Digital Transformation of Shimano
Overcoming Legacy ERP Challenges with Qlik and Talend
In the wake of Digital Transformation, data is becoming the center of modern organisations, supporting decision-making, improving customer experience and streamlining operations. However, in the midst of this digital revolution, organisations often struggle with ineficcient processes and legacy systems that hinder the seamless flow of information between different departments and platforms.
Shimano's Digital Transformation: Modernizing Order Management for Success
Legacy systems can be a significant obstacle for businesses aiming to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced, customer-centric world. Shimano, a global leader in cycling components, encountered these challenges head-on. Their outdated IBM AS/400 system, though once effective, was no longer equipped to meet the demands of modern markets or their customers’ evolving needs.
With cimt, Shimano embarked on a journey to transform not just their technology but also their operations. This digital transformation delivered a cutting-edge solution that streamlined processes, boosted efficiency, and strengthened customer satisfaction.
Identifying the Key Challenges
For years, Shimano relied on a legacy ERP system designed in the 1990s. While functional, it was rigid and required extensive programming for even minor changes. Manual processes, email-heavy communication, and fragmented information flows slowed operations and limited scalability. These inefficiencies became even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic. With demand surging and lead times extending from the usual 3-6 months to up to 24 months, it became evident that the system could no longer meet market requirements. This initial situation revealed several critical technological and process-related challenges that needed urgent attention.
A Strategic Solution
Recognizing the urgency to evolve, Shimano worked with cimt to implement a modern ERP solution. The approach addressed both technical and operational challenges and delivered a flexible, scalable platform for long-term growth.
Here’s how we tackled it:
Understanding the Existing Systems
We began with an in-depth analysis of Shimano’s IT landscape and processes. This ensured we fully understood system dependencies and could map out a seamless transition.Collaborating Across Teams
Engaging key stakeholders from various departments, we gathered requirements and modeled future workflows to ensure the solution addressed real-world needs.Designing a Future-Ready Architecture
We created a scalable IT architecture tailored to Shimano’s needs, providing a robust foundation for future innovation and growth.Leveraging Modern Tools
Talend and Qlik were utilized for efficient data integration and analytics, enabling Shimano to harness the full power of their data.Phased Rollout for Smooth Implementation
Over a carefully planned nine-month rollout, we transitioned customers incrementally, minimizing risks. A parallel “shadow process” ensured flexibility, allowing any migrated customer to revert to the legacy system if needed.
The Results
The transformation project achieved significant improvements across Shimano’s operations, making their processes more streamlined, efficient, and customer-friendly:
Automated Order Validation
- Business rules now handle validation automatically, eliminating manual errors and speeding up order processing.
Enhanced Transparency
- Daily updates on order status provide customers with real-time insights, improving trust and satisfaction.
Data-Driven Decisions
- Automation is not only discussed in the business departments to free up the hands of power users and allow them to focus on higher-value tasks but also for data engineers and developers which can provide increased business user support through won time
- Moreover, with streamlined, automated data movement, teams access insights faster, enabling quicker time-to-market for data-driven products and decisions, a competitive edge for businesses in fast-paced industries.
A Framework for Success
Shimano’s transformation highlights the importance of modernizing systems to remain competitive. By combining cutting-edge technology with thoughtful process redesign, Shimano has positioned itself to meet customer expectations, adapt to market demands, and drive future growth.
This project serves as a blueprint for companies seeking to modernize their operations. With careful planning, the right technology, and cross-departmental collaboration, businesses can achieve measurable results that benefit both their teams and their customers.
Let’s start building your future today!
If your legacy systems are holding your business back, it’s time to rethink your strategy. As an independent and valued Elite partner of Qlik, cimt assists organisations, multinationals and government bodies in Europe with their digital transformations. Based on our experience and in-depth domain knowledge of both platforms, cimt provide strategic advice and offer implementation services with 300 consultants.
If you are interested in our approach, but you don’t know where to start, please reach out for a quick scan of your architecture to get more insights into the benefits of Digital Transformation for your organization.
Managing Consultant
Phone: +49 221 367 986-2
E-Mail: Mirco.Kriesten@cimt-ag.de
Qlik Talend transforms complex data landscapes into actionable insights that drive strategic business outcomes. With over 40,000 customers worldwide, their portfolio delivers advanced AI/ML and enterprise-level data management solutions. As leaders in data integration and governance, they provide comprehensive solutions that seamlessly work with diverse data sources.