How Our Collaboration Propelled Beneq through Transformation
Beneq is recognised as a leader in thin film coating and surface engineering solutions. The company specialises in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technology and related services. Beneq provides equipment for R&D, semiconductor device fabrication, 3D and batch production, ultra-fast spatial ALD, and roll-to-roll ALD 3. Additionally, the company offers coating services, development services for new ALD processes, and support for customer adoption and proof-of-concept. Beneq has over 40 years of experience in ALD research and innovation, holding more than 100 patents related to ALD instruments.
An ERP project was initiated by the parent company to bring all group companies into the same ERP platform and perform faster financial closing while providing more visibility to the parent company on the profitability of its subsidiaries. The Midagon team was allocated to support Beneq onsite for the requirement collection/discovery/business concepting phase. Midagon continued to support Beneq throughout the Realise and Deploy phases, ensuring continuity and a deep understanding of the business context.
Beneq had a non-integrated environment, a separate ERP for operations and its own Finance instance. Business lines were operating each with their own Engineer-to-Order (ETO) processes, though there was a great level of similarities. Customer equipment orders were managed as projects, following a startup-style model characterised by a high level of variation. The target was to design operating models for Beneq operations that would support the customer needs, harmonise common process areas, expedite the financial closing process and provide clear insights into the company's performance for the owners.
Midagon helped to facilitate discussion over business lines and create common terminology, as well as highlight areas where synergies would be gained from harmonised ways to operate. Building on Beneq’s existing use of product configuration practices in sales and engineering, Midagon supported the transformation of end-to-end processes towards a Configure-to-Order (CTO) business model.
Midagon played a crucial role in Beneq's finance transformation. During the transition to a new integrated system, Beneq adjusted its accounting principles to align with Group standards, a process that previously required laborious additional calculations and significantly delayed performance reporting. This transformation was significant, moving from a non-integrated to an integrated system while adopting new accounting principles.
Midagon's support was essential in highlighting the compliance with local statutory requirements and explaining the logic of the integrated system. Their guidance was particularly valuable during the design phase, helping Beneq make well-informed decisions that aligned with both local regulations and the overall system logic.
Key deliverables from the Midagon team to Beneq during the SAP S/4 implementation:
Harmonised end-to-end business scenarios were described for Beneq.
Facilitation to achieve clarity on product ownership and co-operation models with the parent company.
Compatibility with the parent company’s financial accounting principles, while supporting Beneq to secure local statutory requirements.
Establish common terminology to support the transition into the SAP landscape.
Definition of user roles and authorisations.
Planning and coordination of cutover activities.
Validation of master data quality prior to migration.
Support for end-to-end user acceptance testing.
During the Global Blueprint phase, Midagon's expertise was instrumental in helping Beneq understand the implications of the design choices.
“The assistance Beneq received from experienced consultants was invaluable. These experts brought a unique combination of business acumen and deep SAP S/4 knowledge, coupled with a holistic end-to-end process perspective. This comprehensive approach ensured that Beneq not only transitioned smoothly to the new integrated system but also aligned their accounting principles with Group standards while maintaining compliance with local statutory requirements, “ said Tuomas Virtanen, CFO at Beneq.
“The consultants' ability to bridge the gap between business needs and technical solutions facilitated well-informed design decisions, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency and performance reporting. Their support was instrumental in navigating the complexities of the transformation, providing Beneq with the clarity and confidence needed to achieve the strategic goals,” he concluded.
