The Ocean Cleanup Takes Next Step in Digital Transformation with SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Public Edition
Scheer implements SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition. The Ocean Cleanup Takes Next Step in Digital Transformation with SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Public Edition
The Ocean Cleanup has begun implementing SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Public Edition, to better organize its internal processes, collaborate more efficiently globally, and prepare for further growth. This step is part of the digital transformation needed to support the organization's global mission.
The Ocean Cleanup operates internationally and is growing rapidly. The organization focuses on reducing plastic pollution in rivers and at sea. They have already removed more than 40 million kilograms of waste. However, their ambitions go even further: they aim to remove 90% of floating plastic in the oceans and clean up plastic in 90 river cities by 2040. This means a massive scaling up of their work, with more activities and installations in rivers and oceans worldwide.
Flexible Growth
To properly manage global processes and support international activities, The Ocean Cleanup urgently needed a modern and scalable system. The Dutch non-profit organization therefore chose to replace its NetSuite system with SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Public Edition. This modern ERP platform enables The Ocean Cleanup to achieve its growth ambitions: the system is easily scalable and can be flexibly adapted as processes, projects, or international activities expand.
A strong foundation for global collaboration is essential. For example, financial teams must work closely with fundraisers to optimally distribute donations across international projects, while project teams, engineers, and data analysts coordinate daily on technology, planning, and budgets for initiatives in rivers and oceans worldwide. As Aurelia Ferraro, Senior Partnership Manager at The Ocean Cleanup, puts it: “Perfect coordination between teams is essential; we hunt plastic together as a pack. The system helps us with that collaboration, allowing us to respond quickly to new challenges.”
Aurelia Ferraro further explains:
“We are growing exponentially, and our internal processes have become increasingly complex, with operations spanning multiple countries. SAP S/4HANA is the ideal system to manage that complexity.” She emphasizes that the transformation is about more than just technology: “Change and innovation are always complex, but our organization is accustomed to change. We invest a lot of energy in communication and training, which ensures smooth SAP adoption.”
Fast implementation and configuration
Joost van Lankveld, Strategic Advisor at Scheer Nederland, The Ocean Cleanup's implementation partner, adds: “Together with The Ocean Cleanup, we are following a phased implementation. SAP's 80-20 fit-to-standard approach allows us to implement quickly, after which we configure specific processes in SAP according to The Ocean Cleanup's needs.”
The implementation began with financial administration and purchasing modules for five Dutch entities. The upcoming phases will include project management and logistics modules that provide insight into The Ocean Cleanup's complex river and ocean projects. The organization expects to complete the transition to SAP S/4HANA by the end of 2025.
