken to integrate this SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise Application
distribution centre model with their customer’s Future proof Platform (MEAP) is a certified add-on for
production line which will enable real-time The scalable architecture of SkyMobile enables all SAP® systems. SkyMobile enables SAP®
production demands to be fed into the warehous- AAPL to deploy any number of applications in customers to deploy any SAP® application
ing application for picking. SkyMobile is capable order to meet business needs. AAPL’s IT staff to any device, anytime, anywhere utilizing
of delivering such flexible solutions. use the application AAPL’s IT staff use the a single integrated framework.
application workbench inside SAP® to configure
Device & System management new applications as is needed by the business. With a client base spanning across the
The device management console resides inside Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
SAP® and enables support staff to view every Asia , Sky Technologies is the world leader
detail associated with the remote SkyMobile in enterprise mobility solutions for SAP® .
servers.

For more information
For more information on this and other
solutions provided by Sky Technologies,
please visit our website
skytechnologies.com or e-mail us at
info@skytechnologies.com

© 2010 by Sky Technologies Pty Ltd.
All rights reserved. Sky Technologies products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sky
Technologies in Australia. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.
Data contained in this document serves informational purposes only. Product specifications may vary. These materials are subject to change without notice.
These materials are provided for informational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind, and Sky or its partners shall not be liable for
errors or omissions with respect to the materials. The only warranties for Sky Technologies products and services are those that are set forth in the express
warranty statements accompanying such products and services, if any. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.

Success Story

CSR implement an integrated
POS, EFT payment and
transport availability system
The CSR group is one of the world’s largest building
materials suppliers, with operations in Australia, Asia
At a glance:
One of the world’s largest building
and New Zealand. The Australian businesses cover over
materials suppliers. 500 locations, predominantly on the eastern seaboard.
Industry:
Building materials supplier
Solution: Challenge SAP® Integration
CSR’s Building Materials Division needed the POS and EFT processing from within SAP®.
POS, EFT payment and transport
implementation of an efficient and effective point SkyConnect is used to manage all of the POS and
availability system utilizing SkyMobile
of sale (POS) operation at its chain of Gyprock EFT processing from within SAP®.
and SkyConnect
Trade Centres and Bradford Insulation Distribution
Results:
and Branch offices, which comprised POS All transaction updates are monitored and
– Minimize customer wait time. devices with integrated Electronic Funds Transfer managed by the business using the highly visible
– Improve productivity and quality of (EFT) functionality feeding into the SAP® order and easy-to-use tool.
sales and customer service. entry module.
– Payment by EFT, cash or cheque with SkyConnect is used to integrate SAP® with the
direct integration with SAP®. Solution external banking gateway together with all of the
– Checks transportation capacity at CSR selected SkyPOS to provide a full, end-to- POS devices:
point of sale to ensure that delivery end solution, tailored for their unique business EFTPOS PIN pad.
can be met. processes, hardware and EFT provider.
Cash drawer.
Benefits Bar code scanner.
Minimize customer wait time. Cheque scanner.
Improve productivity and quality of sales and
customer service. Solution detail
Using Sky Technologies’ products, CSR has
Payment by EFT, cash or cheque with direct
integration with SAP®. integrated their Sales Order Entry, Payment
Capture, Transport Availability and EFT devices
Checks transportation capacity at point of sale directly with their SAP® ERP sales and delivery
to ensure that the Customer Service Level
Agreement for delivery can be met. processing. This approach maintains the advan-
tages of a single, central, integrated ERP system,
whilst improving productivity through a stream-
lined POS process. A major advantage of this
implementation is the elimination of additional
middleware, which simultaneously reduces
infrastructure cost and the resources required for
support.

