Hemal Solanki, General Manager of IT at Sooner Pipe, recently shared insights into the challenges the company faced in the supply chain and manufacturing sectors, and how Incorta has played a pivotal role in improving their financial and operational performance.
Sooner Pipe, one of the largest distributors of oil country tubular goods (OCTG), has long been a key player in the oil and gas industry. However, navigating the complex world of ERP systems, legacy reporting tools, and fragmented data ecosystems had become a significant challenge over the past decade.
Legacy ERP systems proved inefficient and difficult to upgrade
Their reliance on Oracle EBS (Enterprise Business Suite) as their ERP system, paired with Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) for reporting, became increasingly inefficient. As the company expanded and diversified its operations, their reporting tools grew more complex, resulting in maintenance difficulties, long upgrade cycles, and escalating costs.
“We reached a point where our ecosystem of reporting tools became very difficult to maintain, with numerous different products involved,” said Hemal Solanki. Faced with the prospect of expensive and time-consuming upgrades, Sooner Pipe sought a more efficient, cost-effective solution.
Incorta proved to be ideal solution for Sooner Pipe, offering out-of-the-box integration and simplified ETL processes, particularly for Oracle EBS. This integration was the catalyst for Sooner Pipe’s transformation, enabling a smoother and more efficient way to manage data and make decisions.
Migrating a decade’s worth of legacy reports to Incorta took just four months – a remarkable achievement given the scale and complexity of their data environment. The platform dramatically reduced data loading times from two and a half hours to just one hour, improving overall efficiency.
But it wasn’t just about speed. Sooner Pipe needed a solution that provided data accuracy and reliability. Incorta addressed discrepancies between summary and detailed reports, instilling confidence in the data presented to accounting and executive teams. “We wanted Incorta to be the one place where our team could go to run all reports,” said Hemal. With Incorta, they created a unified, reliable source of truth.
Optimizing inventory management and getting faster insights
Incorta also enabled Sooner Pipe to enhance inventory management, a critical part of their operations. The platform facilitated the creation of customized dashboards for different departments, enabling quick and informed decision-making. No longer burdened by lengthy data requests or time-consuming report modifications, Sooner Pipe’s teams gained autonomy and faster access to critical insights.
With Incorta’s new visibility into their data, Sooner Pipe was able to better control inventory levels, which helped prevent over-purchasing and optimize stock management, leading to significant cost savings.
Leveraging Incorta for Future Success
Looking ahead, Sooner Pipe plans to expand the use of Incorta for AI-driven initiatives. By providing easy access to accurate data, Incorta enables Sooner Pipe to train AI models that predict raw material price fluctuations, giving them a competitive edge in procurement and improving margins.
Jim Schoene of Composites One echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing how Incorta’s governance and visibility features have streamlined auditing processes and improved decision-making. With Incorta’s user analytics tools, they could track report usage and make more informed decisions about report modifications.
The consensus from the panel was clear: Incorta is not just a tool, but a strategic partner to unlock the full potential of their data. The platform’s ability to simplify complex data structures, provide rapid data access, and support AI initiatives has proven invaluable.
Incorta as a Strategic Partner in Data-Driven Transformation
Sooner Pipe’s journey with Incorta illustrates the transformative power of advanced analytics in the modern supply chain. By breaking down data silos, empowering teams with real-time access to critical insights, and fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making, Incorta has become a cornerstone of Sooner Pipe’s operational success.
To learn more, watch the full panel discussion here.