Written by Tino Hartsink, Manager Information Systems, Anthura:

ERP implementation journey of Anthura

‍Anthura - is a leading expert in Anthuriums, Orchids, and Bromeliads, employs 1,300 worldwide, offering over 700 varieties. Supplying growers worldwide.

In 2016, our company [Anthura] faced an exciting challenge — the opportunity to implement a new ERP system. This necessity arose from the outdated technology of our old systems and the bankruptcy of an important software supplier. It marked the start of a journey that would inspire us to change our information system and also redesign our business processes.

The first step was to build internal support for the project. Involving future key users and process owners was essential to foster engagement. Together, we analyzed our existing business processes and identified improvement areas to gain a clear understanding of what the new information system needed to deliver.

Using these insights, we created a list of functional and non-functional requirements to find software that met our core needs. While software options in our industry are limited — and working with living products adds complexity for suppliers — we saw this as a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insight into our true requirements.

Anthura: We selected Mprise’s Agriware as our ERP software

As rolling out everything at once would have entailed too many risks, we opted for phased implementation in which we tackled each business process separately.

This implementation journey has had a profound impact across all levels of our organisation. Thankfully, I can now report that we have almost completed this enormous endeavour. Through collective effort, we successfully redesigned 95% of our business processes, and I am incredibly proud of everyone involved in this achievement.

We would like to share some of our experiences, based on the following key takeaways:

• Say what you do, do what you say (mastering business processes)

• Garbage in, garbage out (managing data)

• Think before you act (from and to information systems)

• A good start is half the work (testing and training)

• Today’s lessons are tomorrow’s successes (supply chain informatics)

This journey has not only transformed our information system but also reshaped our business processes.

Say what you do, do what you say

The better the process owner defines the current and desired business process, the smoother the implementation will be. However, accurately describing what you are doing now and what you need to do can be challenging. We have learned that properly defining the process owner’s role in the organisation and allowing ample time to determine business process implementation is crucial. Don’t simply accept a business process as being ‘fine as it is’; strive to standardise it. This makes life much easier in the long run.

It’s also essential to define KPIs for business processes so that, later on, we can measure and analyse whether we are hitting our targets and which areas need improvement.

Garbage in, garbage out

Master data consists of core identifiers in an information system that rarely change. This data plays a critical role in business processes and is vital for effective data management and our organisation’s success.

Effective master data management improves data quality and minimizes errors in business processes, ensuring consistent, reliable information across the organization. This leads to greater efficiency and enables accurate analysis and reporting, essential for informed decision-making.

The importance of master data cannot be overstated, yet, initially, we underestimated it. But we have learned that it’s crucial to assign an owner for each piece of master data. The owner determines how to handle this data and ensures it is correct.

It’s wonderful to see all departments now using consistent data, which greatly enhances communication and collaboration.

"Ensure consistent, reliable information across the organization – leading to greater efficiency and enables accurate analysis"

Think before you act

ERP - MES

Our new ERP system supports core business processes, including variety development, product flow planning, plant cultivation and product sales. At Anthura, we use three different manufacturing execution systems (MES) to support specific business processes in the greenhouse. Integrating both types of systems was essential but proved quite complex. We successfully integrated all three MES systems with Agriware, achieving real-time data exchange between ERP and MES. Agriware gives commands to the MES system, which reports back to Agriware.

Data migration
We overcame several complex challenges during the migration of old data to the new environment. We have learned that this is more likely to go smoothly if all data is clean and correct before transferring it, as obsolete or irrelevant data can cause problems.

A good start is half the work

An acceptance test is critical for ensuring the information system meets all requirements and expectations and allows users to test the system and confirm that it meets their needs. This builds trust and boosts user satisfaction. Testing identifies and resolves residual errors, enhancing quality and reducing costs.

Implementing a new system requires employees to adapt to new processes and technologies, which can sometimes lead to resistance. Allowing sufficient time for testing before the system goes live gives everyone a chance to familiarise themselves with changes and address any issues.

Investing in training and support is also vital. Organise tailored training for different user groups to ensure they acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. Set up a helpdesk or assign key users to assist colleagues with queries and issues. Also schedule a post-live support period to provide extra assistance so that everyone can adjust to the new system.

"Our Agriware ERP system supports core business processes, including variety development, product flow planning, plant cultivation and sales"

Today’s lessons are tomorrow’s successes

• Process-focus - Implement changes from the perspective of your business process rather than the tool you use (software). Although we know this, it’s a principle we often fail to apply in practice.
• Engage - The process owner plays a key role in this type of implementation by determining how a business process should run and identifying the corresponding information needs.
• Utilize Data - Understand the importance of data quality and leverage data more effectively.
• Integrate - Since an ERP system cannot optimally support all business processes, consider using a complementary system and integrate it with the ERP software.
• Exchange information - The key takeaway is the need for greater collaboration when it comes to data. By being willing to intensify our exchange of information, we can optimise both our processes even further.

I look forward to our continued collaboration in this area.

Yours sincerely,

Tino Hartsink

Manager Information Systems at Anthura

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About Anthura

Anthura, a leading expert in Anthuriums, Orchids, and Bromeliads, employs 1,300 worldwide, offering over 700 varieties. Supplying growers on five continents and sales in 70+ countries, their innovation and sustainability ensure global horticulture excellence.

‍About Mprise Agriware

Agriware ERP Software helps organizations manage, automate, and optimize business processes across all operations. Agriware after done 200+ implementations, delivers profound expertise to make horticulture organizations more efficient and effective by optimizing processes and implementing software & mobile solutions. Book an introduction call or download a general overview for more information.