Background
AFGRI is a leading agricultural services company, providing support to farmers across the entire grain production and storage cycle. One of the primary services that AFGRI provides is a comprehensive set of financial solutions which are underpinned by a deep understanding of agricultural seasonality. The range of financial products offered by AFGRI include short-medium term loans, revolving credit financing for higher value purchases, insurance cover, solar financing solutions and digital banking channels.
The SAP banking suite of technology applications is used to enable AFGRI’s Financial Services business. These technology solutions are best in class, widely used and support AFGRI’s complex lending requirements. The SAP Business Current Accounts, SAP Loans Management and SAP Business Partner modules are a crucial part of of AFGRI’s SAP landscape.
The Challenge
As one of South Africa’s most innovative agricultural services company, AFGRI is constantly looking to optimise their technology landscape while continuing to invest in new products and self-service features to enhance their proposition to clients.
In order to continue on their journey to improving operational efficiency and customer service, AFGRI required the services of a technology partner who were well-versed in banking operations as well as the SAP suite of banking applications. The combination of these skills would be beneficial to AFGRI so that changes to the technology could be sped up which ultimately would help AFGRI to release business value faster. This led to a search for a new strategic IT solutions provider, a provider who could give them access to the skills required to meet their pressing business imperatives.
The Solution
Following an initial introductory meeting, AFGRI chose bancon as their strategic partner to assist in managing their SAP Banking applications and to complement the internal AFGRI business team.
bancon and AFGRI embarked on a fixed capacity support structure that focused on increasing delivery throughput for loans related features and optimisations. This capacity gave AFGRI’s IT team the ability that they were able to meet the commitments made to business stakeholders. It also freed up AFGRI’s own group of experts to focus on other priorities.
The partnership has expanded to other initiatives where bancon is involved in new features spanning seasonal lending, self-service portal and third-party spend management.
The Results
Since the partnership, service lead times have significantly reduced and importantly there has been increased throughput of delivery backlog.
bancon have been a crucial support in the development and enhancement of new service features on AFRGI’s FIORI based self-service portal, including the automation of employee expense claims and increased usability when it comes to the review and approval of third-party purchase orders. As well as, supporting the seasonal lending product set which spans SAP Consumer Mortgage Loans and SAP Bank Customer Account, including test management. Together the teams have optimised AFGRI’s integration with various systems and external partners using SAP PI.
bancon are also supporting AFGRI’s journey to S/4HANA by playing a key role in S/4HANA readiness processes.
Lorna John, Enterprise Applications Manager - AFGRI: “We have formed a true partnership with bancon, the frictionless ways of working that have been introduced have truly contributed to the success of the initiatives delivered. They bring a wealth of experience as well as being a pleasure to work alongside.”
Marinda Fullard, Associate Director S/4HANA Loans Management - Financial Services bancon: “AGFRI are a recognised leader within the agricultural sector and known for their dynamic and expansive product offering. Ensuring that they have access to the right level of talent is key to them maintaining their position and we’re pleased that we are able to support them.”
Find out more about our experienced loans team here