Fast order entry transaction screens were Control over the transaction. If no bank approval About Sky Technologies
developed in SAP® to provide an efficient means is received, then the sale cannot proceed. The Sky Technologies specialize in Enterprise
of capturing sales orders. order is automatically cancelled in SAP® with a Mobility Solutions for SAP® software.
valid rejection code noted for each line item.
Moreover, the order is not ‘lost’ – rather, it can
Further productivity gains were achieved by using be finalized at a later date using alternative SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise Application
technology to scan products, process credit payment details. Platform (MEAP) is a certified add-on for
cards and print or record images of POS transac- all SAP® systems. SkyMobile enables SAP®
Timely printing of tax invoices. After finalizing the
tions. customers to deploy any SAP® application
payment for the order, all subsequent SAP®
business transactions (delivery, post goods to any device, anytime, anywhere utilizing
Some of the key features of the solution are: issue and billing) are handled in the background a single integrated framework.
Bar code scanning of products to eliminate the prior to the printing of the tax invoice.
time required to search for correct product With a client base spanning across the
codes. Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
EFTPOS transactions for debit/credit card to Asia , Sky Technologies is the world leader
improve the payment processing for custom- in enterprise mobility solutions for SAP®.
ers and capture all relevant EFT information in
SAP®.



Success Story

Macquarie Generation
powers up with requisition
approval on BlackBerry®
Macquarie Generation is a State owned corporation
that was established in 1996. Headquartered in
At a glance:
Macquarie Generation is Australia’s
Newcastle, Australia, Macquarie Generation’s core
largest electricity generator. business is the production and wholesale of
Industry: electricity to the national electricity market.
Energy
Solution: Challenge Solution
Integrate SAP workflow and
® The company’s business process requires the Utilizing the existing BlackBerry® hardware and
purchase requisitions into creation of purchase requisition orders for all infrastructure at Macquarie Generation, Sky
existing BlackBerry® devices purchases. Depending on the value of the Technologies implemented SkyMobile in conjunc-
Results: requested purchase, the requisition may require tion with a solution template to provide the follow-
approval by several managers before the requisi- ing functionality:
– The Purchase Requisition process
has been reduced to a fraction of the tion is released to the purchasing department. The ability to push purchase requisitions out
time previously experienced with a Macquarie Generation’s Liddell and Bayswater to the application that is running on the
manual approval process. power stations are located in remote parts of the BlackBerry® smartphone using standard SAP®
NSW countryside. As such, senior managers and workflow to an authorized BlackBerry® user.
engineers spend a significant amount of time Generation of an e-mail notification, informing
travelling and are often not at their desks to deal the authorizing manager of a new requisition
ready for review.
with administrative tasks such as purchase
requisition requests. They had limited access to The ability for an authorizing manager to log
into the SkyMobile application, view the purchase
SAP® when travelling, often leading to delays in the requisition details and either:
approval process. approve the request, or
place the request on hold and source more
Macquarie Generation needed an efficient and information.
effective solution that would allow its managers to
be just as productive, effective and efficient when Solution Detail
working remotely as they are when in the office. When the purchase requisition request has been
Further, there was also a requirement for the created and is ready for approval and release, the
solution to have off-line capability, as the remote standard SAP® workflow triggers the extraction of
location of the power stations means that a the purchase requisition details from SAP® and
connection to SAP® is not always available. notifies the appropriate manager (based on SAP®
user ID) of a pending purchase requisition requir-
ing approval. The manager can decide to release
the purchase requisition or place it on hold and
request further information from the originator.

The manager can decide to release the purchase “We have made better use of our investment in About Sky Technologies
requisition or place it on hold and request further BlackBerry® smartphones, as purchase requisi- Sky Technologies specialize in Enterprise
information from the originator. tion reviews and approvals are reduced to a Mobility Solutions for SAP® software.
fraction of the time than prior to the implementa-
As the application supports both real-time and tion. The easy user interface has also minimized SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise Application
stand-alone modes of operation, if the training costs and encouraged user acceptance,” Platform (MEAP) is a certiﬁed add-on for
BlackBerry® device is out of range or blocked from said Gary Ryan, SAP® Applications Team Leader all SAP® systems. SkyMobile enables
the network, information is stored on the device at Macquarie Generation. SAP® customers to deploy any SAP®
and automatic synchronization ensures that any application to any device, anytime,
pending transactions reach the SAP® system when As noted earlier, the application runs stand- anywhere utilizing a single integrated
alone, therefore any transactions created while
connectivity is re-established. ‘off-line’ will automatically reach the SAP® framework.
When a purchase requisition is released or system once connectivity is reestablished. This
deleted, the update is automatically pushed out to is processed in background without user With a client base spanning across the
the BlackBerry® device and consequently deleted intervention. Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
from the work-list queue. Within SAP®, the highly visible transaction Asia , Sky Technologies is the world leader
management console gives a complete in enterprise mobility solutions for SAP®.
Benefits overview of transactions that have been
By working closely with Macquarie Generation processed. Drill down capability enables more
information to be displayed if/when required.
and using SkyMobile and the Requisition Approval For more information
Application Template, Sky Technologies was able The application supports multiple levels of For more information on this and other
to deliver a complete solution without the need for authorization, ensuring adherence to appropri- solutions provided by Sky Technologies,
additional complex middleware. ate workflow processes and authorization please visit our website
limits.

