Business Information Management - Analyse- und Planungslösung zur besseren Entscheidungsfindung

Case Study SONAX Overview  Challenges: SONAX needed a comprehensive view of all areas of its business. It wanted an analysis and planning solution that would allow for better decision-making. The solution also had to provide comprehensive, up-to- date decision-making information while integrating seamlessly with the existing IT landscape. An important factor was the ability to analyze targeted strategic and operational management data and feed the results back to planning.  Platforms: • IBM® xSeries® • Semiramis  Solutions: Smoothing out bumps, improving SONAX is an innovative company •  BM® Cognos® 8 BI I visibility and creating a brilliant finish – that produces and markets chemical •  BM® Cognos® 8 Metrics Studio I these key criteria from the world of car products and services for all aspects •  BM® Cognos® 8 Planning I care can also be applied to a company’s of auto care. It offers a professional  Benefits: internal processes. For SONAX, a and comprehensive range of vehicle •  omprehensive overview of sales, C producer of car care products, the future cleaning and care products under the products and the procurement is looking bright and shiny thanks to IBM SONAX umbrella brand. This includes market Cognos Business Intelligence solutions. innovative polishing and treatment •  ser-friendly, web-based solution U products as well as windscreen and speeds consolidation of information SONAX GmbH & Co. KG was founded in alloy cleaners. SONAX’s positioning is from multiple sources 1950 and operates in 90 countries. Part based on high quality, a clear focus on •  onsistency figures C of the Hoffman group, an amalgamation the premium segment of the market, and •  ime savings in day-to-day tasks T of separate and legally independent environmentally friendly and innovative •  educed operating costs R group companies with an annual products. •  reater flexibility, transparency and G turnover of around 100 Million Euros a complete overview of strategic and operational decision-making\ and some 430 staff, SONAX is based in •  trongly positioned to handle future S Neuburg an der Donau, Germany. global challenges In conjunction with consistent corporate Strategy followed “I can now press a button objectives, SONAX’s success can be The company set out to find a and IBM Cognos attributed to its strong brands, customer performance management solution orientation, and innovation. The SONAX that could integrate seamlessly with provides all the relevant product range represents the results its existing IT landscape. “We were data at a glance. We of more than 50 years of research looking for an innovative approach have a transparent view and development. Managers work in that combined reporting, analysis, and of all figures at all times SONAX’s own testing laboratories, planning,” explains Gerhard Jahn. “And and can provide all the continuously improving the product this is where IBM Cognos came in.” range to stay ahead of the competition. relevant people with Jahn, a business administration valuable information Challenges faced specialist, had encountered IBM to implement a SONAX knows that a clear view of the Cognos products in the mid-1990s. forward-thinking company’s performance is essential Even then he could see clearly how corporate policy.” for its daily business. As a result, they the wide range of applications for IBM were looking for a solution to provide Cognos solutions could generate Gerhard Jahn, IT and Central Controlling a comprehensive view of all areas of significant added value for his company. Manager, SONAX GmbH & Co. KG the business. More specifically, they In addition, the company had a deep wanted to introduce an analysis and trust in the innovative and flexible IBM planning solution that would create a Cognos BI partner whose Upfront strong basis for better decision-making solution had been in use at SONAX within the company. The solution had since 1999. to be capable of providing the group of companies with comprehensive, up-to- As a result of these positive factors, date decisionmaking information while SONAX had no hesitation deciding integrating seamlessly with the existing in favour of the IBM Cognos 8 BI and IT landscape. IBM Cognos 8 Planning products in mid-2006. The IBM Cognos solutions Gerhard Jahn, IT and Central were integrated quickly into the car care Controlling Manager at SONAX GmbH producer’s internal planning concept. & Co. KG, sums up the company’s key According to Jahn, “the planning requirements this way: “An important concept consists of 22 individual factor was the ability to analyse plans that are linked together. Plan one targeted strategic and operational contains the strategic business plan, management data and feed the results and plan 22 the finance plan. To put it back to planning. This performance simply, we feed strategic data into the management approach was crucial first plan and the end result shows us in creating a solid foundation for our exactly what this strategy has brought decision-making.” SONAX in euros. In other words, we use IBM Cognos solutions throughout our entire strategic decision-making chain.” 2 This use of Cognos in their processes Benefits realized Time savings in day-to-day tasks, creates a strategic and integrated IBM Cognos 8 BI and IBM Cognos reduced operating costs, and faith in the foundation for SONAX’s plans and 8 Planning have given SONAX a Cognos technologies have also brought allows the company to provide all their comprehensive overview of sales, added value for the company. “We were key groups with targeted information products, and the procurement market. enthusiastic about the IBM Cognos for better decision making. Users The provision of important data to solutions and their almost endless include SONAX’s management as well ensure optimal strategic and operational potential from the very start,” says Jahn. as selected specialists and technical management is critical. “What is “IBM Cognos is a thousand times more experts. important to the customer and what flexible than Microsoft® Excel®.” does the customer need? I can now SONAX also uses IBM Cognos 8 BI press a button and Cognos provides IBM Cognos 8 BI and IBM Cognos 8 for reporting and analysis of corporate all the relevant data at a glance,” says Planning have put SONAX GmbH & Co. data. Combining analysis and reporting Jahn. “We have a transparent view of KG on the right track to manage its future with planning allows SONAX employees all figures at all times and can provide global challenges. The Web-based to compare up-to-date planned and all the relevant people with valuable aspect of the IBM Cognos solutions actual data and carry out comparisons information to implement a forward- gives SONAX greater flexibility in its across a wide range of dimensions. thinking corporate policy.