SAP serves as the backbone of Freeport’s global business operations, centralizing and connecting information for people, departments and locations companywide.
Maximizing the company’s investment in SAP is a cross-functional team of department leaders and employees who have defined and are committed to a multi-year effort to identify and implement innovations in how the company uses S/4HANA – SAP's next generation, cloud-based platform. The goal is to completely transition to the new platform by 2027.
The transition is part of Freeport’s Transform for Value or T4V program to optimize company business systems and deliver industry best practices. Watch the video to learn more.
“The transition to S/4HANA takes a major commitment of time and resources but is an investment that is absolutely essential to our future success. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of everyone involved,” said Steve Higgins, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.
SAP software is used companywide to centralize business processes and transactions in the core areas of Finance, Commercial, Global Supply Chain, Enterprise Asset Management and Human Resources.
For more than a year, the T4V team has worked collaboratively to lay the groundwork for the migration. This includes completing assessments, conducting proofs of concept and developing potential solutions in preparation for the core project.
“This migration is a catalyst to transform our business process and technology,” said Cindy Barber, Director-Business Projects and T4V Business Executive Lead. “It’s also an opportunity for teams to take a step back and evaluate how we do the work and adjust our tools and processes to be more effective and efficient.”
As part of this first phase, several modules – or system components – have been launched. This includes, among others, Integrated Business Planning to support copper and molybdenum supply/demand; SuccessFactors Learning for employee training and development in North America; and a new Lease Accounting system that allows accountants the flexibility to track leases proactively throughout the month and automate existing manual transactions.
Starting this month, begins the next phase of the transition to S/4HANA in North and South America and Europe through January 2025, with PT Freeport Indonesia to follow.
“S/4HANA is a foundational reset of the SAP platform that provides new capabilities which enable us to further digitize, standardize and streamline our business processes," said Jeff Champ, Senior Director-Digital Platforms and Development. "In addition, it provides an opportunity to grow and empower the next generation of thought leaders to carry the company into the future.”
For more information about the T4V program or how to get involved, contact the T4V Program.