All rights reserved. Sky Technologies products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Sky Technologies in Australia. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

Success Story

Officeworks have SAP®
in their hands
Officeworks is Australia's largest retailer of office
products and solutions catering to the commercial,
At a glance:
home use and education markets. Opening their first
Officeworks is Australia’s largest retailer store in 1994, Officeworks has grown to over 120
of office products and solutions.
stores nationwide and is continually opening new
Industry:
Office products and solutions
stores to keep up with demand.
Solution:
Challenge Solution
Inventory management utilizing
Officeworks had an existing (offline) mobile Officeworks required an inventory management
SkyMobile
inventory solution in place; however it did not solution for deployment in all their stores nation-
Results:
integrate with the SAP® inventory system and ally. The application was required to cater for real
– Reduced the time and complexity of could not be updated remotely. This presented time stock location and back order quantities for
tasks performed by team members the organization with several challenges including: individual stores as well as the four closest
– Ability to give feedback directly to IT geographically located stores.
Team members not having visibility to “real
department
time” inventory levels
– Perform label comparisons to ensure Officeworks also required synchronous transac-
product and shelf label compatibility Orders, stock checks, inventory enquiries all
required manual intervention tion processing to ensure real time feedback to
– Batch price check by scanning 10 end users when updating transactions.
products in a single pass Stock levels could often be inaccurate
– Shortened existing manual steps in The mobility project utilized Motorola handheld
the business and automated some Key requirements devices that were already in use and formed part
existing processes Capable of running in both online and offline of Officeworks’ larger ePOS Project. Officeworks
mode decided to roll out the complete solution in three
“Implementing the SkyMobile Support dynamic and remote access to update separate phases.
solution has meant Officeworks and check stock levels
has moved to a mobile online Fully compatible with existing SAP® software The mobile solution required the following
application, enabling us to perform and any future upgrades functionality:
functions that interact with SAP® Reduce the time and complexity of existing price check
real time, whilst our team members tasks performed by team members goods receipt
are on the shop floor. Being able
Leverage the wireless infrastructure and hand stock inquiry
to perform stock on hand product
held technology already implemented in all
enquiries on our mobile devices is transfer stock movement e.g. QI to unrestricted
stores
just one example of the great stock-take
Compatibility with any future hardware and
benefits we are seeing in moving bin locations
wireless upgrades
to an online mobile application.” price label printing

