b4b d.o.o and Podravka d.d. sign contract on long-term cooperation in applying SAP technology

A contract was signed in Koprivnica on long-term cooperation in applying SAP technologies between Podravka d.d. and b4b d.o.o. The contract was signed by Darko Marinac, President of the Management Board of Podravka d.d. and Mato Ćatić, CEO of b4b d.o.o. The signing of this contract marks a new phase in cooperation between Podravka and b4b.

This cooperation agreement will extend the previous cooperation between Podravka and b4b, where b4b provided implementation, development and training services to Podravka. Now, two-way cooperation will develop in which Podravka’s computer specialists will take part in projects implemented by b4b, and where both companies will seek to maintain their leading position in applying post-ERP information technologies, such as the storing of data (Business Warehouse), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), Strategic Enterprise Management, Internet Business (B2B, B2C) and others. The beginning of this cooperation was marked by the implementation of the Business Warehouse project in Podravka.

On the occasion of the signing of the contract with b4b, Mr Darko Marinac said: “The implementation of the SAP R3 information system began at the end of the 90s for the total operations of the Podravka Group. Its implementation is continuing today, and has been extended to Podravka’s sister companies in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia, with the objective of linking the foreign sister companies with the mother company, which will enhance the overall business efficiency of the Podravka Group.”

Mr Mato Ćatić, CEO of b4b, said that the signing of this Contract was the beginning of an advanced aspect of cooperation between Podravka and b4b, built on the successful foundations of the SAPIKO project initiated in 1998, which has been advancing its efforts to achieve the common goal set by both companies as the strategic guideline of their cooperation – to reach and maintain a leading position in the implementation and promotion of SAP technologies.

The cooperation between Podravka and b4b has continued since 22 May 1998 when the first SAP project (SAPIKO) was initiated in Podravka. Through this project, SAP was implemented in six Croatian companies of the Podravka Group (Podravka, Belupo, Danica, Poni, the Koprivnica printing shop and Podravka Inženjering). Through the SAPIKO project, the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) part of the SAP integral solution was implemented, creating a business model that, through the further implementation of SAP in the period 2000 to 2002, was transferred to other companies of the Podravka Group in Poland, Hungary and Slovenia.

b4b d.o.o. from Zagreb is the leading regional SAP consulting company operating over the entire region through its offices in Sarajevo and Novi Sad, with over 100 highly qualified employees trained in SAP, mostly consultants. b4b consists of a team of consultants with several years of experience in implementing SAP projects in large international and regional companies such as Podravka, Pliva, Dalmacijacement, INA, Crosco, Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Zagreb Airport, the recent challenging project in Tvornica duhana Rovinj, and the state administration. They are also handling the project of the computerising of the State Treasury System for the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Croatia.

The reference list of international success stories achieved in recent years, such as CIMOS International Koper, the “Kakanj” Cement factory, the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro, BH Telecom in Montenegro, is continuously being enhanced by new projects. This trend additionally stresses its strategic goal – a Croatian company as an exporter of knowledge.