The CORE project at Bayer is a far-reaching business led IT transformation program that aims to embed sustainability as an integral part of all business areas and functions. “We want to make ourselves ‘Ready for the Future’,” explains Dr. Ulf Neuhaus, Value Stream Owner Sustainability and Product Data Management at Bayer AG.
As a life science company, Bayer sees sustainability as an integral part of every process. This means that decisions are no longer based solely on business criteria but always take sustainability criteria into account—for example, when selecting suppliers or choosing the right means of transport to reduce and control the carbon footprint in a targeted manner.
As a large and historically grown company, Bayer has a heterogeneous process landscape. Over the years, the life science company had integrated numerous business areas, resulting in a multitude of different business models, processes, and data structures.
One of the challenges was therefore to overcome complexity: All processes and data models had to be harmonized, standardized and sustainability requirements to be integrated. This was the only way to position the company for the future and generate significant added stakeholder value.
To implement the comprehensive transformation within the scope of CORE, Bayer selected TCS as a strategic partner and system integrator. Based on the specific business needs and sustainability requirements, TCS developed a detailed process design, necessary data models and technology implementation.
What I particularly appreciate about working with TCS is that we have truly succeeded in working together as a team. To a certain extent, we no longer know exactly who works for which company or consulting firm or Bayer, but in the end, all that matters is achieving the project's objectives and creating the value we want to deliver to the company.
As a consulting and implementation partner, TCS was primarily responsible for transferring the designs to the new SAP S/4HANA system and implementing them in the real world. “Ultimately, you could say that TCS puts the tires on the road,” says Neuhaus, highlighting one of the project's success factors: close teamwork. “It was all about achieving the project goal.”
TCS has been a strategic partner in Bayer’s IT transformation for many years, helping scale new heights and deliver long-term value. TCS’ deep contextual knowledge, proven technology & domain expertise, and vast experience through global Sustainability Service Unit & Enterprise Solution Unit have been key to such a strong and mutually rewarding partnership.
TCS emphasizes the crucial role of sustainability in all business and digital transformation initiatives. The CORE program stands out as a light house program, setting industry benchmark by embedding sustainability as a foundation value stream into its Global Business Areas & functions. The significance of CORE is enabling TWIN Transition, and it also demonstrates the power of what technology can do to achieve sustainability goals.