Matt Gurrie
General Manager, IT & Supply Chain
Officeworks

Solution detail Business benefits About Sky Technologies
The new Sky solution is a ‘second generation’ Some of the business benefits for Officeworks Sky Technologies specialize in Enterprise
SAP® mobile deployment for Officeworks that included an increase in the number of team Mobility Solutions for SAP® software.
required new functionality not available through members able to perform stock enquiries simulta-
the legacy system that was in place. neously and without leaving the sales floor. The SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise Application
The SkyMobile solution reduced the time and Sky solution utilized existing hardware without the Platform (MEAP) is a certified add-on for
complexity of existing tasks performed by team need for an upgrade. With more than 700 devices all SAP® systems. SkyMobile enables SAP®
members, but also presented them with deployed across more than 120 stores, the cost customers to deploy any SAP® application
additional functionality such as the ability to give saving was substantial. to any device, anytime, anywhere utilizing
feedback about the application directly to the IT a single integrated framework.
Department. This feedback provided the IT The internal IT team at Officeworks worked very
Department with information and suggestions on closely with Sky engineers on the implementation. With a client base spanning across the
ways to improve the system as well as confirma- This helped the organization realize the value of Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
tion that the application was of benefit and implementing a mobile framework that would Asia , Sky Technologies is the world leader
working successfully. manage all mobile transactions inside SAP®. in enterprise mobility solutions for SAP®.
Having just one data source which was not
The SkyMobile application also allowed team replicated or duplicated on other devices would
members to perform label comparisons to ensure ensure true and accurate information at all times. For more information
the product label and shelf label were compatible For more information on this and other
by simply scanning both labels with the handheld The SkyMobile framework also provided the team solutions provided by Sky Technologies,
device, and similarly, a batch price check could with the knowledge that their system could evolve please visit our website
be performed by scanning 10 products in a single over time as their business needs changed and skytechnologies.com or e-mail us at
pass with any pricing errors displayed on the would support any device they decide to utilize in info@skytechnologies.com
device screen. The application not only shortened the future. The Officeworks IT team are now
existing manual steps in the business, but also competent and capable of enhancing and updat-
automated some existing processes. ing their mobile solution, thereby reducing the
cost of ownership and their reliance on a vendor
to make continued changes.


Success Story

Orica Chemnet’s vehicle scheduling
and proof of delivery system
Orica Chemnet is a division of Orica Limited, a global
publicly owned Australian chemical company which
employs some 13,000 staff across approximately 50
At a glance:
countries. Through its subsidiaries, Orica Chemnet
Manufacturer and supplier of industrial manufactures and supplies industrial and speciality
and speciality chemicals, explosives and
mining chemicals, paints and other chemicals, explosives and mining chemicals, paints and
consumer products.
Industry:
other consumer products.
Chemical & Mining Challenge Orica Chemnet chose Sky Technologies
Solution: Chemnet is Orica’s chemical trading solutions Consulting’s Proof of Delivery Solution, which
Proof of delivery system utilizing business. Chemnet supplies all sources across a uses the Sky Technologies’ SkyMobile Business
SkyMobile diverse market such as own manufacture, Framework to deliver a real business solution.
Results: external manufacture and additionally as a
– Real-time information on delivery distributor or agent. Solution
status sent back to dispatch office. The Proof of Delivery system previously utilized by
– Information automatically sent to SAP Orica Chemnet makes thousands of bulk liquid Orica Chemnet was paper-based and required
for the processing of completed loads. deliveries each year. In fact, the Bulk Liquid delivery drivers to handwrite information on
– Elimination of late data entry and the business has grown substantially over recent pre-printed A4 dockets, capturing the customer’s
need for staff to recheck data. years, both in the volume of product delivered and signature where available. The completed
– Keying errors avoided, if not eliminated. in the number of products that are manufactured. dockets were then returned to the office for data
– Near real-time visibility of end-to-end This growth, however, was not matched by entry and subsequent invoicing.
process, from the time the truck is improvements in processes or the use of technol-
loaded to customer receiving delivery. ogy solutions. The project was an extremely collaborative one
– A SAP certified technology platform with Sky Technologies Consulting and Orica
and mobile framework that can be Orica Chemnet sought to improve processes and working closely together to understand Orica’s
utilized across the entire business. techniques through the implementation of an business processes.
integrated vehicle scheduling and delivery confir-
“The whole business has welcomed mation system. The desired system was required By utilizing SkyMobile and no additional middle-
the changes that this project has to deliver real-time information on delivery status ware the new integrated solution now allows
brought about as we transitioned from back to the dispatch office, with all completed Orica Chemnet to:
a manual and retrospective data entry
team into an automated value added
loads then sent to SAP® for automatic processing. Pre-build vehicle schedules as requirements
distribution network.” are confirmed via phone or fax and orders are
The system was also required to eliminate the then entered directly into SAP.
Stu McFadyen
NZ Fleet Manager
need for staff to recheck data, avoid keying errors Release vehicle schedules to drivers’ devices
Orica Chemnet and late data entry, while simultaneously providing without the drivers needing to see them or
the benefits of real-time product and customer explain special requirements. All the informa-
status. tion is conveyed via the schedule on the
device.

