Technology Case Study

Written By John Rankins

The Benefits of Functional Project Management

Problem Statement:

Client engaged us to provide functional IT Project Management services to complete an ERP migration post-acquisition. The ERP migration was already through the business requirements and running behind schedule. The client needed a functional project manager to bring the migration back on schedule for both Europe and Asia-Pacific regions, while serving as an advocate for the client with the ERP implementation team.

The Benefits of Functional Project Management

During the project, several additional key systems required both implementation and integration. We were able to adapt run staggered implementations without sacrificing the original ERP migration timeline and resource allocation. As a functional project manager, we were able to complete an assortment of critical process and system functions:

Project management services for ERP migration from Oracle to Infor XA for Europe and Asia-Pacific

  • Developed business process mapping for functional areas both current state and future state, as well as process optimization

  • Creative problem-solving to stand up a new facility in Asia during COVID, and shipping roadblocks to move IT hardware into the country

  • Created a mapping for BOM build-outs that transformed a hierarchy (level) BOM to a parent-child build-up

  • Supported Engineering software migration to new server and completed integration to ERP for releases

  • Became a power user for Infor XA to provide supplemental training and support for the client’s users in conjunction with their IT support team

  • Developed key operating reports for finance, accounting, supply chain and tax

Led global tax solution software discovery and evaluation

  • Served as functional project manager for software implementation

  • Created process maps and use cases for Sales and Use Tax for quoting invoicing process

  • Supported client’s tax team in identifying tax codes for all finished goods and services

  • Developed integration points with ERP using tax software connectors

  • Created a document repository for all exemption certificates by customer and jurisdiction

  • Filled role of software administrator and served as senior tax analyst for troubleshooting tax situations post go-live

  • Supported client during a state sales and use tax audit, and worked to mitigate 99% of the sales tax exposure

  • Served as a functional resource for tax situations during the implementation of a new quoting system, providing user stories, use cases, and UAT

Led discovery and evaluation of 3PL provider in Europe

  • Developed IT integrations for inventory in transit, order fulfillment and returns with client’s ERP team and 3PL’s warehouse integration team

  • Coordinated warehouse move from existing 3PL to the new one, including the manifest of each truck as it left the old facility and was received and stored in new facility

  • Designed custom reports for client to manage daily shipments and order fill rates, including partial shipments, and clearing backlog

  • Supported the sales team to triage any orders post go-live an acted as liaison between client and 3PL for any issues needing escalation

  • Implemented best practices for processes including hazardous materials handling and storage, VAT, INCO Terms, and RGA codes

Results/Conclusion

All projects were delivered with documented business functional requirements, and in accordance with the project timelines. The TSA were exited either early or on time. We were the recipient of the President’s Award for the ERP and operational standup in Asia by the client. The client was able to produce finished goods on day one of go-live in Asia. Moving to a global tax solution allowed the client to stay current on all changes to sales tax rules and rates by jurisdiction, which was previously manual and led to exposure.

John Rankins
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