Concern “Achema Group” is implementing one of the biggest digitalisation projects in Lithuania: launches SAP system

“Achema Group”, which unites round 40 companies operating in fertilizer production, stevedoring, agribusiness, logistics, energy and other areas, is implementing a large-scale business management transformation. This is one of the most significant business process digitization and automation projects implemented in Lithuania during the recent years.

The goal of this transformation is to simplify operations in “Achema Group” companies, achieve greater operational efficiency, sustainability, and adapt to changes in the business environment more flexibly.

Concern “Achema Group” has chosen German software manufacturer SAP and the business management system of this manufacturer will be implemented in all companies of the group. Currently, SAP system has been completed and launched in six companies: concern “Achema Group”, also companies “Achema”, “Achema Gas Trade”, “Klaipėdos jūrų krovinių kompanija” (KLASCO), “Kapitalo strautai” and “LT Energija”. The implementation of SAP technologies in other “Achema Group” companies in Lithuania and abroad is expected to be completed within the next few years.

“We have implemented a wide range of SAP modules, covering procurement, sales, manufacturing, inventory, project and treasury management. In some companies, we simultaneously implement niche modules, such as transportation, raw material transaction risk, budget, real estate, and technological asset management. The transition to SAP business management system is an extremely large-scale and complex project. We were motivated to implement it by the need to update outdated, unsupported infrastructure, which no longer allowed us to adapt to the evolving business and changing needs,” explained Karolis Mumgaudis, SAP Implementation Manager at “Achema Group”.

According to him, such a large-scale project, on which almost 200 internal and external IT consultants worked, required detailed preparation. “First, we started with compiling a list of the needs and requirements of our companies, for preparing which we also deployed external consultants. We sought to find the best solution on the market that suited us best. We chose SAP, which met our expectations,” summarized K. Mumgaudis.

When preparing the business management transformation project, it was planned that SAP technologies would first be implemented in two companies managed by “Achema Group”, gradually adapting the new business management system for the remaining group companies operating not only in Lithuania, but also in other countries. According to K. Mumgaudis, this project implementation model worked: “The first SAP technology implementation projects in several companies allowed us not only to test how the system works, but also to find errors that we avoid when implementing the system in other companies.”

Today, SAP business management system is already used by more than 500 users in six companies of the group, while in the future their number will increase to approximately 1 000. This year, the installation works will be completed in two companies of the group: “Iremas” and “Centrinis Klaipėdos terminalas”. Next year it is planned to finish introducing the system in “Achema” production distribution centres in France, Germany and Poland. The remaining companies expect to conclude the introduction of SAP system within a few nearest years.

New company management level

“One of the most significant benefits guaranteed by SAP technology for our group of companies is the source of unified truth. We are no longer required to complete different Excel tables, as now all the companies prepare standardized reports, following unified methodology, thus avoiding mistakes and different interpretations of the same data. That is important when assessing the financial and other indicators of various activities,” summarised K. Mumgaudis.

Another advantage granted by the introduced SAP technology comprises the planning tools, which are related to the results. According to K. Mumgaudis, now data, planning and the actual fact that has taken place are accounted for in the same format but instead of Excel tables in unified SAP Analytics Cloud tool, which enables interactive browsing, analysing of data and generating reports from the necessary angles.

“SAP technologies allow upgrading the company management to the next level. Previously the preparation of one invoice required several hours or sometimes even days, whereas now the necessary data is generated in real time. It is of utmost importance for the shareholders and managers, who make strategic decisions,” explained K. Mumgaudis.

By accounting for the operational processes of different companies in a unified system, it is easier to assess and compare how much and what kind of expenses one or another company incurs, how many operations it performs, and what performance results employees in similar positions achieve. SAP system provides loads of new information, which according to K. Mumgaudis, are of high significance when striving to optimise the business processes. 

Technologies open opportunities for AI initiatives

The new integrated business management system enabled the automation of procurement, sales, manufacturing and other procedure accounting. This in turn eased the workload for employees who work in various different fields. For example, specialists responsible for transport management are no longer requested to complete the bills of lading as the system generates these documents automatically. It is planned to introduce an automated issue of invoices for the clients soon as well.

In the future, SAP solutions implemented will provide “Achema Group” companies with even more opportunities to utilize their data and employ artificial intelligence.

“In a few years, after completing the introduction of SAP technologies in all the companies, standardizing the data, we will be ready for AI initiatives, which will enable us to take advantage of even larger potential of the modern technologies for enhancing the efficiency of operation,” explained K. Mumgaudis.

https://www.vz.lt/inovacijos/2025/09/22/koncernas-achemos-grupe-igyvendina-viena-didziausiu-skaitmenizacijos-projektu-lietuvoje-diegia-sap-sistema-visose-imonese-573269