Confirm inventory movements in SAP as Improved traceability from a safety, health and About Sky Technologies
drivers load their vehicles. environment point of view in relation to Sky Technologies specialize in Enterprise
Produce the regulatory transport industry’s on-board product information. Mobility Solutions for SAP® software.
dangerous goods manifests, used by local The ability to electronically capture and store
Emergency Services in the event that the any site, product or customer specific informa- SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise Application
vehicle is involved in an accident. tion such as batch numbers, special instruc- Platform (MEAP) is a certified add-on for
Capture customer signatures on a handheld tions, customer purchase order numbers and all SAP® systems. SkyMobile enables SAP®
screen. more. This means less data entry and customers to deploy any SAP® application
increased accuracy for each order processed. to any device, anytime, anywhere utilizing
Print electronic delivery dockets at the
customer site that are accurately stamped for a single integrated framework.
Summary
date and time.
The implementation has enabled: With a client base spanning across the
Link invoices to delivery dockets from
Real-time information regarding delivery status Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
confirmed delivery information.
to be sent back to the dispatch office. Asia , Sky Technologies is the world leader
Provide the dispatch office with easy to under- in enterprise mobility solutions for SAP® .
Information to be automatically sent to SAP for
stand progress reports containing driver status
the processing of completed loads.
information which is throughput to their
assigned schedules. The elimination of late data entry and the need
for staff to recheck data. For more information
Benefits Keying errors to be avoided, if not eliminated.
Improved accuracy and speed of data capture The dispatch office to have near real-time please visit our website
at the point of delivery. visibility of the end-to-end process, from the skytechnologies.com or e-mail us at
More comprehensive information on delivery time the truck is loaded to the customer receiv- info@skytechnologies.com
dockets, including customer details, batch ing delivery.
numbers, order numbers and references. A SAP certified technology platform and
Real-time processing of deliveries, thereby mobile framework that can be utilized across
improving timely invoicing and stock accuracy. the entire business.
The ability to re-print dockets from within the
Following on from the success of the Proof of
SAP system at any time after delivery.
Delivery project at Chemnet, Orica chose Sky
Accurate matching of delivery dockets to final Technologies’ mobile framework for use in a
invoices for reconciliation and processing. global rollout of a number of mobile solutions
across a number of Business Units.


Success Story

Rheem uses SkyMobile
to deploy a mobile field
service application
The Rheem service division in Australia employs 65
technicians across the country who install and maintain
At a glance:
Rheem Australia is a wholly owned
Rheem water heaters.
subsidiary of Rheem Manufacturing in
the USA, which in turn is a wholly owned Project challenge The business case
subsidiary of Paloma Industries Ltd in Rheem had in place a mix of ‘data head’ technol- Rheem’s business case was based on productiv-
Japan, a world leader in water heater ogy and two-way, voice only radio which enabled ity i.e. by introducing the new technology, the
technology and manufacture. information to be deployed to their technicians in manual transposition of data between data
the field. head/phone was eliminated, as were handwritten
Industry:
field documents. Additionally, the accuracy and
Maintenance The project required the replacement of this timeliness of data was greatly enhanced.
Solution: infrastructure in addition to the delivery of innova-
Mobile field service utilizing SkyMobile tive functionality to the Rheem field technicians As a result, Rheem’s field technicians are more
Results: using ruggedized PDAs. productive and Rheem is able to provide superior
– Rheem replaced the outdated radio field service to its clients.
network and delivered a fully-featured Rheem needed a mobile solution which would
field service application to the enable field service technicians to receive and SAP® integration
technicians by effectively extending process service orders for maintenance or new As SkyMobile is middleware free, all integration
SAP® to the field. installations, manage van inventory and process touch points are visible and managed with the
customer payments (including credit card). The graphical and easy to use management console.
mobile solution was to replace the existing ‘data This enables key business users to be proactive
head’. and have the confidence in knowing transactions
are monitored from initiation to final posting –all
Solution inside SAP®.
Rheem selected SkyMobile to provide the full,
end-to-end solution using rugged equipment and Mobile business framework for SAP® ERP
a wireless network connection.
The solution
Benefits The final solution was delivered using SkyMobile,
Rheem replaced the outdated radio network and which enabled the mobile application to be
delivered a fully-featured field service application developed inside SAP®, without the need for
to the technicians by effectively extending SAP® to middleware. SAP®service orders are despatched
the field. to the technician via the mobile network.

