Sasko's distribution network extends beyond the traditional supermarket chains to include many smaller outlets in rural areas. Its operation includes the supply of staple food items that are consumed by South Africans countrywide on a daily basis. It also undertakes large contracts for international aid agencies, and in addition to its wheat milling and baking operations, has a large soya plant that makes a variety of soya-based products like soups, minces and meat substitutes. In 1996, Sasko was in the unique position to take a decision on its enterprise-wide system. With escalating costs in IT, the speed of change in computing and the impact that IT has on the business model, the corporate IT service has become a core business function.
Decisions made by the IT department can prove a legacy or a liberation.
After significant investigation, Sasko decided to run SAP on Microsoft Windows NT Server and rationalise its Novel office suite in favour of Microsoft. A decision that would help revolutionise business communication, liberate mind share and offer a seamless, automated solution in a widely distributed network. The beauty of the Microsoft model was that it would do all that over a comparatively short period, and offer significant cost benefits to Sasko. Although the decision to adopt SAP on Windows NT could hardly be called revolutionary today, this was a pioneering decision when it was taken by Sasko two years ago. This move has realised the largest SAP site operating on top of NT in the Southern Hemisphere.