The Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (Esag), one of the leading business houses in the UAE, has gone live with mySAP ERP, a world-class integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution.

The new business application software encompasses a portfolio based on core ERP modules such as sales and distribution, material management, finance and controlling, production planning, projects system, customer service and human resources. The project was launched in August 2005 while the pilot Go-Live was introduced in February 2006 at Scientechnic, one of the largest companies within the Esag group. Subsequent implementation was carried out in Al Gurg Building Services, Gulf Engineering Industry, Better Life, OFIS and Interiors within three months of the pilot site implementation with other group companies still in the pipeline. Implementing the mySAP ERP application is Caritor, which has vast experience in setting up SAP worldwide, and a team of 20 technical professionals selected from the Esag group.
“With the new software, the Esag management will have better standardisation of processes within the group, efficient management of working capital, better customer support, effective planning and monitoring of projects and production through real-time information available to all decision-makers,” a press release said.
Commenting on the implementation, SB Jeyaseelan, group general manager, Esag, said the aim was to harness the full potential of the ERP solution and enable the business units to achieve the company’s vision of being a strong corporate organisation.
“In this endeavour, we are driven by best practices, innovative systems and professional management. Having identified mySAP as a market leader in ERP solutions, we are confident this software will suit our organisational requirements.“
Tightly integrated to optimise cross-functional business processes, mySAP ERP has replaced existing solutions running on various platforms. The new system runs on IBM hardware with DB2 database on Advanced Interactive eXecutive (AIX) platform in a centralised networking environment, supported by Cisco active components and security firewalls.
The new ERP system ensures lowered total cost of ownership, faster return on investment and benefit from a more flexible IT infrastructure that helps drive innovation, the release said.
Speaking about the implementation, Raja Sekharan, senior vice president - client management, Asia Pacific, India and Middle East – Caritor, said: “Esag’s leadership position in the region is largely due to its strong commitment to customers and employees. This was evident in the way the processes have been blueprinted during the SAP implementation.”
Ravi Mahalingam, vice president for business development, Middle East operations, Caritor, pointed out: “Esag is a strategic customer for us as this is the first Middle East SAP implementation and we would like to be their trusted partner for all their IT initiatives beyond this project.”
By year’s-end, at least 12 Esag companies will be fully managed by mySAP while implementation of the solution in the rest of the divisions within the group will be carried out in the second phase.  “Once we stabilise this system, we intend to consolidate and use the power of information to gain mileage from the booming market of the UAE and expand into other markets,” said Jeyaseelan. Caritor is headquartered in San Ramon, California, USA, with operations across the world.
The Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group was founded by Easa Saleh Al Gurg in 1960. The group now has 23 companies under its wing, which together handle more than 200 world-class franchises. They manufacture a diversified range of products which include tyres, electrical and electronic items, personal care products, detergents, cigarettes, beverages, household appliances, stationery, automobile batteries, branded garments, cables, industrial chemicals, furniture, building materials and steel.