Once the work is completed, the technician can Device and System management About Sky Technologies
record all the required information for subsequent The device management console resides inside Sky Technologies specialize in Enterprise
synchronization to SAP®. SAP® and enables support staff to view every Mobility Solutions for SAP® software.
detail that is associated with the remote device. In
Other functionality includes: this way, information such as logs, conﬁguration, SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise Application
Processing of the credit card payment with database deﬁnitions and data can all be easily Platform (MEAP) is a certified add-on for
real-time bank authorization. displayed from the device’s administration web all SAP® systems. SkyMobile enables SAP®
page via the mobile network. customers to deploy any SAP® application
Printing of documents on mobile printer includ-
ing payment receipts, field service reports and to any device, anytime, anywhere utilizing
quotes for new installations. The application is deployed remotely over the a single integrated framework.
mobile network. This enables new software
Van inventory is stored and managed on the
versions and changes to application functionality With a client base spanning across the
mobile application. SkyMobile manages all data
on the device, including synchronization with to be deployed without the need for technicians Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
SAP®, as well as establishing and monitoring to bring the device back to a central location. Asia , Sky Technologies is the world leader
the network connection. in enterprise mobility solutions for SAP®.



Success Story

Smorgon Steel Distribution
integrates SAP® ERP to an
automated steel handling system
Smorgon Steel Distribution (SSD) has more than 2,100
employees in plants and ofﬁces throughout Australia,
At a glance:
Smorgon Steel is one of Australia’s
comprising manufacturing and distribution businesses
largest steel companies established in
the 1980’s and merged with OneSteel
in ﬂat metals, tube and pipe.
in 2007. This Steel giant now serves
30,000 customers worldwide with
40,000 products.
Challenge SAP® Integration
Industry: The Smorgon Steel Distribution (SSD) business SSD utilizes SkyConnect to manage all inbound
Steel Manufacturing unit had purchased a large gantry for use in and outbound integration for the Katso project.
Solution: automated materials handling. The system This gives them complete visibility and interface
needed to be integrated to the SAP® ERP WM management ‘inside SAP®’. Further, the more
Integration of Materials Handling
system module via TCP/IP sockets. complex dependencies and queuing that are
common for this style of integration are also
Results:
Automated material handling equipment and managed within the SkyConnect toolset without
– By enabling the integration of the software (”Kasto”) was being implemented at one the need for complicated ABAP programming.
customers SAP® system to the Kasto
of SSD’s larger distribution centers. The project
system, the customer experienced a
rapid increase in productivity. required SAP® Warehouse Management Transfer SSD also uses SkyConnect to manage all of the
Orders and subsequent confirmations to be batch processing. SSD has complex batch
exchangedbetween SAP® and the controlling schedules that are all managed by the ECS™ Job
application. The messaging was to be done via Scheduler, which again gives SSD complete
TCP/IP socket message. visibility of this proccessing.

Solution The Solution
The interface was rapidly developed and rolled out The final solution was delivered using the
for SSD by utilizing SkyConnect SkyConnect suite of integration utilities, thus
enabling SAP® to communicate via the TCP/IP
Benefits network. It also enabled robust, end-to end
The material handling equipment is now being fully transaction management.
utilized by SSD and is able to communicate
simply, yet very effectively, with SAP®. By enabling SAP® to communicate directly with
No cumbersom file-based interface was required, Kasto, SSD has been able to significantly improve
as the solution could be delivered using TCP/IP productivity by reducing the manual loading of
sockets. vehicles and liminating the ‘paper trail’ previously
required for processing the load.

Device & System Management Future Proof About Sky Technologies
The device management console resides inside The scalable architecture of the SkyConnect Sky Technologies specialize in Enterprise
SAP® and enables support staff to view every product suite ensures that all future needs for Mobility Solutions for SAP® software.
detail associated with the remote device. integration to SAP® can be delivered. Further, the
integrated nature of the product means that SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise Application
Information such as logs, configuration,database SkyConnect can be easily utilized by other Platform (MEAP) is a certified add-on for
definitions and data can all be easily displayed business units and applications. all SAP® systems. SkyMobile enables SAP®
from the server’s administration web page via the customers to deploy any SAP® application
Local Area Network, providing a complete audit to any device, anytime, anywhere utilizing
trail for support staff. a single integrated framework.

With a client base spanning across the
Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
Asia , Sky Technologies is the world leader
in enterprise mobility solutions for SAP® .



Success Story

Water Corporation refreshes its
approach to SAP® mobility
The Water Corporation of Western Australia, supplies high
quality drinking water, removes and treats wastewater,
manages drainage networks and irrigation for communities
spread across 2.5 million sq/km (1.55 million sq/mi) of one
At a glance: of the driest countries on Earth. Owned by the Western
The Water Corporation manages
Western Australia’s drinking water
Australian Government, the Corporation is one of Australia’s
supply, wastewater treatment, largest and most successful water service providers. It
drainage, and irrigation
directly employs more than 2,700 people, serves almost two
Industry:
Utilities
million Western Australians and manages more than $12
Solution: billion in water supply, sewerage and drainage infrastructure.
– Field Service & Employee Pay
Claims utilizing SkyMobile Challenge Objective
– Integration utilizing SkyConnect In 2004, the Water Corporation (the Corporation) The key objectives of the MCS2 project were to
implemented its first Mobile Computing System replace the existing Mobile Computing System
Results: (MCS1) for 520 field crews processing over 1200 (MCS1) and to establish a technical foundation for a
– Improved ease-of-use for end users plant maintenance orders per day that interfaced Mobility Solution Platform for Water Corporation.
– Like-for-like replacement of existing directly with SAP® . The solution replaced a manual
functionality plus many added paper based work management and field data Solution key requirements
enhancements. capture process with a wireless electronic system of Improved ease-of-use for end users was a “Key
work allocation, dispatch and data feedback for all Focus”. This was paramount for user acceptance
– Online & offline capability with
crews in its Customer Services Division. Mobile development platform to enable future
automatic updates to SAP®
mobile solutions
In 2007, the Corporation faced several challenges Commercially available, ‘off the shelf’ IT”
with the current solution, including:
Robust infrastructure platform able to accommo-
Support for the solution had ceased date numerous device types (i.e. laptops, PDA,
"The Sky solution has delivered a Local support contract had also ended smartphones etc)
vastly improved look-and-feel Platform able to accommodate multiple business
mobile solution to our field crews, PDA devices capable of running older platform
software were unobtainable user types, systems and interfaces
as well as positively engaging more
GPS asset feedback location capability
of them in wanting to use it. Most Upgrades to both devices and the application had
of our field crews now manage all to be performed manually Lite Spatial integration feedback
their work using this solution Application changes, updates and deployment to
significantly improving business After careful consideration of a number of options, be centrally administered (wirelessly) and
processes, data capture and the the replacement of MCS1 with a new solution was deployed over the air
timeliness of information exchange." identified as the preferred option. Configurable to accommodate current work
processes, work instructions & other documents
Don Ward - Business The decision was endorsed by senior managers and Robust software with ability to assist remote
Initiatives Manager key stakeholders in the business. The outcome was users in real time
WA Water Corporation the Corporation’s 2nd Generation Mobility Solution, Ability to take, view and attach photographs to
MCS2 a Field Service and Employee Pay Claims work orders
solution.
Like-for-like replacement of existing MCS1
functionality plus added enhancements

Solution Leveraging the SkyMobile toolkit to enable About Sky Technologies
MCS2 now plays an integral role at the organization. simplification of the user interface, reduce the Sky Technologies specialize in Enterprise
The solution allows staff to perform their tasks out in use of scrolling and provide more up to date Mobility Solutions for SAP® software.
the field in a much more efficient manner. Below are information with less user wait time
a number of enhancements delivered: Improved ability to support and maintain the
SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise Application
Improved ‘ease-of-use’ for end users application with new generation tools and pro-
cesses. Platform (MEAP) is a certified add-on for
Modern look and feel with large buttons for easy all SAP® systems. SkyMobile enables SAP®
recognition and enabled field staff to use their
Business Benefits customers to deploy any SAP® application
fingers to operate rather than a stylus
There were a number of business benefits realized to any device, anytime, anywhere utilizing
Improved stability and reliability of the end-to-end by the Corporation at the completion of the mobility
platform, including significantly improved adminis- a single integrated framework.
phase of this project. It had a requirement for the
tration and management capabilities solution to be deployed on a number of different
Significant improvements to user support both device types including rugged devices, such as the With a client base spanning across the
locally and remotely Motorola MC75, smartphones, laptops and Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
Enhanced functionality: desktop PC’s. Sky’s flexible SAP® mobility platform Asia , Sky Technologies is the world leader
Document association with Work Orders was able to deliver on this requirement as it can be in enterprise mobility solutions for SAP® .
(SWMS, JSA, WI’s) deployed on virtually any device operating on any of
the major platforms. The SkyMobile development
Photograph capture
platform also means that the Corporation now has
GPS Integration - work/asset location and failure the ability and “in-house” expertise to be able to For more information
Delivery of a strategic mobile platform – multiple further develop their own applications in the future. For more information on this and other
device support, multiple application, improved solutions provided by Sky Technologies,
security and support The Sky solution also removed the issues associ- please visit our website
Reporting, administration, extensibility etc. ated with manual paper based processes such as skytechnologies.com or e-mail us at
data entry and improved the timeliness and
Solution Detail accuracy of information back to SAP® . In order to
The underlying principles when defining the require- fully benefit from its investment in SAP® and the Sky
ments was to provide a “like-for-like” replacement of solution, employee buy-in was of the utmost
all the business functionality of the existing MCS1 importance in the rollout of the MCS2 project.
Because the Corporation covers such a large
application, incorporate a number of key functional
geographical area, it was imperative that all field
enhancements and improve the overall flow and
crews in all regions utilized the application to
usability of the system. The existing MCS1 function-
standardize business processes, something that
ality in scope was: was not quite as successful with MCS1 as each
Manage crew membership region had its own unique processes. Finally,
Manage Crew Work Orders scalability of the platform for future requirements
Manage Feedback means that the Corporation now has the ability to
streamline many other business processes, most of
Manage Pay Claims which can be done by themselves.
Work Order Creation
Non-Job Time recording Change Management
Change management was a major point of discus-
The key functional and technical enhancements
sion from the projects inception. The Water Corpo-
incorporated were: ration sought to minimize employee resistance and
Improved use of the Lite Spatial tool to enable gain their buy-in and support. Without this accep-
quicker, more accurate recording of asset tance, it would have been extremely difficult to fully
feedback data. realize the potential gains inherent in this major
Integration with GPS to enable users to locate change effort. The Corporation was able to achieve
assets more easily this by involving staff from the business in
Ability to access generic and safe working instruc- workshops in the initial design phase. Working
tion documents in the field from the mobile device closely with Sky Technologies’ engineers and
project managers, staff had input on everything
Use of device cameras for the capture of photo-
graphs and association of these images with work from solution functionality to screen flows and the
orders or crews applications look and feel. This played a major role
in facilitating uptake and ensured the project’s
success by providing the end users with some
ownership of the project.

About Sky Technologies
Sky Technologies specialize in
Enterprise Mobility Solutions for SAP®
software.

SkyMobile a Mobile Enterprise
Application Platform (MEAP) is a
certified add-on for all SAP® systems.
-
SkyMobile enables SAP® customers to
deploy any SAP® application to any
device, anytime, anywhere utilizing a
single integrated framework.

With a client base spanning across
the Americas, Europe, Middle East,
Africa and Asia, Sky Technologies is
-

the world leader in enterprise mobility
solutions for SAP®. -

For More Information

Neil McHugh
VP Business Development Sky Technologies (Americas)
6860 N. Dallas Parkway Suite 200
Plano, Texas 75024
214.500.9101 cell
972.381.2733 office
281.214.0527 fax
www.skytechnologies.com

Sky Technologies Case Studies

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